Homosexuality in Japan: Difference between revisions

Homosexuality, or same-gender romantic love or sexual desire, has been recorded from ancient times in Japan; indeed, at some times in Japanese history love between men was viewed as the purest form of love.

While homosexuality has never been viewed as a sin in Japanese society and religion, and there is no specific legal prohibition, Western religious thought and a desire to appear "civilized" have historically influenced the way that homosexuality has been viewed both by the Japanese government and by the population at large.

A Kabuki actor and prostitute charms his client with agreeable conversation; Print from Kitagawa Utamaro, The Pillow Book (Uta Makura), 1788.

Some considerations

Historical sources

Available sources on homosexual behaviour in ancient Japan, as in ancient China, are largely literary. Although a unified Japan existed from about the 4th century, Japan's written historical records really begin with the Kojiki (古事記), or Record of Ancient Matters[1], compiled in the early 7th century. While Chinese references from the 6th century B.C.E contain homosexual references, similar references in Japan begin to appear in about the 10th century. These references, at least initially, appear to follow the Chinese example.

Etymology

Originally, shudo, wakashudo and nanshoku were the preferred terms. Currently, dōseiaisha (同性愛者, literally same-sex-loving person) has become the only term available.

The term gay is almost never used in discussing ancient and historical sources because of the modern, western, political connotations of the word and because the term suggests a particular identity, one with which homosexuals even in modern Japan may not identify.

More recently the contraction "homo" has been used; somewhat confusingly this term was used both positively and pejoratively. Nowadays the terms gei (ゲイ, a transliteration of gay) and rezu or rezubian (レズ、レズビアン, transliterations of lesbian) are the most common in the gay community, while pejorative terms like okama (literally cooking pot - probably an influence of the portuguese slang for homosexuals, paneleiro) are sometimes used.

Comparisons with the West

Unlike the West, in Japan sex was not viewed in terms of morality, but rather in terms of pleasure, social position, and social responsibility. While modern attitudes to homosexuality have changed, this is largely true even today. Like the premodern West, however, only sexual acts were seen as being homosexual or heterosexual, not the people performing such acts.

Ancient Japan

The Japanese term nanshoku (男色) is the Japanese reading of the same characters in Chinese, which literally mean "male colours." The character 色 still has the meaning of sexual pleasure in both China and Japan. This term was widely used to refer to male-male sex in ancient Japan.

According to Gary Leupp, the ancient Japanese associated nanshoku with China, a country from which borrowed ideas which became the basis for much of Japanese high culture, including their writing system (kanji, Chinese characters). The Japanese nanshoku tradition drew heavily on that of China (see Homosexuality in China), and to a more limited extent, that of Korea.

A variety of obscure literary references to same-sex love exist in ancient sources, but many of these are so subtle as to be unreliable; another consideration is that declarations of affection for friends of the same sex were also common.

Nevertheless, references do exist, and they become more numerous in the Heian Period, roughly the 11th century. In Genji Monogatari (源氏物語, The Tale of Genji), written in the early 11th century, men are frequently moved by the beauty of youths. In one scene the hero is rejected by a lady and sleeps instead with her brother:

Genji pulled the boy down beside him . . . Genji, for his part, or so

one is informed, found the boy more attractive than his chilly

sister.

The Tale of Genji is a novel (often considered the world's first), but there exist several Heian diaries which contain references to homosexual acts as well. Some of these also contain references to Emperors involved in homosexual relationships and to "handsome boys retained for sexual purposes" by Emperors.

Male couple on a futon
Early 1680's; One of the very first examples of hand-colored ukiyo-e prints in the shunga (erotic) style.
Moronobu Hishikawa (1618-1694); Ôban format, 10.25" x 15"; Sumi ink and color on paper; Private collection.

In other literary works can be found references to what Leupp has called "problems of gender identity," such as the story of a youth falling in love with a girl who is actually a cross-dressing male.

Monastic same-sex love

Buddhist monasteries appear to have been early centers of homosexual activity in ancient Japan. It was popularly said that Kukai, the founder of the Shingon Buddhist sect, introduced nanshoku into Japan after returning from Tang China in the 9th century. However he does not discuss this theme in any of his major works. It should also be noted that any sexual activity was expressly forbidden by the Vinaya or code of monastic discipline for Buddhist monks, and Kukai was an enthusiastic upholder of the Vinaya. At the same time, Mount Koya, the seat of Kukai's monastery, became a by-word for same-sex love.

