How the loud-and-proud Fab Five were able to find success in a country that lags behind others when it comes to LGBTQ issues.
gay
The new ad will bring tears to your eyes while revealing some interesting statistics about Japanese society.
Boys’ Love (BL) is a genre of fiction in Japan, usually taking the form of manga and anime, that depicts men in romantic relationships with one another. These homosexual stories are generally produced by and for women who want to fangirl over impossibly beautiful men getting frisky with each other.
Like with the maid cafes that cater to male otaku in Akihabara, it was only a matter of time until fictional fantasies started spilling over into the real world. My fellow reporter, Evie, and I went to visit a BL cafe near Otome Road in Ikebukuro, an area filled with stores catering to female otaku and fujoshi.
Good news today for supporters of same-sex marriage in Japan! Tokyo’s Shibuya Ward is moving towards administering marriage certificates for same-sex couples. If the proposed plan is enacted, it would take effect on April 1 this year, making Shibuya the first ward in Japan to recognize same-sex marriage.
Recently a Japanese TV program highlighted an interesting bit of historical trivia: The most common type of revenge killing in the Edo period was between gay lovers. It’s a statistic that shocked many viewers in modern Japan, but there is ample evidence to support that a whole lot of gay sex was going on in the country from between 1400 and 1900.
It was at first a playful fancy of the ruling classes but then grew into a cold yet efficiently run military system of battlefield man-pleasuring. However, as we can see from the previously mentioned little factoid, once guys start letting emotions get involved, the whole thing starts to fall apart.
Gay marriage is still not legal in Japan, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t options for LGBT couples dreaming of tying the knot in Nippon. Joining big venues like Tokyo Disneyland, an ancient Zen temple in the picturesque city of Kyoto is offering gay weddings in traditional Japanese style.
MOST POPULAR
Now
The top 10 annoying foreign tourist behaviors on trains, as chosen by Japanese people【Survey】
Man who stole two packs of ground beef tracked by police for about 1,000 kilometers across Japan
Sugakiya brings back the ’70s with a retro ramen experience in Nagoya
Akihabara curry restaurant declaring bankruptcy after 50 years in Tokyo’s otaku neighborhood
Starbucks releases a Bouquet Frappuccino in Japan…but does it taste like a bunch of flowers?
Why are there so many Hokkaido food fairs in Japanese department stores these days?
Daiso opens massive new 25,392-square foot Tokyo flagship store with its two sub-brands included
Out-of-this-world omamori shrine charms are blessed by the cosmos
Take a trip back in time with an Edo Period-style hanami at the Oedo Fukagawa Sakura Festival
Starbucks teams up with 165-year-old Kyoto doll maker for Year of the Snake decorations【Photos】
Weekly
Bear breaks into house in Japan, quickly begins spending winter exactly like Japanese people do
Starbucks Japan reveals new winter holiday goods to wrap up 2024
Ramen restaurant etiquette reminder follows altercation with angry couple: One person, one bowl
After being snatched up by scalpers, Sailor Moon chocolate returns in officially marked-up complete box
Starbucks Japan releases cute new zodiac goods for Year of the Snake- The top 10 annoying foreign tourist behaviors on trains, as chosen by Japanese people【Survey】
Tokyo’s Super Mario Christmas decoration displays are super cool【Photos】
What’s in a Family Mart lucky bag?
McDonald’s Japan announces Evangelion burger line, releases crazy anime video for them【Video】
Japanese train station vending machine has the best souvenirs for rail otaku
Monthly
J-pop mega star Ado reveals she’s been living in the U.S., may not understand language acquisition- Bear breaks into house in Japan, quickly begins spending winter exactly like Japanese people do
Starbucks Japan is calling it quits with paper straws
Japan’s most popular castle raising ticket prices by up to 200 percent for non-local tourists
Japanese company develops classy heavy metal band frames for glasses
Furikake rice seasoning sales are soaring, which is bad news for Japan as a whole
This downtown Tokyo cafe is like a time machine that takes you back 50 years into the past
Station of despair: What to do if you get stuck at the end of Tokyo’s Chuo Rapid Line
Studio Ghibli heroine cardigans give you warmth and strength to face everyday challenges
Uniqlo announces first-ever collaboration with horror manga master Junji Ito【Photos】
Yearly
McDonald’s new Happy Meals offer up cute and practical Sanrio lifestyle goods
Foreign tourists on Shinkansen bullet train break suitcase etiquette, angering local passengers
Possessing Harry Potter’s Sword of Godric Gryffindor is now illegal in Japan
[Deleted] Article written for April Fool’s Day 2018
Japanese government to make first change to romanization spelling rules since the 1950s
Foreigner’s request for help in Tokyo makes us sad for the state of society
Japanese convenience store Family Mart announces abolishment of eat-in spaces
Life-size vibrating Legend of Zelda Master Sword for sale from Nintendo【Photos】
Princesses, fruits, and blacksmiths: Study reveals the 30 most unusual family names in Japan
Studio Ghibli releases free-download board game — Here’s how to play it without reading Japanese
RECOMMENDED STORIES
Why are there so many Hokkaido food fairs in Japanese department stores these days?
Daiso opens massive new 25,392-square foot Tokyo flagship store with its two sub-brands included
Out-of-this-world omamori shrine charms are blessed by the cosmos
Take a trip back in time with an Edo Period-style hanami at the Oedo Fukagawa Sakura Festival
Starbucks teams up with 165-year-old Kyoto doll maker for Year of the Snake decorations【Photos】
We sample the deep sea fish and more at this delectable sushi restaurant in Shizuoka Prefecture
What’s in a Family Mart lucky bag?
How to get all-you-can eat doughnuts at Mister Donut for just 12 bucks!
Travel to a Japanese convenience store at an active volcano
Japanese confectionery giant Glico adds three new flavours to their regional Pocky range
Sonic creator thanks fans for loving character so much that his ugly movie design will be changed
Creating an open-air hot spring bath (without a hot spring) at our cheap Japanese country house【Vids】
Enjoy a Pokémon tea ceremony with new matcha goods featuring Poltchageist and Sinistcha
-
