Professor Miho Mitsunari, VP of Nara Women’s University

In Japan, transgender people are required to undergo medical procedures in order to change their legal gender. These procedures put a huge burden on the body and they are irreversible once done. They are also extremely expensive and lengthy.

Dr. Jun Koh, Psychiatrist

Due to the surgery requirement for a legal change of gender, there are transgender people that undergo surgery and hormone therapy even though they have no discomfort in retaining their bodies as they are. ‘

Itsuki Dohi, Transgender activist

The decision to undergo surgery should be made by transgender people themselves and is a separate matter from legal gender change.

Professor Hiroyuki Taniguchi, Legal Scholar

The law itself is designed to force transgender people into the existing legal system rather than ensuring their ability to live according to their gender identity.

Junko Mitsuhashi, Scholar and Lecturer Meiji University

I would like to see a legal system that is not an embarrassment under international human rights standards.