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Law 111

In Japan, the process for changing your legal gender is outlined in a piece of legislation known as Law 111. According to the document, a person may only change their legal gender if they meet the following requirements:

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  1. Not less than 20 years of age

  2.  Not currently married

  3. Currently has no child who is a minor

  4. Has no reproductive glands or whose reproductive glands have permanently lost function

  5. Has a body which appears to have parts that resembles the genital organs of those of the Opposite Gender

These requirements make it very difficult or impossible for transgender people to change their legal gender. It prevents young people, parents, and people who either can't afford or don't wish to undergo gender confirming surgeries from having the correct gender on legal identification. This can in turn cause other problems in finding jobs, getting married, or other areas. The requirement that a person should be sterilized is also completely medically unnecessary, and only serves as another obstacle in the way of transgender Japanese people striving to be who they are. 

By contacting politicians in Karuizawa and Nagano, we have devised a strategy for lobbying to change this legislation: 

 

  1. Appeal to Karuizawa council members to enact legislation within Karuizawa to make it easier for transgender people to change their legal sex on city ID, as well as a form of same-sex partnership recognition

  2. Conduct different surveys and interviews to gage the success of these legislative changes, and brainstorm amendments if necessary

  3. If things are successful, continue appealing to larger authorities in Nagano, etc.

 

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