Entry #12652: Right to change legal gender in Japan

Current Version

RegionJapan
IssueRight to change legal gender
StatusLegal, but requires surgery
Start DateApr 1, 2022
End Date(none)
DescriptionAmended Act No.111 of 2003 requires for transgender people to change their legal gender, (1) be at least 18 years of age, (2) not currently married, (3) no child less than 18 years, (4) infertile (no gonads or persistent lack of gonadal function), (5) and has a body which appears to have genital parts of those of the opposite sex. And also requires medical certificate by two or more psychiatrist.

On October 16th 2023, a Japanese transgender man won his case in court to allow him to change his legal gender without sterilization. The law was deemed unconstitutional. It remains to be seen what changes will be made to the law and when they will come in effect.
Sourceshttps://elaws.e-gov.go.jp/document?lawid=415AC0100000111
https://www.courts.go.jp/saiban/syurui/syurui_kazi/kazi_06_23/index.html
https://www.moj.go.jp/content/001300586.pdf
https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/10/16/japan-court-rules-against-mandatory-transgender-sterilization
(These contents are in Japanese)

https://apnews.com/article/japan-lgbtq-transgender-ruling-gender-change-decdbdca9c8dd3658ae86b63ec40c53d
(The English version)
Reports (2)
  • Newer law has been passed "The sterilization requirement was ruled unconsitutional in Oct 2023"
  • Newer law has been passed "new law will probably pass : https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/10/25/victory-transgender-rights-japan"


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Revision History (4)

edited by qcksws. Adding source

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Old Value New Value (Current)
Sourceshttps://elaws.e-gov.go.jp/document?lawid=415AC0100000111
https://www.courts.go.jp/saiban/syurui/syurui_kazi/kazi_06_23/index.html
https://www.moj.go.jp/content/001300586.pdf
https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/10/16/japan-court-rules-against-mandatory-transgender-sterilization
(These contents are in Japanese)
https://elaws.e-gov.go.jp/document?lawid=415AC0100000111
https://www.courts.go.jp/saiban/syurui/syurui_kazi/kazi_06_23/index.html
https://www.moj.go.jp/content/001300586.pdf
https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/10/16/japan-court-rules-against-mandatory-transgender-sterilization
(These contents are in Japanese)

https://apnews.com/article/japan-lgbtq-transgender-ruling-gender-change-decdbdca9c8dd3658ae86b63ec40c53d
(The English version)
Show Difference
https://elaws.e-gov.go.jp/document?lawid=415AC0100000111 https://www.courts.go.jp/saiban/syurui/syurui_kazi/kazi_06_23/index.html https://www.moj.go.jp/content/001300586.pdf https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/10/16/japan-court-rules-against-mandatory-transgender-sterilization (These contents are in Japanese) Japanese) https://apnews.com/article/japan-lgbtq-transgender-ruling-gender-change-decdbdca9c8dd3658ae86b63ec40c53d (The English version)

edited by Iwamoto. Revise the date and add 'Ameded' to show the current law was amended.

Helpful?
0
Old Value New Value
Start DateJul 16, 2004Apr 1, 2022
DescriptionAct No.111 of 2003 requires for transgender people to change their legal gender, (1) be at least 18 years of age, (2) not currently married, (3) no child less than 18 years, (4) infertile (no gonads or persistent lack of gonadal function), (5) and has a body which appears to have genital parts of those of the opposite sex. And also requires medical certificate by two or more psychiatrist.

On October 16th 2023, a Japanese transgender man won his case in court to allow him to change his legal gender without sterilization. The law was deemed unconstitutional. It remains to be seen what changes will be made to the law and when they will come in effect.
Amended Act No.111 of 2003 requires for transgender people to change their legal gender, (1) be at least 18 years of age, (2) not currently married, (3) no child less than 18 years, (4) infertile (no gonads or persistent lack of gonadal function), (5) and has a body which appears to have genital parts of those of the opposite sex. And also requires medical certificate by two or more psychiatrist.

On October 16th 2023, a Japanese transgender man won his case in court to allow him to change his legal gender without sterilization. The law was deemed unconstitutional. It remains to be seen what changes will be made to the law and when they will come in effect.
Show Difference
Act No.111 of 2003 requires for transgender people to change their legal gender, (1) be at least 18 years of age, (2) not currently married, (3) no child less than 18 years, (4) infertile (no gonads or persistent lack of gonadal function), (5) and has a body which appears to have genital parts of those of the opposite sex. And also requires medical certificate by two or more psychiatrist. On October 16th 2023, a Japanese transgender man won his case in court to allow him to change his legal gender without sterilization. The law was deemed unconstitutional. It remains to be seen what changes will be made to the law and when they will come in effect. Amended Act No.111 of 2003 requires for transgender people to change their legal gender, (1) be at least 18 years of age, (2) not currently married, (3) no child less than 18 years, (4) infertile (no gonads or persistent lack of gonadal function), (5) and has a body which appears to have genital parts of those of the opposite sex. And also requires medical certificate by two or more psychiatrist. On October 16th 2023, a Japanese transgender man won his case in court to allow him to change his legal gender without sterilization. The law was deemed unconstitutional. It remains to be seen what changes will be made to the law and when they will come in effect.
Reports (3)
  • Newer law has been passed "https://amp.theguardian.com/world/2023/oct/25/japan-court-rules-mandatory-sterilisation-transgender-unconstitutional Surgery no longer required"
  • Other "New laws on 25 october 2023, Legal and surgery not required"
  • Newer law has been passed "https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2023/10/25/japan/crime-legal/transgender-supreme-court-ruling/"

