Some countries see homosexuality as a crime punishable by death, while others are open to diversity and make no judgment on the basis of one's sexual orientation.
Japan, where gay rights issues rarely become political topics like in the West, remains tepid on the issue.
Although various openly gay celebrities appear on television comedy and variety shows, experts say sexual minorities in Japan face discrimination and the government does little on behalf of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgender people, known by the abbreviation LGBT.