Osaka approved homosexual couple as foster parents: report
The Mainichi Newspaper reported this week that Osaka City approved a homosexual couple to foster child in December. / Courtesy of Pixabay
By Eom Da-sol
In a Japanese first, Osaka City approved a homosexual couple to foster a child from an orphanage in December, according to The Mainichi Newspaper Wednesday.
The city did not disclose details of the men, except that they were in their 30s and 40s. Even Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare said it had “never heard of this news.”
The ministry distributed guidelines on adoption and foster home approval to provincial governments in 2011. Although no previous case exists, the guidelines mentioned that “homosexual couples can apply for an adoption if they want.”
The ministry is unaware of any homosexual couples becoming adoptive or foster parents.
The issue of homosexual couples being acknowledged as “married couples” able to adopt or foster a child has been controversial in Japan.
According to Japan’s Ministry of Education, there are 45,000 children under government care due to domestic violence. Most stay in orphanages, while only 5,000 are in foster homes.
Foster parents in Osaka officially earn approval when they complete a week-long course at the Osaka Child Consultation Center.
There are 119 foster couples in the city.