edited by Notdog1996. The three entries are the same. Please remove the other two and keep this one. I changed the start date to reflect the first entry. I also added an update.

Helpful?
0
Old Value (Original) New Value
Start DateApr 1, 2022Jul 16, 2004
DescriptionAct No.111 of 2003 requires for transgender people to change their legal gender, (1) be at least 18 years of age, (2) not currently married, (3) no child less than 18 years, (4) infertile (no gonads or persistent lack of gonadal function), (5) and has a body which appears to have genital parts of those of the opposite sex. And also requires medical certificate by two or more psychiatrist.Act No.111 of 2003 requires for transgender people to change their legal gender, (1) be at least 18 years of age, (2) not currently married, (3) no child less than 18 years, (4) infertile (no gonads or persistent lack of gonadal function), (5) and has a body which appears to have genital parts of those of the opposite sex. And also requires medical certificate by two or more psychiatrist.

On October 16th 2023, a Japanese transgender man won his case in court to allow him to change his legal gender without sterilization. The law was deemed unconstitutional. It remains to be seen what changes will be made to the law and when they will come in effect.
Show Difference
Act No.111 of 2003 requires for transgender people to change their legal gender, (1) be at least 18 years of age, (2) not currently married, (3) no child less than 18 years, (4) infertile (no gonads or persistent lack of gonadal function), (5) and has a body which appears to have genital parts of those of the opposite sex. And also requires medical certificate by two or more psychiatrist. psychiatrist. On October 16th 2023, a Japanese transgender man won his case in court to allow him to change his legal gender without sterilization. The law was deemed unconstitutional. It remains to be seen what changes will be made to the law and when they will come in effect.
Sourceshttps://elaws.e-gov.go.jp/document?lawid=415AC0100000111
https://www.courts.go.jp/saiban/syurui/syurui_kazi/kazi_06_23/index.html
https://www.moj.go.jp/content/001300586.pdf
(These contents are in Japanese)
https://elaws.e-gov.go.jp/document?lawid=415AC0100000111
https://www.courts.go.jp/saiban/syurui/syurui_kazi/kazi_06_23/index.html
https://www.moj.go.jp/content/001300586.pdf
https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/10/16/japan-court-rules-against-mandatory-transgender-sterilization
(These contents are in Japanese)
Show Difference
https://elaws.e-gov.go.jp/document?lawid=415AC0100000111 https://www.courts.go.jp/saiban/syurui/syurui_kazi/kazi_06_23/index.html https://www.moj.go.jp/content/001300586.pdf (These contents are in Japanese) https://elaws.e-gov.go.jp/document?lawid=415AC0100000111 https://www.courts.go.jp/saiban/syurui/syurui_kazi/kazi_06_23/index.html https://www.moj.go.jp/content/001300586.pdf https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/10/16/japan-court-rules-against-mandatory-transgender-sterilization (These contents are in Japanese)
Reports (1)
  • Date is incorrect "16 July 2004 is the date of entry into force of the original Law No 111, not the date of entry into force of the latest amended Law No 111."

created by Iwamoto

Helpful?
0
Original entry
StatusLegal, but requires surgery
Start DateApr 1, 2022
End Date(none)
DescriptionAct No.111 of 2003 requires for transgender people to change their legal gender, (1) be at least 18 years of age, (2) not currently married, (3) no child less than 18 years, (4) infertile (no gonads or persistent lack of gonadal function), (5) and has a body which appears to have genital parts of those of the opposite sex. And also requires medical certificate by two or more psychiatrist.
Sourceshttps://elaws.e-gov.go.jp/document?lawid=415AC0100000111 https://www.courts.go.jp/saiban/syurui/syurui_kazi/kazi_06_23/index.html https://www.moj.go.jp/content/001300586.pdf (These contents are in Japanese)
Reports (3)
  • Newer law has been passed "new law will probably pass, should now be set as ambiguous : https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/10/16/japan-surgery-gender-change-unconstitutional/?utm_content=1697430560&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter"
  • Other "In 2023 there is an action that is possible without surgery https://unseen-japan.com/transgender-sterilization-surgery-japan-unconstitutional/"
  • All information is correct, just adding sources "https://www.voanews.com/amp/court-japan-can-t-require-surgery-for-gender-change-on-documents-/7309083.html Could be changed soon"