Despite the universality of homosexuality and gender issues, there is incredible diversity in the cultures and contexts within which they exist and how they are dealt with by the individuals themselves and the larger heterosexual community.
"Queer Japan" is a collection of auto-biographical stories written by Japanese gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender individuals about their experiences of growing up, coming out (or not coming out), living, working, and maintaining relationships in an unsympathetic society. Although the issues of acceptance are the same world-over, the situation is dramatically different in Japan than in North America for several reasons. Number one, Christianity remains a tiny, tiny, minority in Japan and hence there is no religious doctrine that condemns homosexuality. In fact, male homosexuality is implicitly expected in situations in which women are banned, such as the Buddhist priesthood. There is less overt hatred and GLBT people are much less likely to become the target of violence in Japan.
However, GLBT Japanese people face perhaps an even worse threat than physical violence; complete and total ostracism. Although a democratic, modern country, Japan is barely over a hundred years out of feudalism and many of the values continue today. Conformity is valued above all else and the standard Japanese response to conflict is avoidance. Consequently, those individuals, GLBT or otherwise, that do not exactly match society's norms find themselves alienated from their friends, colleagues, and families - they are often treated as if they don't even exist.
Although transvestites appear on TV regularly, everyone knows that "Shinjuku Ni Chome" is the gay district of Tokyo and that Yukio Mishima, a hugely celebrated Japanese author, was gay, GLBT issues remain taboo and completely unacknowledged legally and socially. "Queer Japan" provides an fascinating look into how being GLBT translates into another culture.
This book struck a particularly resonant note in me because I have first hand experience - I came out while living in Japan and had my first relationship with a partially closeted Japanese factory worker. Whether you have had personal experience in Japan or not, you are likely to be able to empathize with the biographies in "Queer Japan" and you will not only come away with a better understanding of Japan, but also a better appreciation of how far we've come in North America.
Reviewed 28 January 1999 by Sean McLennan.