Kawanishi City Partnership and Family Ship Oath System Starts / Kawanishi City, Hyogo Prefecture

Kawanishi City, Hyogo Prefecture, is expanding its "Kawanishi City Partnership Oath System," introduced on August 1, 2020, and will launch the new "Kawanishi City Partnership and Family Ship Oath System" on April 1, 2026. This new system will expand the scope, which previously only covered relationships between partners, to officially certify family relationships including children and parents of those who have declared a partnership.

Kawanishi City introduced the "Partnership Oath System" on August 1, 2020. This system issues a "Certificate of Receipt of Oath" by the city to two individuals, one or both of whom are sexual minorities, who declare that they respect each other as life partners and cooperate in daily life.

Kawanishi City is now further expanding the system and will introduce the "Family Ship System" on April 1, 2026. This will allow the "Kawanishi City Partnership and Family Ship Oath System" to officially certify not only the partners themselves but also family relationships including their children (including adopted children) and parents (including adoptive parents and their spouses).

Under the Family Ship System, if one or both of the children (including adopted children) or parents (including adoptive parents and their spouses) of those who have declared a partnership promise to respect each other as family and continuously cooperate in daily life, the city will certify that family relationship. Although these systems do not have legal effect, obtaining official certification makes it easier to explain "family" in daily life and offers benefits such as smoother access to administrative and private services.

The city believes that this initiative supports everyone to live authentically with their important partners and their families, and takes another step forward in creating a city that embraces diverse ways of life.

[Remarks] Persons who can declare Family Ship ● Must be a child or parent of one or both persons who have declared a partnership. ● Must be a relationship where they promise to respect each other as family and continuously cooperate in daily life. ● If declaring Family Ship including children or parents aged 15 or older, consent from the child or parent is required.