Miki Sakakibara, President of Japan In-House Lawyers Association (JILA) and Attorney, Panasonic Corporation
Rika Beppu, Former President Women in Law Japan (WILJ)
Language: The speech and Q & A will be in English
In 2015, the Shibuya district of Tokyo became the first local government in Japan to recognize same-sex partners. A growing number of local governments across the country have followed suit but there is still no national marriage equality. While most Japanese people support more LGBT rights, political representation is strikingly low.
Suitably enough, on Valentine's Day, 13 same-sex couples across Japan are going to court to demand the right to marry. If they win, Japan will be the first Asian country to grant that right. The Japan In-House Lawyers Association (JILA) and Women in Law Japan (WILJ) will come to the FCCJ to discuss the background to that legal challenge, the right to marriage equality for LGBT couples and the recruitment and retention of LGBT talent in Japan.
Together with law firms Baker & McKenzie and Mori Hamada Matsumoto, the two organizations will recommend that Japan's government join the Australian, New Zealand, British, Canadian, Danish and Irish and American chambers of commerce in Japan and recognize same-sex partnerships. Their arguments are outlined in the booklet Viewpoint on Marriage Equality and the Recruitment and Retention of LGBT Talent in Japan published in September 2018.
JILA represents over 1,600 Japanese lawyers. WILJ represents women legal professionals at in-house, private practice or government positions in Japan.
5F Marunouchi Nijubashi Bldg., 3-2-3, Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0005
Doors open for TV crew at 14:15, For all others at 14:30, still cameras included.
Please reserve in advance, 3211-3161 or on the website (still & TV cameras inclusive). Reservations and cancellations are not complete without confirmation.
Professional Activities Committee
Miki Sakakibara Rika Beppu Toru Ishiguro Hiroshi Kondo