Fridae

The Japan Times reported on April 26, 2001:

Openly gay candidate Taiga Ishikawa won a seat in the Toshima Ward Assembly in Tokyo in Sunday's election, marking a historic first.

Taiga Ishikawa. Photo: AFP

Before the 36-year-old writer and activist, no openly gay person had been elected to public office in Japan.

The Toshima race saw 53 candidates vie for 36 seats, according to the ward office.

"I hope this news will give a hope to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people who still feel isolated from the society," said Ishikawa. "I will do my best to make Toshima Ward more friendly to LGBT people, young people and foreigners."

Ishikawa, an advocate of LGBT rights and former secretary to Social Democratic Party leader Mizuho Fukushima, published the book "Boku no Kareshi wa Doko ni Iru?" ("Where is My Boyfriend?") in 2002 under his real name. In 2004, he founded a nonprofit group that creates chances for LGBT people to make friends.

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In an interview with the Japan Times published last month, he said: "I know it's a big plan, but if elected, I hope I can enact a partnership ordinance" that would allow unmarried couples regardless of gender to have equal rights as married couples.