Osaka Becomes the First Municipality in Japan to Recognize Same-Sex Foster Parents
Tokyo Rainbow Pride 2012. Photo by Flickr user Lauren Anderson. License: Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-SA 2.0).
On April 6, 2017, the city of Osaka became the first municipality in Japan to recognize same-sex couples as foster parents. The change in policy came about when the city recognized two men, who wish to remain anonymous, as the foster parents of a teenage boy who had been in their care since February.
Until Osaka's decision in April, only married couples or individuals have been allowed to become foster parents in Japan, despite the fact that the country is in dire need of both foster and adoptive parents. As of March 2017, there were at least 46,000 children across Japan who were in the care of the state after either losing a parent or being removed from their homes because of abuse. The majority of these children live in institutions; just 10% are cared for by foster parents.
Following the landmark decision, the term #same-sex couple (#男性カップル, dansei kappuru, the term for a male same-sex couple) trended on Twitter. Naver Matome blogger “Grade Up” (グレードアップ) collected a number of these Twitter responses in a blog post. The majority of reactions to Osaka's decision about foster parenting seems to be positive:
大阪市で男性カップルが里親として認定されたそうです。
実の親から虐待を受けて保護された子どもをあえて受け容れようとするカップルに同性も異性もないと思います。
どうかすばらしい「家族」になりますように。#竹槍巫女のおえりゃあせんのう 通算1356作 pic.twitter.com/6W0Vw7mSjA— 大沢愛 (@ai_oosawa) April 5, 2017
Tweet: Two men (‘a male same-sex couple’) have been authorized by the city of Osaka as foster parents. If a couple wants foster a child who has been abused by their parents whether or not they are a same sex couple or members of the opposite sex it doesn't matter.
Poster text: ‘If you love the children you raise above all else, be you same-sex parents or parents of the opposite sex, that's all that's important to being a parent.’
Same-sex marriage is not yet recognized in Japan. This is because Article 24 of Japan's Constitution includes the phrase, “Marriage shall be based only on the mutual consent of both sexes,” which, for the time being, is seen as an obstacle to same-sex marriage.
In Japan, municipalities play an important role in overseeing and administering family law, which includes marriage, domestic partnership, adoption and fostering. Some municipalities in Japan have passed local ordinances that recognize same-sex civil partnerships, which equate these relationships to marriage.
Osaka's decision has been accompanied by a common theme — while some people might disapprove with same-sex foster parenting, the most important thing is for children is to be loved:
男性カップルの話題で養子縁組と里親制度を取り違えてるツイートを見かけたけど、里親制度は18歳になるまで育ててもらうって制度なんよな。戸籍に入るわけではないんで。
18になるまで温かい家庭で幸せに過ごせるなら男性カップルでも女性カップルでも良いと思うよ。— なおちご Naochigo 나오치고 (@hikariko1128) April 5, 2017
When I see tweets that mix up same-sex foster[ing] with adoption, I want to point out that fostering lasts until (the child) is 18 years old. The foster child is not entered on the family register (and therefore in Japan is not legally recognized as part of the family).
Anyway, I think it's great that the child can be part of a loving family, whether it be male parents or female parents, until they reach the age of 18.
大阪で男性カップルの里親が認められて子供が可哀想とか色んな意見があるけど、その子供が将来 ぼくはこの2人の男性の親に育てられて幸せでしたって言うかは親の育て方で決まるんだから、周りがどうこう言わずに温かく見守るのが1番いいと思う。
可哀想かどうかなんて周りが決めることじゃない。— 実心灯 (@n_h1y) April 5, 2017
There are a number of opinions that say that, because of Osaka's decision to recognize same-sex couples as parents that the children should be pitied. However I think that whoever is fostered by the two men will say someday they had a happy life (as a child). It doesn't matter what anybody else says, the most important thing is that the kids will be taken care of with love. Nobody should take pity on (these children fostered by same-sex couples).
Following the announcement by the city of Osaka, the term “Chocolate Doughnuts” (チョコレートドーナツ) — the title of the Japanese release of the 2012 movie Any Day Now that tells the story of a same-sex couple fighting for custody of a youth living with Downs syndrome — trended on Twitter as well:
男性カップルが里親になったと話題になってるけど、『チョコレートドーナツ』っていう映画が凄いお勧め。男性カップルが、ダウン症の少年の里親になる物語。でも、ゲイなだけで少年と引き離されてしまう。それでも、少年のために社会と闘う2人。本当に泣けるので1回は観て欲しい。 pic.twitter.com/6gg8dcBn8S
— 漬物 (@otsukemono_14) April 5, 2017
Since same-sex foster parents have become a topic in the news, I highly recommend the movie ‘Any Day Now’. It's the story of two men who foster a teen with Downs Syndrome. However, because the two men are gay, the boy is taken from them. They don't give up, and fight to be able to care for the boy. It's a real tear-jerker and I recommend everyone see it just once.
The Twitter account that promoted the release of the movie in Japan also commented on the decision by the city of Osaka:
ニュースを読んで驚き、『チョコレートドーナツ』がトレンド入りしているのを見て驚いています。
誰だって、実の親の元で幸せになるのが本当は一番だと思います。
でも、それがかなわないならば、ほかの誰かその子供に愛情を注いでくれる人と生きていくことは、間違えた選択ではないと思うのです。— 映画『チョコレートドーナツ』 (@donuts_movie) April 6, 2017
When we saw the news we were quite surprised, and when ‘Any Day Now’ started trending on Twitter we were surprised as well.
Of course, it's always best if children find happiness with their biological parents. However, if that's not possible, it's not wrong at all if some other person out there is able to provide the love and affection a child needs.
Originally published in Global Voices.
