Homosexuality In Japan: A Surprisingly Colourful History

In and out of battle, the Samurai loved a good sword fight.

While the history of homosexuality in Japan is a nuanced topic, it’s worth noting the ancient Samurai and other Japanese openly indulged in same-sex shenanigans. It was only our Western (and specifically Christian) influence that soured their outlook on gay culture, but today, things are once again looking up! Read on for more.

The Religious Paradox

As old as Japan itself, Shintoism has been around since 1000 BC. This spiritual tradition believes all people are fundamentally good, and that sex – regardless of your partner – is an expression of love. Certain Shinto gods, especially Hachiman, Myoshin, Shinmei and Tenjin were even considered guardian deities of man-on-man sex.

Shinto tradition was soon followed by Buddhism, which encouraged abstinence in the name of spiritual purity but acknowledged sexual desire was normal. There was no shaming, confession, or penance. Ironically, while Buddhism appreciated the synergy of a same-sex dalliance (“You scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours”) women were still considered – in no uncertain terms – evil and treacherous. And just because you had sex with another man, you weren’t necessarily ‘gay’ as we know it today.

There was no slut shaming, and ‘getting around’ was a way to validate that your sashimi was still succulent enough to soak up all the soy sauce, if you will. Perhaps most interesting of all, Buddhist monks were known to be frequent clients of male prostitutes.

There was a Sex Cult

While Buddhism and Shintoism could appreciate a good romp, Tachikawa-Ryu – Japan’s take on Tantra – made it a religious experience. Their sexual rituals were said to control supernatural and cosmic forces. Opponents, however, said it was dark-sided black magic (one ritual involved grinding up human skulls, after all). Tachikawa-Ryu was banned in the 13th century, and its writings were destroyed or locked away, but some believe it is still practiced covertly.

There were Age Differences

Like many other ancient cultures, it was common for older men to take on younger male lovers. In Japan, Nanshoku involved mentorship and sexual relations between older monks and younger fellows coming of age. The arrangement was committed but not monogamous, a rite of passage for the younger men who would eventually marry women and have children.

The emerging Samurai class (Japan’s military nobility) also led to an increasing number of young men ‘connecting’ with older monks. And when all those Samurai went away to war, it became a self-perpetuating cycle of sexual pursuit.

There was even a Third Gender

The Nanshouku tradition evolved into ‘wakashudou’. Sexual antics once reserved for nobility became popular with society at large. Relations between older men (known as the nenja) and ‘apprentices’ became common.

The Wakashū (younger men) wore distinct kimonos and exclusive hairstyles with a shaved crown and long forelocks. The beauty of their youth was compared to cherry blossoms, with an elusive allure distinct from women. The pair would even commit to a ‘brotherhood contract’, swearing off other male lovers, which sounds like a fancy workaround to gay marriage.

Once Wakashū came of age, they would embrace more masculine fashions and grooming, going on to marry women and procreate. Sex between the two men would stop, but their connection was expected to grow into a lifelong bond (and they were both now free to seek out new wakashū lovers).

There were Drama Queens

Kabuki is a well-known form of Japanese theatre, cherished for its mix of dramatic storytelling and dance, as well as its highly stylized makeup and costumes. The actors often worked as prostitutes to support themselves, and were venerated by wealthy patrons much like today’s modern celebrities.

And just like Shakespearean actors playing female roles, kabuki theatre had onnagata, men dressed as women, as part of their all-male cast. Interestingly, the all-male cast became popular around 1629 specifically to quell the prevalence of prostitution by its performers, and patrons clamouring for their attention. Long story short: it didn’t work, it just made male prostitution more popular.

The “Golden Age” of homosexuality in Japan was roughly 1650-1750 AD. It was an extravagant and hedonistic time to be alive. Male prostitutes only pretended to be kabuki actors (versus the other way around), art and writing were prevalent (check out The Great Mirror of Male Love by Ihara Saikaku), and the number one reason for revenge killings turned out to be quarrelling male lovers.

As more women moved to cities (balancing gender ratios) and the government cracked down on prostitution, the golden age subsided. But things really took a turn in 1859, when Japan began to welcome foreigners to its ports.

