Japanese Jeweler Sells “LGBTQ Wedding Rings” But Same-Sex Marriage Isn’t Legal in Japan

Founded in 1981, K.UNO Co., Ltd., is the largest custom-made jewelry shop in Japan, employing over 50 designers, 180 craftspersons and producing more than 40,000 designs each year.

"LGBTQ Wedding Rings"

According to its press release, K.Uno "sent its CEO and management in 2017 to take 'LGBT diversity training' to provide thoughtful engagement rings and wedding rings to couples regardless of their sexuality, then opened a special page on its website geared towards LGBTQ couples." They renewed their page on August 1, 2019.

Here are some of the beautiful rings they recommend:

Dentsu's LGBT Survey

Results of the most recent (2018) "LGBT Survey" conducted by Dentsu's Diversity Lab reveals that 78.4% of Japanese in their 20s to 50s were in favor of same-sex marriage. Moreover, since the prevalence of the term "LGBT" in media was 68.5% in 2018, up from 37.6% in 2015, Dentsu "infers that understanding towards the LGBT (community) has increased."

Nevertheless, while same-sex partnership certificates, which provide some benefits but not legal recognition, are issued by twenty-three municipalities and one prefecture in Japan (at the time of writing), same-sex marriage is currently not legally recognized in the country.

What's in a label?

For those in the LGBTQ community who are considering same-sex marriage, this may pose a problem. Whether K.UNO imagines they will use their "LGBTQ Wedding Rings" for symbolic marriages, such as the one carried out in 2013 at Tokyo Disneyland's Cinderella's Castle Hotel by actress and LGBT activist Koyuki Higashi and Hiroko Masuhara (see below), or as an advance purchase in anticipation of the day when same-sex marriages become legally recognized in Japan, it's clear that they intend conveying their support of the LGBTQ community and may continue to update their page as needed...

【ご報告】2013年3月1日(金)東京ディズニーリゾートにてパートナーのひろこさん @ataeru_onna と同性結婚式を挙げました。ミッキー＆ミニーもお祝いにかけつけてくれました！ #同性婚 pic.twitter.com/dMX3LqpmJu
— 東小雪 (@koyuki_higashi) March 1, 2013

...that is, until the day when labels such as "LGBTQ wedding ring" are no longer needed.

Shop Information

If you're interested in K.UNO's jewelry, please visit their homepage here. (For some reason, they don't mention their "LGBTQ wedding ring" service on the top page, so here's a direct link).

Their custom-made jewelry is also available for shipping overseas.

By - Ben K.