Wrath upon people not wearing masks, a man caught red-handed for spraying disinfectant on three customers in a supermarket

The Hiroshima Higashi police caught an unemployed man, 54, from Fuchu-cho, Hiroshima on October 13 after he sprayed an alcohol disinfectant on customers in a supermarket. He admitted to his crime by explaining that he got angry at the victims for not wearing masks so he sprayed them with disinfectant.

　According to the report, the suspect was in a supermarket in Aosakiminami, Fuchu-cho on Oct. 13 at 6 p.m. He sprayed alcohol disinfectant, which is normally used for cell phones, at the faces of 3 customers who were all 16-year-old part-time workers. The police from the 110th station rushed to the scene and caught the suspect outside the store.

Source: https://yomidr.yomiuri.co.jp/article/20201014-OYT1T50260/?catname=news-kaisetsu_news

The Shape of a Family: We, the Ones Not Recognized as a Family, Hope For the Quick Development in Legislation

Ayane Hirano (on the left) and Mayuri Nomura talking about the first time they met and their thoughts about marriage in their living room. Fuchu, Tokyo

The living room bathed in sunlight. The two of them drinking plain hot water, sweating from doing yoga as they watch something on YouTube. They eat breakfast, do laundry, clean, and then go to a nearby cafe.

　This is their Sunday morning routine ever since they moved to Fuchu in April. “It's plain and simple, but it's probably the most fun time." Ayane Hirano (26), a pharmacist, and Mayuri Nomura (27), a percussionist working for an agency, looked at each other and smiled.

　The two did their partnership oath in Fuchu in August. On the same day, they drew up a notarized document, which recognizes their relationship as equivalent to the societal definition of a married couple. In other words, they got "married."

　They started dating during the summer of last year. "It's better to do the partnership oath," they said, moving from downtown Tokyo to Fuchu, which has the partnership system. Currently, same-sex couples cannot get married in Japan. They believe that partnership systems recognized by the local government have limited legal power, so to make up for that, they spent several thousands of yen to draw up a notarized document.

　"We haven't encountered this problem yet, but we might not be able to do the same things that heterosexual couples can do during emergencies such as visiting each other in the hospital or signing waivers for surgery. I'm also worried that we won't be able to appoint a legal heir or qualify for marital deduction," Mayuri said.

◆ Acceptance Beyond Expectations

They introduced their partner to their families while they were dating. "Now that I think about it, I guess that makes sense," Ayane's father told her. Meanwhile, Mayuri's father said, "As long as you're not alone, I'm okay with it."

　They also told their bosses and colleagues at work. Ayane's boss negotiated with the HR department for Ayane to take a marriage leave even though her relationship is not considered to be, in legal terms, a marriage. The hospital she works at released a policy the other day that treats the partnership system with the same respect as a marriage. "I'm so happy that my boss took the action for me. I'm so glad I spoke up," Ayane was thrilled to say.

　At the nearby shop they usually go to, they were asked, "Are you sisters?" They answered, "No, we're partners." The elderly woman replied with a smile, "Oh, I see." There was also a time when a restaurant spontaneously brought them a special dish to celebrate their marriage. "We didn't expect that people around us would be so accepting," they said. It is exactly because of this that they think that the Japanese legislation has not caught up with people's attitude towards the LGBTQ+.

◆ Invisible Families on the National Census

　The national census that began this month counts extended family members like nephews and nieces who live with you as part of the family, but not same-sex couples. They consider themselves as an invisible family. "We live not so differently from your regular couple, and still it's not right for them."

　They are planning to invite their family and friends to their wedding next year. "If only the people around us, the kindness of everyone who celebrated our marriage would become the common practice in our country. Then, we would be able to get married sooner." Mayuri said as Ayane nodded in agreement, both of them sitting on the sofa.

◇

　The era where a married heterosexual couple with children is considered as the typical family model is over. In reality, there are already various types of families that exist, which go beyond the framework of the current legislation. These families follow after the example of the three-member family model where they face every day with a bright and positive attitude.

　Same-sex couples and the national census: The national census, a survey to record information about the population and the households, is conducted once every five years. In the case of same-sex couples, the government does not consider them as a married couple, which consists of the head of the household and their spouse. However, they treat having relatives living in the same household as a family. Organizations aiming for the legalization of same-sex marriage submitted a demand letter addressed to the Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications to recognize and include same-sex couples in the census. The Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications, Sanae Takaichi, made her intentions clear by not including same-sex couples in this year's census.

　(Kai Okuno is leading this serial story) 

【Related Article】Same-sex couples are also families: Demanding inclusion in the national census

Source: https://www.tokyo-np.co.jp/article/57064