Current Events > Is homosexuality accepted in Japan? They haven't legalized same-sex marriage yet

(+) Yeah! (+)

It seems strange that Japan is one of the most progressive and advanced countries in the world, but they still hang on to outdated practices like execution and no same-sex marriages. Does that translate to outright homophobia? Like do they disapprove of homosexual relationships in a way that leads to violence, or do they just quietly think to themselves that it isn't natural or right?

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They are also deeply conservative where tattoo = bad people

They are marginalized groups as such the Barakumin the majority deemed lowly and untouchable. They still face widespread and overt prejudice today.

Gays are least of the problem.

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slk_23 posted...

Japan is one of the most progressive

?

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Its my understanding that they as a culture look down on homosexuality. Not in the same ways as in America or for the same reasons though. I think its mostly just about not reproducing the next generation if you are gay. And not marrying the opposite sex is seen as "your doing it wrong...."

But they don't think gay people are going to hell

Japan's family views, both socially and legally, makes homosexuality difficult to fit in without basically tearing it down and rebuilding it from the ground up (or not at all), but generally acceptance of homosexuality is fairly high over there. Certainly compared to other countries in the region.
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Let's put it this way: the gov recently had a hearing about same sex marriage and said they would decide the interest in the policy based on the audience that it gets, and aired it in the middle of the work day.

Taiwan is the only area that recognizes gay marriage in Asia. I imagine Vietnam or Thailand will be the first country outside of Taiwan to be the next to recognize it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjSBaDNJfeA
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mattfrank posted...

They are also deeply conservative where tattoo = bad people

That's largely because tattoos are largely associated with yakuza which is still very much active.


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CruelBuffalo posted...

Taiwan is the only area that recognizes gay marriage in Asia. I imagine Vietnam or Thailand will be the first country outside of Taiwan to be the next to recognize it.

Didn't the supreme court of Nepal or somewhere like that legalize it, but then the government banned it again.
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Japan is in no way progressive with their societal culture. Technologically, absolutely, but they are very much still a homogeneous society with norms stuck in the old days.

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It will happen once the old politicians step down and the current generation takes over.

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Their dynamic is almost an entirely separate world from hours. Being gay isn't seen as harmful by any but the stuffiest conservatives, but it's also seen as something "you grow out of" once you become an adult, as in, conform with society.

The current generation really doesn't like it, though. As much as neckbeards like to say how "Japan doesn't tolerate SJWs", the current gen really wants to push for it.

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Ivynn posted...

That's largely because tattoos are largely associated with yakuza which is still very much active.

Still a fucked up mindset. The mafia is still active in America but we don't legitimately associate being Italian with being a mafioso.

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japan game devs love the overly flamboyant gay stereotypes

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PoundGarden posted...

Still a fucked up mindset. The mafia is still active in America but we don't legitimately associate being Italian with being a mafioso.

Gee, that couldn't be because tattoos are something that are optional and gotten by choice, could it? You think people choose to be Italian?

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PoundGarden posted...

Still a fucked up mindset. The mafia is still active in America but we don't legitimately associate being Italian with being a mafioso.

The mafia isn't nearly as powerful in the US as it used to be. The Yakuza still has a lot of pull in Japan.

Also lol being Italian is a little different from getting tattoos.

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PoundGarden posted...

Still a fucked up mindset. The mafia is still active in America but we don't legitimately associate being Italian with being a mafioso.

Who in the fuck compares being Italian with getting tattoos lmao

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A common complaint I hear from Western gay men here is that a lot of the men they meet have families and want to keep that up.

LGBT people in Japan face a number of issues but they're very different than what they face in the West. The primary issue is people have trouble coming out as gay because standing out is inherently bad at many workplaces or in a family or other social group. The desire to conform is very strong. There is no religious element to it or concern about the "gay agenda" or whatever. Gay marriage will be legalized eventually for sure, but it won't be a big battle, it will just happen one day. There are already some prefectures that effectively have gay marriage in all but name. Legalizing gay marriage will not fix the social issue though. It's always going to be an issue of having an aspect that makes you stand out.

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LepartialJury posted...

One or two tattoos are generally accepted but an abundance of them is also associated with gangs, criminals, and skinheads in the US. And visible ones are looked down upon for the upper-class too.

This. And if you really want to know stuff, that ask ssjevot guy; he lives in Japan. I don't want to bother him with an @ though.

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And for the tattoo thing, I literally went to an onsen yesterday and it had a tattoo explanation (only in Japanese) that specifically said tattoos that have an association with violent gangs or groups are banned. So well many places are strict all tattoos are banned, it's getting more understanding if even my small ass town managed to add some nuance.

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ArianaGrandSlam posted...

I wish it worked that way, I want to be Italian

gonna Rachel Dolezal myself so I can talk about pasta fasul

I'm happy being full Japanese. I'm immune to the weeb status :3

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YugiNoob posted...

I'm happy being full Japanese. I'm immune to the weeb status :3

We had our (online) Bounenkai last week and the newest member of our lab said he doesn't watch anime. That was an awkward moment for him, because we talked about anime for hours. I actually got anime figures for my desk after moving here because everyone else's desks had them. Japan pushed me into being a bigger weeb.

