Japan’s Supreme Court has ruled that it is unconstitutional to require citizens to be sterilised before they can officially change genders.
The 2004 law said people could only change their gender if they have no reproductive capacity.
Wednesday’s ruling came after a transgender woman filed a petition challenging the law.
Japan is one of 18 countries that mandate the sterilisation surgery – a requirement that is also opposed by the World Health Organization.
[S]ome groups opposed to the law being changed had argued that if people were allowed to change their registered gender without surgery, it could result in women feeling unsafe. They also argued that it could cause legal confusion.
Source: Japan’s top court says trans sterilisation requirement unconstitutional – BBC News