The city certifies partnerships between two people regardless of gender (started in 2015)

This program defines a social relationship between two people that has substance no different from marriage as a "partnership," and Shibuya City issues a certificate. On November 5, 2015, it became the first municipality in Japan to start issuing such certificates. With the ordinance amendment in April 2024, it can be used even if the genders in the family register are not the same. It can be applied for by two people who live in Shibuya City and are registered as residents, are 18 or older, have no spouse, have no partner other than each other, and are not close relatives. It is different from legal marriage, but it serves as a basis to support how you are treated in daily life, such as applying to move into city-run housing, hospital visits and medical consent, and being treated as family by private services.