Japan's Supreme Court Deems Mandatory Gender Surgery Unconstitutional

Japan's Supreme Court has ruled that a law requiring surgery to remove reproductive capabilities for gender change is unconstitutional. The court cited progress in medical knowledge and an increasing trend against required sterilization overseas. The ruling will lead to a review of the sterilization requirement, allowing transgender individuals to change their gender without undergoing surgery. However, the court did not reach a conclusion on the surgery requirement related to physical appearance and has requested a high court to reevaluate it. The applicant in the case expressed disappointment, as her request for a gender change has been denied due to not undergoing surgery. The court acknowledged that required sterilization violates individuals' freedom from "invasion into their body against their will."