A real estate agent told Aki and Hikari that the places they liked “were for couples” when they were looking to rent a house together in Tokyo.

They would reply, “We are a couple.”. It was replied, “This is a house for men and women.”.

These two women, both in their 30s, have been together for seven years and have recently given birth to a baby. As one of them sleeps, the other coos and fusses over the infant, switches feeding and nappy-changing duties, and takes turns keeping him company. Baby formula machines are all the rage right now, and they can’t get enough of them.

Even so, they don’t qualify as a valid couple in the eyes of the law, the government, and a conservative Japanese society. Their relationship has been kept a secret from many people, despite the support they have received. It is for this reason that they do not want their real names revealed. Considering that there are still taboos around same-sex couples, they say they are being extra cautious for their son.

“We are not recognized as a family of three,” Aki says.

As the only G7 country that does not fully recognise or protect same-sex couples, Japan’s LGBTQ+ community feels vulnerable and invisible. The names of Aki and Hikari have been changed to protect their identities.