However neither Shinto nor the Japanese interpretation of Confucianism contained any prohibitions. Enough monks seem to have felt their vows of chastity did not apply to same-sex relations so that stories of affairs between monks and young acolytes, known as Chigo Monogatari were quite popular, and such affairs were lightly joked about, when the passions did not rise to the level of violence, which was not uncommon. Jesuits reported aghast on the 'sodomy' that occurred among Buddhist clergy.

Military same-sex love

From religious circles, same-sex love spread to the warrior class, where it was customary for a young samurai to apprentice to an older and more experienced man. The young samurai would be his lover for many years. The practice was known as shudo, the way of the young, and was held in high esteem by the warrior class.

Tryst between a samurai and a kabuki actor
In the Edo period (1600-1868) kabuki actors often doubled as sex workers off stage. This was especially true of those kabuki actors who played female roles, known as onnagata.) Kagema were male prostitutes who worked at specialist brothels called kagemajaya (kagema tea houses). Both kagema and kabuki actors were much sought after by the sophisticates of the day, who often practiced nanshoku, or male love.
Miyagawa Isshô, ca. 1750; Panel from a series of ten on a shunga-style painted hand scroll (kakemono-e); sumi, color and gofun on silk. Private collection.

Middle class same-sex love

As Japanese society became pacified, the middle classes adopted many of the practices of the warrior class, in the case of shudo giving it a more mercantile interpretation. Young kabuki actors, known as kagema, became the rage, they were celebrated in much the same way as modern media stars are today, and were much sought after by wealthy patrons, who would vie with each other to purchase their favors[2].

Art of same-sex love

These activities were the subject of countless literary works, most of which remain to be translated. Likewise, many of the greatest artists of the period, such as Hokusai and Hiroshige, prided themselves in documenting such loves in their prints, known as ukiyo-e, pictures of the floating world, and where they had an erotic tone, shunga, or pictures of spring[3].

Homosexuality in modern Japan

Anime and Manga

Many anime and manga contain gay male content; These are marketed primarily to women and homosexual men, and are commonplace in bookstores. Several terms are used in Japan to describe these.

The blanket term "yaoi" is an acronym for the phrase "Yama nashi, ochi nashi, imi nashi", which means "no peak, no point, no meaning". "JUNE" refers to plots containing homosexual romance and drama that features mature adult male characters. "Yaoi" can also refer to "Yamete Orishi Ga Itai" which basically means "Stop, my ass hurts!" "BL" (abbreviated from "Boys' Love") refers to stories that either contain younger characters, or more light-hearted romance (as an alternative to more sexual content). The phrase "Shounen-ai", translated from Japanese as "boy love", is becoming obsolete among its following, and has come to refer to comics featuring romance between underage boys, either with one another or with older men. (Similar to "shotacon")

Among the large fan demographics in North America and Europe, this terminology is more or less condensed to "yaoi" and "shounen-ai"; "Yaoi" is used in reference to graphic descriptions of homosexual sex and/or adult drama, and "shounen-ai" is used in reference to romantic situations with younger characters that are now referred to as "BL" by the Japanese.

Lesbian content is much less widespread, but does exist, and is known as shoujo-ai when romantic, or yuri when sexual. However, yuri is much more often a catch-all term than yaoi, respectively, possibly due to the distribution of each.

Some manga, generally appealing more overtly to prurient interest, are directly aimed at the gay market. These, however, are uncommon and generally not found except in specialty shops.

Japanese gay slang

The following is a list of Japanese gay slang from various periods, given in gojuon order. General time period is given where information is available.

Anaru (アナル)

Anal sex. In current use.

Uke (受け, ウケ)

From the verb "ukeru," to receive, this term is used for the "passive" or receptive partner in anal sex. In current use.

O-kama (お釜, おかま)

Literally "a pot, a kettle" this word, always with the honorific prefix "O-," refers to a gay man, especially one who is viewed as effeminate. Sometimes applies to drag queens. Can be pejorative. The word originated in Edo period slang for the anus. In current use.

Onabe (お鍋, おなべ)

Literally "a pot," this word refers to lesbians or occasionally to female cross-dressers. Often pejorative. May originate in older slang. In current use.

