Job Discussion Forums

vallillo1983 · Joined: 07 Apr 2005 Posts: 194

Hey guys, I am thinking of coming to teach in either Japan or Taiwan, Basically, I am trying to find out what gay life's like outside of TOKYO! I do not want to work in TK, the cities inmind are Kobe, Kyoto, Sapporo and Fukuoka, so any info would be cool, if you dnt want to leave a track for whatever reason PM me!

Cheers guys

PAULH · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 4672 Location: Western Japan

TokyoLiz · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1548 Location: Tokyo, Japan

I second Paul on that. The gay/lesbian community in Tokyo is soooo small that I'd expect it to be nonexistent outside of the Big Mikan.

Most of my gay male colleagues working in Canada had worked in Japan before - they found Tokyo very cliquey and a very small pool of people to date.

PAULH · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 4672 Location: Western Japan

As an added footnote, there was a lesbian legislator who came out in a recent election campaign so she could campaign for gay and lesbian rights in Osaka as most laws are made by heterosexuals for heterosexuals and their voices were not being heard. She won a seat in the local assembly but from what I read the pols in osaka dont know what to make of her.

In Osaka there was a group called Out and About that organised activities for gays and lesbians. There are gay bars and transvestites etc but like anything you have to know people and get invited. Its not like san fransisco where you bump into them on the street. Even many gays here are married and have a lover on the side.

Synne · Joined: 06 Apr 2004 Posts: 269 Location: Tohoku

I wont comment that I know much about this as I dont, but what little I do know is that there seems to be a gay community in Nagoya.

I visited a gay bar with a friends Mom that was packed. Not to say all men there were gay but I think it goes to show that a good group of men accept it at least.

Lots of fun too, Id recommend it to anyone. Very easy going and great entertainment from some very outgoing Japanese men.

azarashi sushi · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Posts: 562 Location: Shinjuku

Hi Vallillo,

From the the cities you mentioned, I know there are gay places in Sapporo and Fukuoka. Although my personal feeling is, if you are a gay, you need to live in Tokyo. It's the best city in Japan for gay people. You said you don't want to live in Tokyo... Why is that?

Tokyo is no Sydney or San Francisco but it has decent gay life. Like everything in Japan, it's different to the west and takes a bit of getting used to but I don't find it cliquey at all. Nor would I say there is a small dating pool.

Remember, if you go somewhere and don't like it, you can always change.

By the way Liz, are you a lesbian?

A.S.

moot point · Joined: 22 Feb 2005 Posts: 441

I'm sure you'll find your mix. Try applying with ALC. A large portion of the teachers are gay.

gyoliver · Joined: 27 Jul 2005 Posts: 8 Location: Cambridge, MA

hey, what is this 'alc' that you mention? do they have a website?

Doglover · Joined: 14 Dec 2004 Posts: 305 Location: Kansai

osakajojo · Joined: 15 Sep 2004 Posts: 229

jguyusguy.org should tell u all u need to know