LGBT Festival in Japan Collects 188 Postcards Urging Lawmakers to Support Same-Sex Marriage
Visitors to Kyushu Rainbow Pride in the Japanese city of Fukuoka prepared 188 postcards asking national lawmakers to support same-sex marriage during the festival on 17–18 October 2026. Marriage For All Japan reported the total on 22 October.
The headline of the final report gives different dates: 16–17 October. However, Fukuoka Prefecture and the festival organisers give 17–18 October. Those dates also appeared in Marriage For All Japan’s advance announcement.
The postcards were addressed mainly to lawmakers from the Kyushu region. In its announcement of the initiative, the organisation said its members, plaintiffs in same-sex marriage cases and lawyers would deliver the collected messages to lawmakers or their offices. The final report confirms that the postcards were collected, but does not say they have all been delivered.
The stand operated in Tenjin Central Park near the historic Kihinkan building, with help from volunteers and the lawyers handling marriage equality cases in Kyushu. Its exhibition paired photographs with letters between same-sex partners and correspondence between LGBT people and their relatives. Other panels explained the court cases and the situation of same-sex couples.
According to the organisation’s report, Kazuki Tanabe, mayor of Koga in Fukuoka Prefecture, visited the stand and left words of support on a visitors’ message board. A discussion also addressed coming out and family relationships, while lawyers explained the progress of the court cases.
Marriage For All Japan was established in 2019 and advocates legislation recognising same-sex marriage. The organisation works with lawmakers, holds public information events and supports marriage equality litigation.
