Denying same-sex marriage unconstitutional, a Japanese high court says

Support for marriage equality has grown among the Japanese public in recent years (Kyodo News via AP)

A Japanese high court has ruled that denying same-sex marriage is unconstitutional and called for urgent government action to address the lack of any law allowing for such unions.

The court does not have the power to overturn the current marriage law, which has been interpreted to restrict marriage as between a man and a woman.