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3PiesAndAFork posted...

Japan is in no way progressive with their societal culture. Technologically, absolutely, but they are very much still a homogeneous society with norms stuck in the old days.

The technology thing comes with an asterisk. There's still a large amount of low tech stuff that sees regular use there like fax machines.

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Tyranthraxus posted...

The technology thing comes with an asterisk. There's still a large amount of low tech stuff that sees regular use there like fax machines.

plus from what I've heard a lot of architecture is still wooden

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Tyranthraxus posted...

The technology thing comes with an asterisk. There's still a large amount of low tech stuff that sees regular use there like fax machines.

It was just last year that they finally stopped using wooden signature stamps for important document confirmation.

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Ivynn posted...

That's largely because tattoos are largely associated with yakuza which is still very much active.

Before the Yakuza gave tattoos the stigma it currently has in Japan tradesmen were the ones who adorned their bodies with tattoos. Firefighters and blacksmiths...

Criminals where tattooed with symbols indicating their crimes also.

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You'd think a country with a dwindling population growth would be against homosexuality, but Japan merely tolerates it so long as people there don't rock the boat too much.

ssjevot posted...

A common complaint I hear from Western gay men here is that a lot of the men they meet have families and want to keep that up.

LGBT people in Japan face a number of issues but they're very different than what they face in the West. The primary issue is people have trouble coming out as gay because standing out is inherently bad at many workplaces or in a family or other social group. The desire to conform is very strong. There is no religious element to it or concern about the "gay agenda" or whatever. Gay marriage will be legalized eventually for sure, but it won't be a big battle, it will just happen one day. There are already some prefectures that effectively have gay marriage in all but name. Legalizing gay marriage will not fix the social issue though. It's always going to be an issue of having an aspect that makes you stand out.

That's one thing the LGBTQ community in Japan have going for them: the lack of religious fundamentalists like in America.

the younger population mostly supports gay marraige but it's Japan. it's an aging population where the old people control everything, even moreso than other place.

bad dudes like ichiban kasuga have tattoos

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I always said Japan was a third-world country masquerading as a first-world country.

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Before anyone engages, the above dude is known for being really racist against Asians.

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Evening_Dragon posted...

It was just last year that they finally stopped using wooden signature stamps for important document confirmation.

Tell that to literally all the places I have to use my Hanko for now. They absolutely did not stop using them for important documents. There is a plan to reduce the amount you need for official documents, but it is absolutely not going away anytime soon.

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ssjevot posted...

Tell that to literally all the places I have to use my Hanko for now. They absolutely did not stop using them for important documents. There is a plan to reduce the amount you need for official documents, but it is absolutely not going away anytime soon.

Gomen nasai but also that's still kinda cool

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slk_23 posted...

Japan is one of the most progressive

wut

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Japan
Progressive

Pick wan

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With some of there media full with anime girl on anime girl action, I would think it would be more common place. Oh well.

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Akashi city to certify same-sex couples, children as family

By TAKESHI AMANO/ Staff Writer
December 14, 2020 at 18:35 JST

AKASHI, Hyogo Prefecture--Akashi city in January will become the first local government in Japan to introduce a partnership system that treats the children of same-sex couples as family, city officials said on Dec. 10.

The move is in response to calls from sexual minorities to recognize the family relationships between LGBT couples and their children.

While the planned system is not legally binding at the national level, it will allow same-sex couples in the city to change their relationships from roommates to relatives in their residence certificates, effectively recognizing them and their children as equivalent to a family, according to the city.

Under the new partnership system, same-sex couples will be able to live in municipal housing and be buried together in municipal cemeteries.

City officials also said they expect the system will encourage schools and kindergartens to allow same-sex parents to pick up their children because they usually hand them over only to biological parents.
Its the public sectors role to support residents without leaving anyone behind, Akashi Mayor Fusaho Izumi said. The new system covers children because we are working on town development that centers around children.

The system will also recognize the relationships of heterosexual couples who chose not to file marriage registrations, such as those who want to maintain separate surnames, as equivalent to marriages.

To gain certification, the couple must both be of adult age, and at least one of them is required to live in the city or scheduled to move there.

The city will issue the couples with card-type certificates bearing their names. The names of their children can also be printed on the cards.

The Japanese government does not recognize same-sex marriages, but around 70 municipalities nationwide have introduced systems to certify same-sex couples as equivalent to married couples. Tokyos Shibuya Ward was the first to do so, in 2015.

This spring, the Akashi city government set up a division to promote the understanding of sexual diversity in society and employed two dedicated staff members who are both sexual minorities for that mission.

There are many forms of couples and family, so we wanted to meet the needs of those people as much as possible, one of the employees who was involved in creating the new partnership system said at a news conference.

http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14011265

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MarthGoomba posted...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjSBaDNJfeA

That dude that said he is against it cause it's disgusting is in the closet. You know he goes to secret "hotels" and gets it on with a prostitute.

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Ving_Rhames posted...

Japan
Progressive

Pick wan

They have bidets.

yutterh posted...

That dude that said he is against it cause it's disgusting is in the closet. You know he goes to secret "hotels" and gets it on with a prostitute.

This is a harmful stereotype. Youre blaming homophobia.............on gay people.

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