Good for you for taking the unexpected travel opportunity. Yay Cathy!
I am Japanese-American and also just got back from a trip abroad. Always good to step out of your life and this country for a bit, take a look around, you know.
I think KH made some great points. I want to add some more thoughts.
Sexuality and gender in Japan do not neatly map onto the Western "spectrum" of progressivity/traditionalism when it comes to these topics. I think it's mostly because Western "traditional" norms come from the Victorian era, and the hangover that ensued as we tried to bust out of the literal and metaphorical corsets. That was imported directly during the US occupation of Japan after World War II: there are stories of American officials scandalized by mixed gender bathing (and remember, this was the 40s and 50s), because in the western mind, nudity was associated with sexuality, promiscuity, and shame (thanks Christianity). I can imagine this led directly to the segregation of male and female baths.
As Japan became more and more westernized, mixed gender bathing became relegated to more rural, less westernized places (I've been to a few, they're wonderful). I think there are many examples of different native cultures' healthier and more permissive relationship to bodies and sexuality being snuffed out in the name of civilization. That's not to say there was not or is not enforced gender performance and sexual violence in Japan--there is a lot.
For example, being a nominally sexually open society (legal $25 BJs, open advertising for kink and sex work defined broadly etc.)-- does not mean gender norms are looser too. I would argue that gender norms are far more intense in Japan than in the US, maybe because society in general values uniformity and collectivity rather than individualism (no Japanese parent would ever, ever, ever tell their kid they're a special snowflake...at least not mine lol). And I think as a reaction to that, Japanese people who do take the risk to be visibly themselves can be incredible and unique, or feel so suffocated that they leave.
I think the thing with wonderfully pretty men (glad you noticed; me too) is that similarly, masculinity is *not* associated with like, the macho dirt-on-boots cowboy archetype. I would even venture as to call one of the thirsty Japanese masculine archetypes as like, a dandy. And to think that this is "gay" (as in, the no-homo kind of thing), is again to falsely map western ideas onto a different cultural model of gender performance.
Lastly, check out the Takarazuka revue theatre troupe. It started in the 1910s; it is an all-female cast Broadway on steroids, and it is truly the greatest and gayest thing ever. They have a huuuuuge following among especially young women, though I imagine only a fraction of those fans would necessarily identify as LGBTQ+. https://youtu.be/jlXWbPPX0_Q
Travel is so important for highlighting how things I take for granted (people sexualize nudity, sex-positivity maps neatly onto gender egalitarianism) are not, in fact, universal throughout space and time.
I definitely saw more than a few men I would describe as dandies in Tokyo. I loved to see it. It was interesting, though, that I rarely saw these men without similarly intentionally dressed women on their arms.
Ty for sharing the Takarazuka revue theatre troupe video. That is super cool! I'd love to see a performance if I ever get to go back.
And I grew up in Japan - and I agree w those statements.
A couple of things to add
1. While Japan still lags behind States and Europe when it comes to gay marriage etc, it was a common practice among samural lord in civil war era (16th century) to have young and good looking men for a role that is the hybrid of secretary/sex partner/henchman.
2. There are places that offer sex "legally" through gymnastic interpretation of law in Osaka called Tobita-Shinchi (and few others) - they operate as "traditional Japanese restaurants" where "waiters happen to fall in love with customers" and "engage in sexual activity based on their agreement and free will". Caution: you can't take pictures there
3. Trans celebrity, for whatever reason, have been a thing in Japan. (Kenichi Mikawa, Matsuko Deluxe etc) If anything, trans and gays are somewhat conflated
4. Men are expected to be more presentable in the States for sure - back when I was in college, the expectation was to read fashion mag and copy styles from there
I am forever in CHH's gratitude, and yours! Thank you for finding me, subscribing, confirming my priors, and lending me your expertise. All your points are so interesting!
1. Kind of like the ancient Greeks?
2. I heard that mixed-gender onsen are only legal outside of Tokyo. Seems very interesting for the big city to regulate sex more strictly. In the US sexual mores tend to be looser in cities than in the countryside.
3. I mean honestly I think that makes way more sense than the trans-exclusive gay advocacy we see here in the US
1. Yeah I’d say so - if anything it’s a mix of Muslim dynasties (male centric polygamy) and Ancient Greece(gay was normalized but lesbian prob not)
2. Yeah, if anything there’s not onsen in Tokyo but mixed onsen, I don’t think is allowed there - some mixed gender onsen are that way simply bc they have minimal facilities (like no changing room etc). And overall when it comes to sexuality, cities are more progressive (like Shibuya allows for same sex companions to have legal acknowledgment) but countryside often is associated with some stereotype of “there’s nothing to do there so they just have sex”
3. Yeah, there are some gayborhoods in Japan, most notably Shinjuku 2-chome, but they have mix of LGBTQ elements there. One of my favorite izakaya is actually there - it’s called “Karamitei-sho” they are pretty much a regular izakaya with a trans chef (they make very good food)
4. I went to college in Japan - I was born in US but grew up in Japan and came back for grad school and got a job here
Good for you for taking the unexpected travel opportunity. Yay Cathy!
