April 24, 2023

Seeking to realize a society where sexual minorities, including LGBTQ people, can positively live as themselves, the 2023 Tokyo Rainbow Pride festival took place on April 23 in Tokyo’s Yoyogi Park.

Various programs, such as free live music, were offered at the amphitheater in the park under the theme of “Press on till Japan Changes”. Japanese Communist Party Vice Chair Tamura Tomoko delivered a speech in solidarity along with officials from foreign embassies in Tokyo and political party representatives.

Stressing, “What needs to be changed is the direction of Japan’s politics,” Tamura expressed her determination to work hard to establish laws allowing same-sex marriage and banning LGBT discrimination. She said, “I’ll work hard together with you to realize a government that embraces diversity and enables everyone to be happy.”

After the event, flying rainbow flags proudly, nearly 10,000 people paraded through Tokyo’s major shopping areas of Shibuya and Harajuku. JCP Dietmembers Kasai Akira, Miyamoto Toru, Kira Yoshiko, Yamazoe Taku, and Ito Gaku took part in the parade. The participants appealed to passersby to support their call for legalizing gay marriage and creating a society where everyone can be themselves.

A 33-year-old male participant who came to the event with his gay partner said, “We have been sharing our joys and sorrows under the same roof. We want to achieve recognition as a family. We want to get married.”