A Japanese-French same-sex couple married in France is asking a Japanese family court to recognize their marriage, the first case of its kind, saying Japan¡¯s ban is preventing them from starting a family in France.

Petitioners Rei Watanabe Prosper, a Japanese national in her 30s, and Coralie Prosper, a French national also in her 30s, got married in France in 2018, where same-sex marriage was legalized in 2013. The couple currently resides in France.

They said Japan¡¯s refusal to acknowledge their marriage has prevented them from living together in Rei¡¯s home country, as well as causing problems in building a family in France.