Comments | ontherainbow: Japan Times Artical

rinalin in ontherainbow

Japan Times Artical

Jul 18, 2009 18:36

Whether To Come Out At The Office

I thought this was a particularly relevent artical on gay/lesbian relations in Japan. It focuses mostly on whether both Japanese and Foreign born residents of Japan feeling comfortable coming out at work, but there are also some very interesting bits regarding the future of GBLT relations in Japan.

I found it ( Read more... )

*japanese culture, discussion

Comments 15

maiaide July 19 2009, 01:58:43 UTC

Definitely and interesting article and brings up lots of valid points. From seeing all the okama and new-halfs that have been showcased on shows like Himitsu no Arashi-chan and Oneemans, it seems like Japan doesn't have such a problem with alternative sexuality but then, that's only the tip of the iceberg. If you're in the entertainment industry, your otherness is your shtick and it's okay. I doubt that it's the same for real people ( ... )

rinalin July 19 2009, 02:19:58 UTC

From a lot of what I've come to understand about the Japanese, is that being GBLT is okay. Even a good thing. So long as it's not anyone they actually personally know.

maiaide July 19 2009, 02:24:26 UTC

Yeah I've come to understand that too. If you're not Japanese, it's pretty much okay for you to do anything. But I think if more people came out, then there wouldn't be so many people who didn't know any GLBT folks and it wouldn't be such a big deal. Well, when you know one, you'll end up meeting another 3-4 in the process, if my circle is anything to go by. LOL

waxrose July 19 2009, 02:24:50 UTC

That could totally apply internationally as well. :D

waxrose July 19 2009, 02:24:16 UTC

That's a really interesting article, and I liked that it talked about the various influence from both the media/entertainment and politically. I think that it always comes down an issue of trust - even as a teacher in Canada, I would think twice about coming out to colleagues, and even if I wanted to, I would have to be guarded with parents and students. It seems so stupid, but there was a case in my city a year or two ago that resulted in a teacher being let go (he wasn't on a permanent contract, so his contract simply wasn't renewed) after some parents made a big stink about having a picture of his boyfriend on his desk. And this in a country that has legalized gay marriage.

It seems like there are a lot of good, progressive influences shifting the winds of opinion, though, so there's plenty of reason for hope.

maiaide July 19 2009, 02:27:48 UTC

He got let go for just having a picture on his desk? That's kind of extreme, don't you think? I'm trying to think back if I had any queer teachers in school and I can't remember. I guess anything to do with sexuality at all is kind of frown upon although I do remember talking to some teachers about their girlfriends-come-wives and babies (when they had babies). And that was fine, but probably shouldn't have been.

waxrose July 19 2009, 02:30:10 UTC

It wasn't the picture itself in that the parents made a big stink about it (it was an elementary school in a pretty conservative, rich area of town) and the school probably just decided it wasn't worth the trouble to keep him on. No need to state a reason for not renewing a contract, but most people in the teacher's union were grumbling that they should challenge it.

maiaide July 19 2009, 02:36:13 UTC

Ahh that really sucks. Do you know if he got a job elsewhere? I hope he did. I would think that something like a teacher's union would be the first to make moves to protect the rights of queer people. But then maybe I'm still stuck in fairy-university-land where all my friends made a big ruckus about any little thing and wrote angry letters to higher-ups all the time. I need to steel myself for what it's going to be like in real teaching world.

rebecka_jo July 19 2009, 02:27:19 UTC

huh. i'm a little disappointed that so much of the mainstream gay issues reporting out of japan is about foreigners' struggles. pointing out that japanese people tend to be more accepting of 'differentness' in non-japanese - it seems like a reluctance to dive into the issues of actual japanese people dealing with their sexuality. which, yes, is admittedly much more difficult than getting western expatriates to talk about it.

in any case. i was thrilled about the samesex marriage victory; it's more than even taiwan has in place, i believe.

rinalin July 19 2009, 03:18:44 UTC

I think that this artical focused on the foreigners more because they are part of Japan Times Online target demographic.

Sadly, I think it might be near impossible to find the same topic with a focus on the Japanese citizens in a translated form. But I'd love to see it.

satopi3104 July 19 2009, 02:37:13 UTC

thanks for posting this very interesting article. Being Japanese myself, I thought I would share my thoughts. I don't live in Japan, so I might be out of touch with Japan's reality today. I am also not academically qualified to discuss this subject ( ... )

rinalin July 19 2009, 03:15:28 UTC

EEEEE! Thank you for this post! It's very eye opening into the Japanese culture.

For one, I find the moral opposition to be more damaging to the GBLT community at large. However, it seems that the Japanese ostrasizing anyone who doesn't fit the "Japanese Mold" is damaging not only GBLTs but everyone that doesn't subscribe to that mold. I think that's an easier problem to fix though. Or, not easier necessarily, but an aspect of the cultural that is able to evolve and change. And hopefully, it seems based on the artical, that that change is coming.

Again, thank you for this response! It was so eloquent!

budiamond July 19 2009, 05:28:03 UTC

From discussions I've heard, it's more difficult to change the Japanese perspective on GLBT people, because the people in the West who are so opposed to homosexuality that they go out and preach against it are at least thinking about it, and understand it more the way that actual GLBT people do ( ... )

aeslis July 19 2009, 13:00:34 UTC

Yeah, it's really true. Japanese people aren't open to discussion or critical thinking in any form. They stick to what they're used to even if simpler, smarter methods are pointed out to them. It's like: "Why do you go from point A to B to C to D to E to F? Why don't you just go from point A to point F?" "... Oh... well... we've always done it that way." "Well, let's do it the other way now, it's easier." "...I don't know if we can..." and then they proceed to go the long way around.

But when Japanese people change, they change in unison. It's really kind of creepy. Like how there's some predetermined day in Fall where all the women suddenly start wearing boots. Not even kidding. So if GLBT people are accepted in Japan, I have a feeling it will be a very sudden flip instead of a drawn out awakening.

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