Osaka becomes first Japanese city to recognise a same-sex couple as foster parents

A city in Japan has become the first in the country to recognise a same-sex couple as foster parents.

A gay couple, who are in their 40s and 30s, has now officially fostered a teenage boy in the city of Osaka, Japan.

The older of the two men – who asked for the family to remain anonymous – welcomed the decision, saying: “I am happy we became foster parents (and recognised) as a single household, not just as individuals.”

The foster child, who has been living with the couple since February, is “living a comfortable life”, he told Japan Times.

The couple registered their intent to foster a child two years ago and has since undergone a series of lectures, training, and scrutiny measures by local authorities.

Same-sex fostering is not banned in Japan but until now it simply didn’t happen.

Compared to other countries where it is more common to see LGBT+ couples fostering children, Japan lags behind because many LGBT+ applicants are turned away at the door.

The latest government figures show that there are 3,703 foster homes nationwide, with the vast majority of them being straight married couples and the remainder being single parents.

A few years ago, a female couple in the Kanto region of Japan were recognised as eligible to become foster parents — but only individually. They raised the one child together after each was individually granted custody.

Megumi Fuji heads the charity Rainbow Foster Care, which supports allowing same-sex couples to become foster parents.

Speaking to Japan Times, Megumi Fuji said that many same-sex couples looking to foster have been rejected by public authorities.

They are told, “Children will never be fostered” by same-sex couples or “couples of friends are not accepted.”

“It is very small-minded to think that only couples of men and women can realise an ideal family,” Fuji adds, “Whether they have an aptitude for raising children is what’s important.”

The Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare confirmed that there was “no precedent” for a same-sex couple being certified as foster parents.

Osaka, the third largest city in Japan, holds Pride annually, and the first openly lesbian politician, Kanako Otsuji, came out after being elected as an Osaka Assembly member.

Over the past few years, Japan has made significant steps towards LGBT equality.

The country has updated its national anti-bullying policy to protect LGBT+ students at schools and elected its first trans man to public office in March.

And from June this year, Sapporo, with a population of nearly two million people, is set to become the largest city in Japan to recognise same-sex marriage.

Words Laura Mullan