Assignment 3: Questions

Essential Question:

How and why have views on homosexuality changed in Japan?

Foundation Questions:

What are the past and present laws on homosexuality in Japan?

What are the main forms of gay awareness in Japan?

How did Japan change its views on homosexuality in the past?

Why did Japan change its views on homosexuality in the past?

Who are the main figures for gays in Japan, and what are their impacts on society?

What are the reasons people in Japan are against same-sex marriage?

How is homosexuality portrayed in Japanese pop culture?

What is homophobia like in Japan today?

Assignment 2: Ten "Interesting" Facts

1. Dating even before the 1600s and until the mid 1800s, Buddhist priests, samurais, and other men were commonly involved with young and pretty males (Hawkins).
2. Japan began to be influenced by European countries' negative views on homosexuality in the Meiji period (1868-1912) because they wanted to be seen as modern (Hawkins).
3. In 2003, Aya Kamikawa became the first openly transgender elected official in Tokyo ("Setagaya OKs..."). 
4. The Japanese word for "gay" is "gei" ("Japanese Gay...").
5. Shinjuku is Tokyo's main gay district ("Homosexuality and...").
6. The first ever Gay and Lesbian Parade in Japan was held on Shinjuku Street in 1992 ("Homosexuality and...").
7. Gay organizations have a small number of members because most Japanese gays don’t want to draw attention to themselves ("Homosexuality and...").
8. Tokyo is the host to a gay and lesbian film festival every year ("Tokyo International...")
9. Japanese gays are not big on fighting discrimination ("Homosexuality and...").
10. Japan is a society where conformity and social harmony are valued, but homosexual are often looked upon as outcasts ("Homosexuality and...").

Assignment 1

What is your grad project topic?

My topic is homosexuality in Japan. I am focusing on how it has changed throughout the centuries and why.

What do you already know about it?

There are a few things that I already know about my topic. I know that same-sex marriage is illegal in Japan like most other countries. But before the Meiji period (which began in 1868) many men had relationships with other men. It was separate from their productive life with their wives. At that time, since it was such a common and normal thing, it wasn't considered being homosexual. From what I have read in the past, Japan tried bringing in Western cultures to their country which was mostly the reason that same-sex relationships became taboo.

Also, a genre called "yaoi" or "shounen-ai" (translating to "boys' love") is very popular in Japanese anime and manga (and I know this from personal experience...).