Sakiko Shiraishi

Mar 14, 2024 | yahoo.com | Frances Mao |Sakiko Shiraishi

Two more rulings in Japanese district courts have added weight to the push for same-sex marriage to be legalised. This week, courts in Tokyo and Sapporo ruled the nation's current ban was "unconstitutional", in line with previous landmark verdicts. The rulings in separate cases found that the ban breached citizens' rights. Even as they welcomed the verdicts, activists warned that the historic step of legalising same-sex unions would still need to come from lawmakers.

Jun 30, 2023 | bbc.co.uk | Sakiko Shiraishi |Hideharu Tamura |Vibeke Venema

Image source, Kuwana CityBy Sakiko Shiraishi, Hideharu Tamura in Tokyo & Vibeke Venema in LondonBBC NewsA horse's death and allegations of animal cruelty sparked a national outcry against a famous Shinto festival in a Japanese mountain town. The authorities have now promised reforms - but can this 680-year-old event change enough to secure its future? The crowds cheer as a young rider, wearing the costume of an ancient Japanese warrior, rides his horse fast up a steep hill.