Job Discussion Forums

artimidorus · Joined: 10 Nov 2009 Posts: 10

So... what are your impressions? I am sure there is a huge difference between the inaka and the big cities, but I am just wondering what its like, what challenges there are, and good/bad experiences, anything really. Ill be going in March and would like some input on the subject. Thanks a bunch! Hard Gay WOOOOOOO!! Surprised

The Dutchess · Joined: 03 Jul 2008 Posts: 16 Location: Kobe, Japan

Personally, I've had no "bad" experiences here. I work for an eikaiwa and everyone knows I'm gay, including the manager who has gay friends herself. Having said that however, I should also point out that they've all lived abroad for at least a few years each and are most likely not a representative sample of the Japanese working population at large...

Of the gay Japanese guys I've met in the year that I've been here, none of them would ever even consider telling their family that they're gay. A very different situation from what I had grown accustomed to (and perhaps at times taken for granted) back home.

If you're in Tokyo, the "gaybourhood" is located in Shinjuku 2-chome. A small section of the city with a bunch of bars and clubs. I can't tell you much about it as I was only there once.

In Osaka, it's Douyama-cho, which is a short walk from JR Osaka and Hankyu Umeda stations. As with Shinjuku 2-chome not a huge area but thanks to the ability of the Japanese to pack 10 bars into a space the size of my house back home, you should have a decent variety to choose from.

By and large from my own experiences and what I've read on the subject, homosexual relationships are far from being seen as equal to heterosexual relationships in the greater social context (never mind legal context, only a handful of countries have managed that so far). Gay Japanese men often marry and have children, and will perhaps have a lover on the side, or simply go out to find someone to play with when they get lonely. This of course is slowly changing and old attitudes about sexuality are gradually evolving.

It could be much worse. I've been quite happy here as long as I don't try to hold my boyfriend's hand while we're out in public or kiss him goodbye at the train station. I don't want to be held responsible for giving some ojisan a heart attack. I inspire enough apprehension and curiosity around here just by being visible.

Never Ceased To Be Amazed · Posted: Sat Nov 28, 2009 2:28 pm Post subject:

NCTBA

Imseriouslylost · Joined: 09 Nov 2009 Posts: 123 Location: Tokyo

seklarwia · Posted: Sat Nov 28, 2009 9:12 pm Post subject:

Apsara · Joined: 20 Sep 2005 Posts: 2142 Location: Tokyo, Japan

Hmm. I know gay couples here in Tokyo who are not at all "shunned by their friends, colleagues and relatives" and have not lost their jobs/been demoted. Not all jobs are at a traditional company, not all people are homophobic. That said, gay guys I know are fairly discreet. As mentioned above, they tend not to go around in public holding hands (although I have seen it here, even in the suburbs).

Never Ceased To Be Amazed · Posted: Tue Dec 01, 2009 7:34 pm Post subject:

NCTBA

womblingfree · Joined: 04 Mar 2006 Posts: 826

My gay friend had a brilliant time in Japan (Tokyo). We'd all head off to Shinjuku, he'd dissapear for a few hours to Shinjuku ni-chome, and come back with all kinds of exotic tales.

There seems to be a vibrant gay scene in Japan and attitudes to male homosexuality are pretty liberal. At one point there were six gay guys at my eikaiwa, two Western teachers and two of the Japanese staff. At least two of the emergency teachers were gay as well.

I think eikaiwa teaching must be second only to air-host in the gay employee stakes. Actually Homosexuality is pretty enshrined in Japanese culture. Samurai regularly took male lovers, this was known as bi-do: The Beautiful Way, and it was believed that the love between two men was greater than the love between a man and a woman.

seklarwia · Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 9:59 pm Post subject:

womblingfree · Joined: 04 Mar 2006 Posts: 826

womblingfree · Joined: 04 Mar 2006 Posts: 826

seklarwia · Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 10:45 pm Post subject:

womblingfree · Joined: 04 Mar 2006 Posts: 826

MOD EDIT

I think in the UK if you show any representation of anyone that even appears to be underage involved in any kind of sex-act you're liable to investigation by the police at the very least. If you ever acted upon your fantasy it's a one way ticket to the sex-offenders register, in fact you'll go on there just for earning the images, if acted upon it's a one way trip to jail.

MOD EDIT

Mr. Kalgukshi · Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 11:48 pm Post subject:

Please stay on topic.

There are certain topics we don't permit here and if they are repeated again on this thread, the thread will disappear and sanctions will be issued.

Cool Teacher · Posted: Thu Dec 03, 2009 1:26 am Post subject:

Hay! I think the Womble is right and gay used to eb more culturally acceptable in days of yore. Wink

Oba Nobunaga was gay, I heard and so was Saigo Takamori and many of the Buddhist momks. Then along came the stuffy ols missionaires and told them that gay was a sin. Rolling Eyes

Funny though because gay is now almost compulsory in the West but a tabboo in Japan. I think it is a bit like extra marital affairs, everyone does it but nobody talks about it. Very Happy