Video: Tokyo Pride participants call for LGBTQ+ rights and marriage equality

Tokyo’s 30th annual Rainbow Pride parade took place on Sunday (April 21) with participants calling for more rights as well as marriage equality for LGBTQ+ people in Japan.

The issue of marriage equality is especially contentious in Japan, as it is the only Group of Seven (G7) nation without legal protection for same-sex unions.

Campaigners on the issue marched through Tokyo’s Shibuya ward holding banners that called for “the freedom to marry for everyone”.

“We all want to live happily together with the person we love, so I think it would be good if everyone could get married and become a family without thinking about it too deeply,” said pride participant Reiko Nakata.