Rahm Emanuel advocates for gay rights in Japan despite conservative backlash.

U.S. Ambassador to Japan, Rahm Emanuel, has drawn criticism from conservatives in Japan for advocating LGBTQ rights and same-sex marriage. Critics accuse Emanuel of overstepping the bounds of diplomacy and interfering in domestic policy. Japan is the only G-7 country that has not legalized same-sex unions, despite polls indicating that over 70% of the Japanese public supports same-sex marriage. While some argue that foreign pressure can help budge political leaders on entrenched issues, others question whether Emanuel's advocacy is the best course for closer relations between the US and Japan.