Japan PM fires aide over derogatory LGBT remarks

Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has fired a government aide who made derogatory remarks about LGBT couples.

Masayoshi Arai reportedly said he would not want to live next to, or look at, people in same-sex relationships.

Mr Arai also warned that permitting gay marriage in Japan would lead to many abandoning the country.

Mr Kishida said the remarks were "outrageous" and "completely incompatible" with his government's policies.

Japan - a country still largely bound by traditional gender roles and family values - is the only G7 nation that does not recognise same-sex marriage.

However, recent polling suggests most Japanese support gay marriage. read more