Category: japan

Articles Drag japan Jill Tokuda LGBTQ+ Long Reads News Nightlife Originals Queer nightlife Sex tokyo

Tokyo’s queer club scene is sweaty, messy and surrounding you at all sides

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From sweaty techno parties to late-night drag showcases, Kat Joplin explores how the city’s growing LGBTQIA+ district is creating space for trans and non-binary communities. WORDS BY KAT JOPLIN HEADER DESIGN BY ANISA CLEAVER The Shibuya club is small but packed with life. Rotating beams of coloured lights overhead, shivering curtains of blue and green hair on the dance floor. Stick-and-poke and abstract tattoos, heavy eyeliner, lipstick in shades of pink and turquoise. Loud conversations shouted over the techno: Japanese, Portuguese, English, and more. Barely visible in the flashing lights,…

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Articles Explainer India japan LGBTQ+ News Life Nepal News Openly

LGBTQ+ rights in Asia: Progress and setbacks in 2023

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There have been gains and setbacks on LGBTQIA+ rights in Asia this year, ranging from the first same-sex marriages in Nepal to South Korea’s decision to uphold a ban on gay relations in the military. From Afghanistan and Malaysia to the Maldives, gay sex remains a crime, according to a 2023 report by the Human Dignity Trust, a rights group. Here is a look at developments in Asia in 2023. India The country’s Supreme Court declined to legalise same-sex marriage in October, dealing a blow to the hopes of LGBTQIA+…

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Articles Coming Out Story Culture J-pop japan LGBTQ+ Music Artist LGBTQ+ News Life Music News Shinjiro Atae

J-Pop star Shinjiro Atae reflects on coming out in a heartfelt letter: “It still hasn’t hit me”

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J-Pop star Shinjiro Atae has opened up about his coming out journey in a new statement.  Back in July, the 34-year-old made waves when he came out as gay during a performance in Tokyo, Japan.  “It has taken me a long time to be able to say I am gay,” the singer shared. “I could not even say it to myself. I feared that even if I could accept the truth, the world would never accept me as an artist,” he said during his heartfelt speech (per, The New York Times). …

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Articles Culture japan LGBTQ+ Community LGBTQ+ Singer Music News Pop Pop Music Shinjiro Atae

“I am a gay man”: Japanese pop star Shinjiro Atae comes out in groundbreaking speech

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J-Pop singer Shinjiro Atae publicly came out as gay at an event in front of 2,000 fans. The 34-year-old revealed that he was gay in a heartwarming speech during a performance in Tokyo on 26 July. “It has taken me a long time to be able to say I am gay,” the singer shared. “I could not even say it to myself. I feared that even if I could accept the truth, the world would never accept me as an artist. “However, I’ve come to realise it is better, both…

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Articles Gay marriage japan LGBTQ+ News Life Marriage Marriage Equality News Same-sex marriage

‘Major step for equality’: Japan court rules that ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional

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Japan’s government is facing renewed pressure to legalise same-sex marriage after a court ruled its ban is unconstitutional. Nagoya District Court’s decision marks the second time that a Japanese court has ruled against the country’s stance on same-sex marriage in the last two years. Two others declared that the ban is in line with the post-war constitution, which defines marriage as based on “the mutual consent of both sexes”. Japan is currently the only G7 nation with no legal protection for same-sex unions and the ruling is likely to add…

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Articles Gay marriage japan LGBTQ+ marriage LGBTQ+ News Life Marriage Marriage Equality News Same-sex marriage

Japan’s opposition party submits bill to legalise same-sex marriage

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Japan’s leading opposition party has submitted a bill to legally recognise same-sex marriage in a bid to ignite debate on the issue in parliament. The Constitutional Democratic Party (CDP) is proposing that the country’s Civil Code be amended as its current wording is based on the notion that marriage is a union between partners of different sexes. The bill, which was submitted on 6 March, comes just two months ahead of Japan hosting the next G7 summit meeting in May. It is currently the only member of the intergovernmental political…

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Articles japan LGBTQ+ News Life Marriage News Same-sex marriage

Is Japan making progress on same-sex marriage?

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Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has denied that Japan is operating a system of “unjust discrimination” in banning same-sex marriage, dampening LGBTQ+ campaigners’ hopes for reform. Kishida’s conservative Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has long resisted calls to allow gay marriages. However, it is facing growing pressure to support LGBTQ+ rights, with a recent survey showing nearly two thirds of people in Japan back same-sex marriage. “I don’t think disallowing same-sex couples to marry is unjust discrimination by the state,” Kishida told a member of the opposition this week, according to news…

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Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Articles Democrats japan LGBTQ+ News Life News

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Democrats pressure Japan to advance LGBTQ+ rights

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Ahead of the Group of Seven summit this May, U.S. Representative Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez has urged Japan to move forward on legislation that protects its LGBTQ+ citizens. Local activists have been calling on the government to legalise same-sex marriage country-wide and, out of the G7 countries, Japan is the only one that doesn’t have that protection.  While a landmark ruling from 2021 declared that queer citizens should have the right to get married in the country, a Japanese court recently ruled that banning same-sex marriage is constitutional. Currently, the country’s constitution defines marriage as…

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Anti-LGBTQ discrimination Articles Culture Fumio Kishida japan LGBTQ+ News Life News Prime Minister

Japan’s Prime Minister issues an apology for his former aide’s anti-LGBTQ+ remarks

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Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has released an apology for his former aide’s homophobic comments. On 4 February, the economy and trade official Masayoshi Arai was fired from his secretary position after he was heard making disparaging remarks about LGBTQ+ couples. According to Reuters, Arai claimed that people would leave Japan if the country legalised same-sex marriage. He also said that he wouldn’t live next to LGBTQ+ couples. “His comments are outrageous and completely incompatible with the administration’s policies,” Kishida said before announcing his aide’s termination. In response to the backlash…

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Articles japan LGBTQ Rights LGBTQ+ News Life News Same-sex marriage Tokyo Court

Japan court upholds ban on same-sex marriage but urges for more LGBTQ+ protections

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A Japanese court has upheld its ruling banning same-sex marriage while calling for more LGBTQ+ protections. Over the last few years, local activists have called on Japan’s government to legalise same-sex marriage country-wide.  Out of the G7 countries, Japan is the only one that doesn’t have that protection.  While a landmark ruling from 2021 declared that queer citizens should have the right to get married in the country, a Japanese court recently ruled that banning same-sex marriage is constitutional. Currently, the country’s constitution defines marriage as “mutual consent between both…

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