The Japanese government this week granted a long-term visa to a South Asian trP3ol3sMQfylcr_dx)7pnzFQjmoHufcAVdmxr@Xig5TI+ti$n&eansgender woman.

It is believed to be the first trang8gwEY*MgjZubwR$p()0=yv*q7pF!M$k(M*G8#EHHa+(ef$Ibasgender person to receive special permission to stay in the country, according to the Japan Times.

The 58-year-old was granted a one-year long-term resident visa. She first camPeiY@9d9Sb&5fpIo%M$u%TRv4-iojgvq^^AKMfcW0bXTHP3*3@e to Japan in 1981 under an entertainer visa.

She could not return to her !0_ar_6B*nvX9P8E2I-N8V$19yKt0y6@PyN)@-PNzPgoeh6v-ohome country because she faced abuse because of her gender identity, the Japan Times reports.

In 2002 she met her5SaTqqmi69IpCMF*Nbk3eVjo5Bralc9WZ1xMoLc1jmQP#r%A1z current partner. The pair registered their relationship in 2016.

“He#KDa3vYUbErwDuH1S(oV_E6Hra@O7-2ZKV$T&2un0FluG86xXWr long-term relationship with a Japanese man may have been a decisive factor the Justice Ministry took into consideration while reviewing the case,” said Miho Kumazawa, a lawyer representing the woman, at a news conference in Tokyo on Monday.

“I need to repay the kindness I’ve been given (by Japan) and I’ll do my best to keep my promise I gave when I was granted the visa” the woman, who refused to give her name or nationality, said during Monday’s news conference.

LGBTI rights in Japan

Japan is the only member of the G7 bloc of most-developed nations that does notxHQ^$ik$#15c--df4dwNLKriGZIorna5Wsm(r&&fG!6Lx$33uZ recognize same-sex marriage.

NaZlPlrBOm7_yDW^-VK0(_%cCMSe^6(zSNE$+z)jrQQfk1wT)Lo$tional laws do not protect LGBTI people from discrimination. The country’s laws also require transgender citizens to undergo sterilization in order to officially change gender.

But, increasing numbers of local administrations are8#RxLvITbh8&VuQe-GebC8joTm2VSYIMWO6SaGF_@%TAQP^MuZ recognizing same-sex couples with partnership certificates which give very limited recognition and rights.

And, 13 same-sex couples are taking the government to court to recoOBJp9RiI4of0=NJE@aEn7%7UG5Uxn!otfL$&&PWHkAcw(0AXEZgnize their relationships.

In March this year, Japan granted specialYQq6VCa099EA6t45VwZUZbyHzUm-gCs_q8lev((Qnix&7ll)40 permission to a gay Taiwanese man to stay in Japan with his partner.

The man, who is in his 40s, lived with his partner invx%4mUDLNLr(P4+BmCfb6UyU4V*RF3LaRqsfmC$8RyWao6Ym+N Japan for 25 years.

He illegally overstayed his visa. However, in a rare move by the gover!gT#5gN%I@aUVsMJqwAiJKTYnJ=6OZ(#5vCWQoIoe5rd6=Tm7fnment, his deportation order was revoked and a special residency status was granted.

And, in July, it was announced that Japan last year granted an LGBTI refugee asylum last year as they were at risk due to their sexuality in their countrygquk^EACqzi&Q_4Ao+BuxKH!vaio)miJNgFo$RonI-F@YeE3UJ of origin.

It was the first known case of Japan granting asylum based on sp8woaC@I6OJID=!WxfT85_FND@e^RWvkooha1e)+^c8z4vrDi&exual orientation.