Hyogo Prefecture Partnership System
Starting April 1, 2024

What is the Hyogo PrefecturePartnership System?
• This system is designed for two people who
recognize each other as life partners to notify theprefectural government of their commitment tocontinuously cooperate with each other in their
daily lives and for the prefectural government tocertify that the notification has been accepted byissuing a Certificate of Acceptance.
• It aims to help solve daily problems and concernsof same-sex couples whose marriages are notlegally recognized in Japan and common-law
couples who have not registered their marriages
for various reasons and to create an environment
where everyone can live in peace and security incooperation with their life partners.

Examples of daily problems andconcerns•••••*Unlike legal marriage, this system has no legal effect andbenefits such as inheritance, tax deductions, etc. will not begranted to couples.

When your partner or their child (parent) is
hospitalized, you are denied permission to seethem or be informed of their condition. You arealso denied to perform their emergency
hospitalization procedures or accompany them.
You cannot move into public housing with yourpartner, who is not a legal relative of yours.
You are denied permission to visit oraccompany your partner’s parent in a nursing
home or other facility.
You feel that your relationship with yourpartner is not accepted or rejected by thecommunity.
When you drop off or pick up your partner’schild at daycare or attend events with the child,people do not understand your relationshipwith the child.

C: Hyogo prefectural flower “Nojigiku(wild chrysanthemum)”AChoose acertificate designfrom A - C.
B: Hyogo’s mascot “Habatan”[Back side] Name of child(ren), parent(s), etc.,
may be listed here

*Upon request, the names of the child(ren), parent(s), and others who sharethe same household finances may be listed on the Certificate of Acceptance.

Eligibility(1 ) Both individuals must be legal adults (18 years of age or older).
(2) One or both individuals must be a resident of Hyogo Prefecture or be planning tomove in.
(3) Neither individual has a spouse under the Civil Code.
(4) Neither individual is in a partnership relationship with any other individuals.
(5) The two individuals are not close relatives, between whom the Civil Code prohibits
marriage (excluding cases of adoption based on partnership relationship).
*All nationalities are eligible.
*All genders, sexual orientations, and gender identities are eligible. This system is intended for samesex couples and heterosexual couples who have not registered their marriage.

How to use this system: Please submit the designatednotification form along with items (1) through (4).

Documents may besubmitted electronically,by mail, or in person.

[Required documents](1 ) Document confirming your address (copy of resident record,certificate of items stated in resident record, etc.)(2) Document confirming that you are not married(abridged copy of family register, single certificate, etc.)(3) Document confirming your identity (“My Number Card(individual number card),” driver’s license, etc.)(4) Photo of the person submitting the notification(taken within the last three months) *Not required if you bring the documents in person.
*If you wish to include the name of child(ren), parent(s), etc., or use your common name on thecertificate, additional documentation is required.

By presenting the Certificate of services are also available. Acceptance, administrativeservices (moving into public housing, visits to public hospitals, etc.) will be more readily
available. Some private
Please refer to the Hyogo Prefecture website for details.

Hyogo Prefecture Partnership System

兵庫県パートナーシップ制度

Professional staff from sexual minority support groups are available
to provide counseling on matters such as sexual orientation, genderidentity, and SOGIE harassment.

PhoneDate

050-3637-7521

Telephone number(Consultation is free of charge, but callers are responsible for call charges.)

Contactinformationandtime

18:00 to 21:00 on Saturdays(excluding year-end and New Year holidays)

5-10-1 Shimoyamate-dori, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-8567
Human Rights Promotion Office, General Affairs Division,Community & Civic Engagement Department, Hyogo Prefecture

Telephone: 078-362-9135; Email: jinken@pref.hyogo.lg.jp