The Japanese prime minister, Fumio Kishida, fired an adviser who stated he would not want to live next to LGBTQ+ couples and that people would abandon the country if same-sex marriage was legalized.

In comments reported by local media, Masayoshi Arai, an economy and trade official who joined Kishida’s team in October as a secretary, stated that he did not even want to consider same-sex marriages.

“His words are terrible and entirely incompatible with the administration’s policies,” Kishida said in remarks broadcast by NHK on Saturday.

The leader told reporters later that he had sacked Arai, who had apologised for “misleading” remarks on Friday.

After Kishida said in parliament that same-sex marriage’s effects on the family needed careful consideration, Arai made these words.

Japanese PM dismisses aide for anti-LGBTQ+ remarks

Kishida is embarrassed by the episode as he prepares to host the leaders of the other G7 nations in May. In contrast to Japan, which has been governed by the conservative Liberal Democratic party for the majority of the last seven decades the other G7 nations recognize same-sex marriage and civil unions.

Recent polls show Kishida’s public support at 30% due to a spate of scandal-tainted resignations by prominent officials.

Mio Sugita, a vice-minister of internal affairs and communications. Resigned in December after making contentious remarks about LGBTQ+ individuals and Japan’s indigenous Ainu.

In July 2021, two months before Kishida became prime minister, 57% of 1,508 NHK respondents favoured legalising same-sex unions.

Since they cannot marry, same-sex couples cannot inherit each other’s possessions or have parental rights.

A Tokyo court upheld a prohibition on same-sex marriage in November. But stated that the absence of legal protection for same-sex families infringed their human rights.