Japan Answers 8: How is homosexuality viewed in Japan?

If you have a question about Japan please ask me on my channel and I will try to answer it.

Today's question: How is homosexuality viewed in Japan?

Opening sequence: GengoNoTabi
http://www.youtube.com/user/GengoNoTabi
Song :Lazy day Artist: Acoustic Sounds


Partial Transcript
Okay, one of my viewers asked me "How is homosexuality viewed in Japan?" So to answer that question, first you need to understand, well, if you're a westerner you're coming from a Christian based society and here in Japan it's a Buddhist based society. But actually even though Japanese people are considered Buddhist they don't actively practice Buddhism. They just follow the customs and the holidays like that, but they don't know about Buddhism in depth. So, if you're comparing this to the United States--I'm from the United States--a lot of traditional Christians view homosexuality as a sin, and that's because of the way they were brought up and what so called Christianity has taught them. And that concept of sin, that gay is wrong, that it's sinful, it just doesn't exist here in Japan.

Okay, but the thing about Japan is that there is a "supposed to" model way of life. And what I mean by that is, for example, if you're a Japanese man you are supposed to go to college after highs chool. After college you're supposed to join a company, you're supposed to work at that company for 30 years until you retire. You're supposed to have a family, you're supposed to have children, you're supposed to buy a house, and the list goes on and on and on. And in that regard, Japan's supposed to model I think is a lot stronger than our supposed to model in the United States. Of course, in the United States we have our own supposed to model, but I think Americans are more flexible in that sense compared to Japanese, compared to Japan.

But going on that, because of this strong supposed to model in Japan it's difficult for gay Japanese to come out. They don't come out just for the exact same reasons that Americans have trouble coming out which is because they're afraid that their family will reject them, that their friends will not accept them anymore. So it's for the exact same reasons. Here in Japan it's looked down upon to be different, to be eccentric, to be unique. There's a saying in Japan that says, "The nail that sticks out gets hammered down". So if you're gay you stick out, you're different from everybody. And Japanese society doesn't like things that are different so that's another factor.

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[blacksesamecandies]

I had heard once that for even straight couples in japan, affection in public is not something often seen - like it is meant privately. So maybe there is people holding hands, but you are probably unlikely to see couples kissing deeply or making out in public? I may be wrong on this, but I would appreciate it if someone could answer. ^^;

[japanascope]

@blacksesamecandies Check out my video Japan Answers 11: Public Display of Affection in Japan

[gorion79]

Is this the response to my question? I remember asking something about homosexuality, but I suppose someone else could have easily asked the same. Anyway, I appreciate you going into depth about it in Japan. I want to visit, and maybe live in Japan one day. I really love the culture.

[japanascope]

@gorion79 Yeah man, that one was for you. Thanks for asking.

[oneeyedme]

Oh oh oh oh oh, question. In your opening, is that gate in the water the one where the tide goes out and you can walk up to it and throw ricks over it? If so, where is that?! I wanna go! ;O;

[japanascope]

@oneeyedme Are you talking about the Itsukushima Shrine off the coast of Hiroshima?

[DavidEatsPaste]

I found this video very interesting. Thank you for your input!

[PSNLIVE2]

@VisualK3i94 It's only a boring life if you make it a boring life. In America people have boring lives and exiting lives like everywhere in the world. Don't stereotype the Japanese.

[HarajukuEthan]

@zackisverybored its a mixture of both

[tooyella210]

people in the usa need to practice the japanese their very modest and civilize people but of course not ever japanese person is perfect

[zackisverybored]

buddhism? thought it was shinto .-.

[X3BOOODYX2012]

Homosexuality is almost rejected everywhere.

[oneeyedme]

@japanascope Oh! Yah I guess so! Darn, kinda far away from where I am...