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.

Apr 21, 2023 | userwalls.news | Kelly Ng |Sakiko Shiraishi

By Kelly Ng and Sakiko ShiraishiSingapore and TokyoThrongs of fans joined late night queues outside bookstores across Japan last week, eager to lay their hands on Haruki Murakami's new novel - his first in six years. At one Tokyo bookstore, which hung a two-storey LED banner counting down the time to release, copies of The City And Its Uncertain Walls were snapped up at midnight. Many readers dived straight in upon getting their copy.

Mar 2, 2023 | infodig.com.ng | Joel Guinto |Sakiko Shiraishi

By Joel Guinto and Sakiko Shiraishiin Singapore and Tokyo5 hours agoImage source, Getty ImagesJapan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has been criticised for saying the country’s ban on same-sex marriage is not discriminatory. Weeks ago, he apologised to the LGBTQ community over homophobic comments made by an aide who has since been sacked. Mr Kishida’s party is under growing pressure to improve LGBTQ rights, as more Japanese support same-sex marriage.