First of all, the relative tolerance of gender non-conforming people means that there has been very little aggressive persecution of queer people in Japan. Known as 女形 ( onnagata), these actors were selected for their youth and feminine beauty, and were often the object of sexual pursuit by both male and female admirers.Ĭompared to the West, this historical openness towards sex and gender is pretty remarkable, and has some important consequences for modern Japanese society. Kabuki theater became closely associated with gender non-conforming folks, since women were banned from acting in Kabuki, leading to male-bodied people dressing as women to play their roles. This realm of entertainment was known as 浮世 ( ukiyo) "the floating world," an homage to its laissez-faire, anything-goes attitude. Theater, dining, and venues of relaxation sprang up, and became a haven for gender non-conforming people to make a living. Japan experienced newfound stability during the Edo Period (early 1600s–late 1800s), and many industries flourished. Love and sex between all genders, even the non-conforming ones, was not considered abnormal or an aberration. For example, 男色 ( nanshoku) or "male-male love" was practiced by the samurai, and it did not exclude them from also partaking in 女色 ( joshoku) or "male-female love." Love between women is alluded to in some pre-modern texts, but the lack of a widely-recognized term for "female-female love" does suggest that it was not given much social acknowledgement - evidence that while it was a time of sexual liberation, that did not translate into gender equality. From what I can tell, sexuality was understood as something you do, not something you are. I'm not saying that all Japanese people were attracted to all genders, what I'm saying is that love and sex between all genders, even the non-conforming ones, was not considered abnormal or an aberration. If I had to describe how people viewed sexuality at the time with one word, it would be this: pansexual. Let's begin our exploration of queer identity terms at the very beginning - pre-modern Japan.
![nicknames for types of gay men nicknames for types of gay men](https://media.newyorker.com/cartoons/593b5f5157b86d47b169c2d1/master/w_1600%2Cc_limit/150126_a18824.jpg)
Some of the terms introduced can be derogatory, and when translated into English, they may be upsetting to some readers. Due to the breadth of terms that exist, and the dynamic nature of queer culture, we were unable to cover everything. As you encounter and use these words in real life, you'll be able to understand their subtleties and nuances, and if you are queer yourself, you'll be able to use them to express your own identity in Japanese.ĭisclaimer: This article is intended to inform learners of Japanese about the terms that exist in the Japanese language to describe queer identities. In this article, we will introduce you to queer identity terms in Japanese, by placing them in a historical and cultural context. My cultural understanding of words like "gay" might not be the same as everyone else's, especially in the context of an entirely different country.
![nicknames for types of gay men nicknames for types of gay men](https://media.newyorker.com/photos/5909666febe912338a375a06/4:3/w_300,h_225,c_limit/121112_r22770r22774_g2048.jpg)
While the question surprised me, it also taught me a valuable lesson. How do I come out in Japanese? If I choose to come out, do I know the right words to make myself understood? The first time I came out to someone in Japan, I was asked if I often wear a dress. This poses a problem for queer learners of Japanese. Unlike identities related to your country of origin or ethnic background, queer identities often have to be revealed in order to be recognized. While we could probably write dozens of articles about the identity topics above, this article is going to focus on less visible identities - those of the LGBTQ+ community. Paradoxically, it also becomes less salient, as you find yourself in the loosely-defined category of "foreigner." Based on your outward appearance, you might present as part of the minority or the majority, and the privileges or discrimination you experience in your home country may shift or take on new meanings. For one, your national identity becomes more salient than ever before.
![nicknames for types of gay men nicknames for types of gay men](https://media.newyorker.com/photos/590965ceebe912338a3758be/16:9/w_1280,c_limit/150126_r26040.jpg)
Whether it's for a temporary stay or something more permanent, one of the most fascinating things about living in a foreign country is the way you experience a shift in identity. It's safe to say that most learners of Japanese hope to experience life in Japan someday.