A Japanese court on Wednesday allowed a gender change to be legally recognized without the need for sterilization for the first time in the country’s history. Japan’s Okayama Family Court Tsuyama Branch ruled in favor of Tacaquito Usui, allowing him to legally change his gender to male without having to undergo sterilization surgery, a controversial requirement struck down in 2023 as unconstitutional by Japan’s Supreme Court. 

Sterilization is a permanent surgical procedure that removes one’s capacity to reproduce. Before Japan’s Supreme Court ruled the practice unconstitutional, for one to have their gender legally recognized, transgender people were required to, among several steps, be surgically sterilized.

Sterilization was controversial because by making it a requirement for legal status, the state gave little choice for transgender people, creating a narrow decision between either having the surgery or having their gender legally recognized. Thus, the sterilization requirements were understood among human rights activists as a forced and invasive surgery.

Human rights groups like Human Rights Watch (HRW) have called this a breach of international human rights, including a violation of dignity, privacy and health. Anecdotal accounts indicate those whose gender is not recognized face daily challenges when traveling domestically or internationally and when trying to access social services like healthcare, marriage licenses or even transit checks.

After Wednesday’s historic ruling, Usui said in a press conference, ” I feel a new life is beginning” as he is now is able to marry his partner, who he shares a 13-year-old son with.