I am Japanese-American and also just got back from a trip abroad. Always good to step out of your life and this country for a bit, take a look around, you know.
I think KH made some great points. I want to add some more thoughts.
Sexuality and gender in Japan do not neatly map onto the Western "spectrum" of progressivity/traditionalism when it comes to these topics. I think it's mostly because Western "traditional" norms come from the Victorian era, and the hangover that ensued as we tried to bust out of the literal and metaphorical corsets. That was imported directly during the US occupation of Japan after World War II: there are stories of American officials scandalized by mixed gender bathing (and remember, this was the 40s and 50s), because in the western mind, nudity was associated with sexuality, promiscuity, and shame (thanks Christianity). I can imagine this led directly to the segregation of male and female baths.
As Japan became more and more westernized, mixed gender bathing became relegated to more rural, less westernized places (I've been to a few, they're wonderful). I think there are many examples of different native cultures' healthier and more permissive relationship to bodies and sexuality being snuffed out in the name of civilization. That's not to say there was not or is not enforced gender performance and sexual violence in Japan--there is a lot.
For example, being a nominally sexually open society (legal $25 BJs, open advertising for kink and sex work defined broadly etc.)-- does not mean gender norms are looser too. I would argue that gender norms are far more intense in Japan than in the US, maybe because society in general values uniformity and collectivity rather than individualism (no Japanese parent would ever, ever, ever tell their kid they're a special snowflake...at least not mine lol). And I think as a reaction to that, Japanese people who do take the risk to be visibly themselves can be incredible and unique, or feel so suffocated that they leave.
I think the thing with wonderfully pretty men (glad you noticed; me too) is that similarly, masculinity is *not* associated with like, the macho dirt-on-boots cowboy archetype. I would even venture as to call one of the thirsty Japanese masculine archetypes as like, a dandy. And to think that this is "gay" (as in, the no-homo kind of thing), is again to falsely map western ideas onto a different cultural model of gender performance.
Lastly, check out the Takarazuka revue theatre troupe. It started in the 1910s; it is an all-female cast Broadway on steroids, and it is truly the greatest and gayest thing ever. They have a huuuuuge following among especially young women, though I imagine only a fraction of those fans would necessarily identify as LGBTQ+. https://youtu.be/jlXWbPPX0_Q
Thank you for sharing this with me.
Travel is so important for highlighting how things I take for granted (people sexualize nudity, sex-positivity maps neatly onto gender egalitarianism) are not, in fact, universal throughout space and time.
I definitely saw more than a few men I would describe as dandies in Tokyo. I loved to see it. It was interesting, though, that I rarely saw these men without similarly intentionally dressed women on their arms.
Ty for sharing the Takarazuka revue theatre troupe video. That is super cool! I'd love to see a performance if I ever get to go back.
I came from CHH's substack!
And I grew up in Japan - and I agree w those statements.
A couple of things to add
1. While Japan still lags behind States and Europe when it comes to gay marriage etc, it was a common practice among samural lord in civil war era (16th century) to have young and good looking men for a role that is the hybrid of secretary/sex partner/henchman.
2. There are places that offer sex "legally" through gymnastic interpretation of law in Osaka called Tobita-Shinchi (and few others) - they operate as "traditional Japanese restaurants" where "waiters happen to fall in love with customers" and "engage in sexual activity based on their agreement and free will". Caution: you can't take pictures there
3. Trans celebrity, for whatever reason, have been a thing in Japan. (Kenichi Mikawa, Matsuko Deluxe etc) If anything, trans and gays are somewhat conflated
4. Men are expected to be more presentable in the States for sure - back when I was in college, the expectation was to read fashion mag and copy styles from there
I am forever in CHH's gratitude, and yours! Thank you for finding me, subscribing, confirming my priors, and lending me your expertise. All your points are so interesting!
1. Kind of like the ancient Greeks?
2. I heard that mixed-gender onsen are only legal outside of Tokyo. Seems very interesting for the big city to regulate sex more strictly. In the US sexual mores tend to be looser in cities than in the countryside.
3. I mean honestly I think that makes way more sense than the trans-exclusive gay advocacy we see here in the US
4. Did you go to college in the US or Japan?
1. Yeah I’d say so - if anything it’s a mix of Muslim dynasties (male centric polygamy) and Ancient Greece(gay was normalized but lesbian prob not)
2. Yeah, if anything there’s not onsen in Tokyo but mixed onsen, I don’t think is allowed there - some mixed gender onsen are that way simply bc they have minimal facilities (like no changing room etc). And overall when it comes to sexuality, cities are more progressive (like Shibuya allows for same sex companions to have legal acknowledgment) but countryside often is associated with some stereotype of “there’s nothing to do there so they just have sex”
3. Yeah, there are some gayborhoods in Japan, most notably Shinjuku 2-chome, but they have mix of LGBTQ elements there. One of my favorite izakaya is actually there - it’s called “Karamitei-sho” they are pretty much a regular izakaya with a trans chef (they make very good food)
4. I went to college in Japan - I was born in US but grew up in Japan and came back for grad school and got a job here