And just like that, homosexuality in Japan became Illegal

When the Meiji Restoration began in 1868, it brought an end to Japan’s military government and an embrace of Western (again, that’s Christian) ideology. The Samurai’s same-sex attraction was shunned as Japan leaned into new social norms. The nation grew puritan as quickly as it industrialized (Japan even made sodomy illegal from 1872-1882). The 1999 film Gohatto, or Taboo, takes place during this time. About an elite Samurai group, the tale focuses on the handsome new arrival Kanō Sōzaburō, played by Ryuhei Matsuda.

Modern LGBTQ+ Japan

Today, one area where Japan excels is gender expression. It’s colourful and fluid. There’s an easy comfort with how people express masculine and feminine spirit through hair, fashion and makeup. Clothing chains like Muji (Japan’s version of Gap or Zara) have a ton of flowy, boxy, and otherwise unisex or gender neutral options. And like the Western glam rock bands of the 1980s, Japan has a genre of music known as visual kei, which isn’t about the style of music so much as the band’s extravagant stage presence.

Contemporary gay culture is also growing. While people still live in the closet (65% of respondents to a 2018 Dentsu Diversity Lab Survey were still not out at home or work), Pride parades and celebrations are growing. Western influence is finally having a positive impact!

Politically Speaking…

Despite being advanced in so many ways, Japan has further to go. Even though it’s the only G7 country that has yet to legalize same-sex unions, things are looking up. Multiple civic courts, along with the Sapporo High Court, have ruled the national ban on gay marriage is unconstitutional.

Grassroots support for equal marriage rights has also grown, with a 2023 Kyodo News survey showing support from 71% of Japanese people (with an impressive 84% support from younger respondents aged 18-34). Still, only 5% of people claim to know somebody who is LGBTQ+ (because so many live in the closet with family and coworkers) and the country could be several years away from legalization given Japan’s strong adherence to formality and process.

Legislation has also been passed banning discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation in certain prefectures like Akita and cities like Tokyo (albeit not nationally). Steps are also being made for trans rights, allowing people to change their legal gender under certain conditions like being unmarried, undergoing gender reassignment surgery, and not having any underage children (again, to avoid abrupt changes to Japanese society). Because there are strong protections towards disabled people in Japan, many activists use the term ‘gender identity disability’ rather than ‘disorder’ to assert their rights without being shunned.

It’s also worth noting that despite some lingering homophobic attitudes, Japanese culture and religion aren’t as aggressively violent or hostile toward the gay community as many Western countries and religions.

There have even been some notable LGBTQ+ politicians elected to office:

• Aya Kamikawa was the first openly transgender woman elected to office in 2003, winning a seat on the Setagaya Ward Assembly
• Kanako Otsuji of the Osaka Prefectural Assembly was the first openly gay/lesbian politician in Japan, coming out at the 2005 Tokyo Pride Festival
• Tomoya Hosoda was elected to the Aruma Assembly in 2017, and is believed to be the first transgender man elected to office in the entire world!

Cheers to Tokyo’s Gay Bars

Japan’s first gaybourhood was born in the Ni-chōme area of Tokyo’s Shinjuku Special Ward following the American Occupation of the late 1940s. It remains the national hub of gay culture today, but is by no means a ghetto. In fact, Tokyo is now home to one of the largest LGBTQ+ communities in Asia, and one of the densest collections of gay bars per capita in the world. Ni-chōme alone has over 300 bars and nightclubs contained in only a few blocks, not to mention their restaurants, saunas, love hotels, massage parlours and bookstores.

Some venues are minuscule and seat only a handful of people (less than 5). No matter your style or budget, when accompanied by a local, it’s easy to find a bar that feels just right (and the hunt is half the fun).

Tokyo Pride is small but mighty

Tokyo’s first pride was held in 1994. Now known as Tokyo Rainbow Pride, it’s a 3-day festival held in April that celebrates diversity, allies, and community. Drawing in roughly 200,000 people, it may seem small compared to some of the world’s gay capitals, but it’s a welcome demonstration of self-acceptance and expression in a nation known for tradition.

Join us in Japan?

While many of our trips delve deep into jungles and up the tallest mountains, our Osaka, Kyoto & Tokyo tour is the most urban adventure we offer. Perfect for city slickers and anybody allergic to roughing it, we’ll savour 10 days in megalopolis surroundings with tastes of nature and small-town living thrown in. The tour culminates in Tokyo, the world’s largest supercity! Contact us to get your booking started, or grab your spot by hitting “Book Trip” on the tour page. The Land Of The Rising Sun awaits!