Famiee’s partnership certificates support unconventional couples

Famiee is an organization that issues partnership certificates to couples who are not legally married, including same-sex couples, using blockchain technology. These certificates can be submitted to companies and local governments that accept the system, letting the couples receive services and benefits that conventionally are granted only to married couples.

Famiee received the Sustainable Japan ESG Special Award presented by The Japan Times for its contribution to human well-being through the acceptance of diverse family forms. In a recent online interview with The Japan Times, founder and CEO Koki Uchiyama said that what is behind Famiee’s service is the hope to accelerate national legal reform to recognize diverse family forms and partnerships that are not based on conventional marriage.

Uchiyama said that although certificates issued by municipalities are symbolic rather than legally binding, many companies welcomed this movement and began to accept the certificates as official proof of partnership. “This inspired me to think that the private sector has the potential to be the driver of societal change,” he said.

But certificates issued by municipalities are only valid locally. Uchiyama felt a sense of urgency to support people who face everyday concerns such as what happens if they are hospitalized or want to rent a house or apply for a mortgage. “I thought it would take a long time for the national government to change laws or for all municipalities to adopt a similar system. So I began to think about what we can do to offer immediate help to those people,” he said.

That was when he came up with an idea to use blockchain technology to create a partnership certificate system. “I think the technology is suited for doing something for the social good,” he said. The technology ensures privacy and prevents the falsification of documents, allowing certificates to transcend municipal boundaries.

A key challenge was the initial lack of widespread acceptance for a privately issued partnership certificate. “Benefits such as the right to become the beneficiary of life insurance or receive employee benefits were needed to attract certificate applicants, but companies’ willingness to accept the certificates depends on the number of the certificate holders,” Uchiyama said.

To overcome this chicken-and-egg issue, Uchiyama established a committee to review and improve the partnership certificate system, inviting major corporations without demanding immediate acceptance. By addressing their concerns, which centered around fraud and privacy, Famiee built trust and enhanced the system. This collaborative approach led to early adoption of the system by influential companies like Mizuho Financial Group and Istyle Inc., encouraging other companies to follow suit.

Currently, Famiee’s certificates are accepted by over 100 companies, hospitals and municipalities nationwide, primarily for internal use including the provision of employee benefits, with some expansion into consumer products and services by companies such as Axa Life Insurance Co., which accepts Famiee’s certificates as a proof in designating beneficiaries, and Japan Airlines, which uses Famiee’s certificates in providing mileage services.