Photo/Illutration Hiroyuki Suda, mayor of Date, Fukushima Prefecture, holds a sample of a certificate for same-sex couples under a planned partnership system on Nov. 30. (Shoko Rikimaru)

DATE, Fukushima Prefecture--The city government here said it will start a program in January that recognizes same-sex partnerships, meaning that such systems for sexual minorities will be in place in all 47 prefectures next year.

“We aim to achieve a society in which everyone can shine in their own color,” Date Mayor Hiroyuki Suda said at a news conference on Nov. 30. “There is a certain number (of sexual minorities) in our society. Even if they had not requested it, we still want to establish the system and promote and deepen understanding of sexual diversity.”

Under the program scheduled to start on Jan. 4, the municipality will recognize sexual minority partnerships as equivalent to marriage in Japan.

Gay marriage is still not legally recognized on the national level, so local ordinances and systems on same-sex partnerships are not legally binding.

But the local programs make it easier for same-sex and other sexual minority couples to receive benefits and services from the public and private sectors.

Couples wanting to use Date’s system must first submit an oath to the city government, which will then issue certification cards and other documents for the partnerships.

Those approved by the city can move into municipal housing and receive up to 900,000 yen ($6,100) from a subsidies program that helps newlyweds buy homes, pay rent or cover moving costs.

According to municipal officials, adult couples who live together in Date or are planning to move to the city within two weeks are eligible for the program.

The Date city government will also start a “familyship” system next month to recognize children and parents of sexual minority couples as their family members.

Discussions for the two programs started when the city’s gender-equality plan was due for renewal in spring this year.

The officials said deliberations at a city council since August have been based on same-sex programs already introduced around Japan.

To speed up the process, the officials decided against seeking an ordinance and instead opted for a framework that does not require an assembly resolution.

Tokyo’s Shibuya and Setagaya wards in 2015 became the first local governments in Japan to officially recognize same-sex relationships.

By June 28 this year, 328 municipalities nationwide had set up such partnership systems, covering 70.9 percent of Japan’s population, according to a survey conducted by Shibuya Ward-based nonprofit organization Nijiiro Diversity.

Some prefectural governments have also introduced the systems.

After the Miyagi prefectural capital of Sendai announced in September that it plans to introduce the system in fiscal 2024, Fukushima was the only prefecture without a same-sex program in place or announced.

Fukushima prefectural officials now say other municipal governments are preparing to follow in the footsteps of Date, including the prefectural capital of Fukushima in fiscal 2024.

Date city is promoting its plans through newsletters and guidebooks while training staff to ensure that sexual minorities can use the systems with ease.

“We wish for a society where everyone can live comfortably,” Mayor Suda said. “We hope our efforts also spread to other municipalities.”

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