The Tokyo District Court has dismissed a lawsuit for damages filed by same-sex couples.

On Wednesday, a Japanese court upheld the government's ban on same-sex marriage as constitutional, while also laying the groundwork for more favorable future rulings.

While dismissing the plaintiffs' request for damages, the Tokyo District Court stated that the lack of a legal s...

HOKKAIDO GOVT. SUED BY A WOMAN OVER DENIAL OF SPOUSAL BENEFITS

Highlights –

• Hokkaido govt. sued by a woman over denial of spousal benefits.
• The woman in a same-sex relationship had filed the lawsuit with Sapporo District Court.
• Kaoru Sasaki seeks $43,000 for being denied spousal benefits.
...

TOKYO HIGH COURT ORDERS GOVT. & TEPCO TO PAY DAMAGES FOR NUCLEAR CRISIS

Highlights –

• Tokyo High Court orders govt. & TEPCO to pay damages for nuclear crisis.
• Japan govt. and TEPCO is to pay $2.63 million to people who had to evacuate their hometowns.
• This is the 3rd high court ruling among 30 other la...

SEOUL DISCTRICT COURT ACQUITTED KOLON LIFE EXECUTIVES ON FRIDAY

Highlights –

• Seoul District Court acquitted Kolon Life executives on Friday.
• The two executives allegedly made fraudulent reports in its gene therapy drug.
• A senior director at the clinical development team is made to pay a fine of 5 ...

ANRI KAWAI SUBMITS HER RESIGNATION AS LAWMAKER AFTER VOTE-BUYING SCANDAL

Highlights –

• Anri Kawai submits her resignation as lawmaker after vote-buying scandal.
• The upper house member was found to be guilty last month.
• Her husband, a former justice minister is also under trial for the same.
• Anri ...

JAPAN FOREIGN MINISTER CRITICIZES S. KOREA’S COURT RULING OVER ‘COMFORT WOMEN’

Highlights –

• Japan Foreign Minister criticizes S. Korea’s court ruling over ‘comfort women’.
• Foreign Minister mentioned that the order for Japan government to pay the damages is an “abnormal” situation.
• T...

SEUNGRI, EX-MEMBER OF BIGBANG INDICTED FOR THREATENING PEOPLE

Highlights –

• Seungri, ex-member of BIGBANG indicted for threatening people.
• The prosecutors added the new charge to Seungri’s existing case.
• In January 2020, Seungri was charged on eight counts by the prosecutors.
• The...

SEOUL DISTRICT COURT BEGINS TRIAL FOR THE DEATH OF 16-MONTH OLD JUNG IN

Highlights –

• Seoul District Court begins trial for the unknown death of 16-month old Jung In.
• The South Korean prosecutors added a murder charge against the adoptive mother of the child.
• Forensic reports suggest suspicions of having a...

SEOUL CAFÉ AND GYM OWNERS FILE LAWSUITS AGAINST GOVT. OVER COVID-19

Highlights –

• Seoul café and gym owners file lawsuits against govt. over COVID-19.
• Around 230 gym owners filed a 5 million won lawsuit in Seoul Western District Court.
• South Korea has imposed Level 2.5 social distancing restrict...

S. KOREA ‘COMFORT WOMEN’ VICTIMS WIN FIRST LEGAL VICTORY; TOKYO ASKED TO COMPENSATE

Highlights –

• S. Korea ‘Comfort Women’ victims win first legal victory; Tokyo asked to compensate.
• Seoul Central District Court ordered Tokyo to compensate US$91,300 each to 12 ‘Comfort Women’.
• Japanese Vice For...

TOKYO DISTRICT COURT PROSECUTORS DEMAND 18-MONTH IMPRISONMENT FOR ANRI KAWAI

Highlights –

• Tokyo District Court prosecutors demand 18-month imprisonment for Anri Kawai.
• The lawmaker has been indicted of vote-buying for the House of Councillors election.
• Anri Kawai conspired with her husband to violate the elect...

KAGOSHIMA COURT SENTENCED A MAN TO DEATH FOR MURDERING 5 PEOPLE

Highlights –

• Kagoshima court sentenced a man to death for murdering 5 people.
• The district court ruled so because he was mentally fit enough to be responsible for his crimes.
• The defense had instead sought life imprisonment.

HIROSHIMA COURT ORDERED THE STATE TO PAY $6,340 OVER DEATH ROW OF AN INMATE

Highlights –

• Hiroshima Court ordered the state to pay $6,340 over death row of an inmate.
• The plaintiff’s lawyer had demanded the govt. to pay him and the deceased 3.3 million yen as compensation.
• The presiding judge for the cas...

THREATENING KOREAN RESIDENTS IN JAPAN LEADS EX-CITY WORKER TO PRISON FOR 1 YEAR

Highlights –

• Threatening Korean residents in Japan leads ex-city worker to prison for 1 year.
• A Kawasaki city resident has been accused of sending ‘annihilate’ postcards to Korean residents.
• Yokohama District Court’s...

APPROVAL OF SAFETY MEASURE BY JAPAN GOVT. OVER OI NUCLEAR PLANT NULLIFIED BY COURT

Highlights –

• Approval of safety measure by Japan Govt. over Oi nuclear plant nullified by court.
• Two reactors at Kansai Electric Power Co. claimed to be vulnerable to a major earthquake.
• The Osaka District Court ruled in favour of abo...

WESTERN JAPAN’S TOKUSHIMA COURT FAILED TO PROCESS TRAFFIC CASE CAUSED BY A MINOR

Highlights –

• Western Japan’ Tokushima court failed to process a traffic case caused by a minor.
• The Tokushima Family Court could not process the case due to the expiration of the statute of limitations.
• The prosecutor’s of...

JAPAN’S SUSPECT OF THE SERIAL MURDER CASE IN 2017 DOES NOT WISH TO APPEAL DEATH PENALTY

Highlights –

• Japan’s suspect of the serial murder case in 2017 does not wish to appeal the death penalty.
• The suspect admitted to murdering, dismembering, and storing the bodies of nine people.
• The prosecutors will be closing ar...

STUDENTS IN SUBURBAN TOKYO MOLESTED BY TEACHER CAUSING PTSD TO THE FORMER

Highlights –

• Students in suburban Tokyo molested by teachers causing PTSD to the former.
• The city of Inagi in Tokyo has been sued by an elementary school student and their parents.
• The family has sued the city for 5.5 million yen.

HOUSE OF COUNCILLORS MEMBER ANRI KAWAI PLEADS INNOCENT OVER VOTE-BUYING CHARGES

Highlights –

• House of Councillors member Anri Kawai pleads innocent over vote-buying charges.
• Kawai appeared at the Tokyo District Court on Nov. 13 for defendant questioning.
• Kawai’s attorney questioned her about the purpose of ...

JAPANESE GOVERNMENT GRANTS WOMAN FROM SOUTH ASIA REFUGEE STATUS

Highlights –

• Japanese government grants woman from South Asia refugee status.
• The government issues a special permit for the woman effective from Oct.9.
• Osaka High Court had ordered to settle the matter out of court.
• The wo...