Tokyo launched a system Nov. 1 officially recognizing couples where at least one of the individuals is a sexual minority, giving them access to some of the same administrative services available to married couples. The system recognizes lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer or questioning (LGBTQ) partnerships.
A similar system was first introduced in Japan in 2015 in Tokyo's Shibuya and Setagaya wards. Since then, more than 200 municipalities across the nation have adopted similar systems. Many such couples have expressed hope that society will come to a better understanding of their status.