Onnagirai (女嫌い)

Literally "woman-hater." This term was used in the Edo period to describe a man who preferred male erotic and romantic companionship exclusively.

Kagema (陰間)

Literally "hidden room," this term was commonly used in the Edo period to refer to male prostitutes whose customers were also male, and was roughly synonymous with faggot. A kagemajaya (陰間茶屋) was a tea house specializing in male prostitutes.

Gaisen (外専)

A Japanese man exclusively attracted to foreign (usually white) men (compare rice queen). In current use.

Kyokon (巨根)

Literally "large root": well endowed; well hung.

Kuma (熊, クマ)

A bear (a hairy, sometimes overweight man). In current use. Kuma-kei (熊系, クマ系) means "bear-type."

Jani, Janī (ジャニ, ジャニー)

From the English name Johnny. Refers to young, slim, boyish-looking, "cute" men (compare twink). Taken from the name of a talent agency Johnny & Associates, known for producing boy bands such as Kinki Kids and Smap. Jani-kei (ジャニ系, ジャニー系) means "jani-type."

Shakuhachi (尺八)

Fellatio (equivalent to "blow job"). A shakuhachi is a type of Japanese bamboo flute played vertically.

Sēfutei sekkusu (セーフティーセックス)

Safe sex.

Tachi (立ち, タチ)

The top, or active/insertive partner, especially in anal sex. There are various theories about the etymology of the word, but it is widely thought to come from a term in kabuki. In current use.

Debu (デブ)

Chubby. Debu-sen is equivalent to chubby-chaser.

Nyū dandi (ニューダンディ)

“New dandy.” Used to refer to cross-dressing women or butch lesbians.

Nyū hāfu (ニューハーフ)

From the English words “new half,” this term is used to refer to transsexuals, mostly male-to-female. Sometimes used pejoratively.

Nekama (ネカマ)

From the words "net" (Internet) and "kama" (see O-kama, above), this word can refer to men who pretend to be women in online chat rooms, or to gay men who engage in cybersex.

Neko (ネコ)

Literally "cat" (and sometimes written with the kanji for cat, though more often in katakana, as above), this word refers to the bottom, or passive/receptive partner, especially in anal sex. The etymology is unclear. In current use.

Nonke (ノンケ)

Literally "non-gay": a heterosexual, a straight person.

Barazoku (薔薇族)

Literally "Rose tribe," Barazoku was the name of Japan's first and longest-running gay magazine, which ceased publication in 2005. Its name became synonymous with "gay" (see Friend of Dorothy).

Futsū (普通)

Literally "normal": heterosexual, a heterosexual person.

Musuko (息子)

Literally meaning "one's son," this term refers to the penis.

Yarō (野郎)

Literally "a rascal, a ruffian." Describes men who have a rougher image, such as might be associated with skateboarders in the West. A ne'er-do-well.

Rīman (リーマン)

A contraction of sarariman (a male, salaried office worker), this word refers to men who are or dress like salarymen.

Rezu (レズ)

Rezubian is a transliteration, and rezu a contraction, of the English word lesbian.

Seme (攻め、セメ）

Seme comes from the word "semeru" (攻める) which means "to attack." Refers to the dominant partner in the relationship (as opposed to Uke (受け、ウケ). In use.

See also

• Homosexuality
• History of Sexuality
• Homosexuality in China
• Homosexuality in Singapore

Reference

• Bornoff, Nicholas. Pink Samurai: Love, Marriage & Sex in Contemporary Japan.
• Leupp, Gary. Male Colors: The Construction of Homosexuality in Tokugawa Japan. Los Angeles, California: University of California Press, 1997.

External links

Sexuality in ancient Japan

• The Way of the Samurai (English)
  • http://members.aol.com/matrixwerx/glbthistory/samarai.htm

• The "Beautiful Way" of the Samurai (English)
  • http://www.androphile.org/preview/Culture/Japan/japan.htm

Sexuality in modern Japan

• Gender and sexuality in Japanese Anime (English)
  • http://www.theory.org.uk/ctr-rol4.htm

• Male Homosexuality and Popular Culture in Modern Japan
  • http://wwwsshe.murdoch.edu.au/intersections/issue3/mclelland2.html

Other

• Homosexuality in the Japanese Buddhist Tradition
  • http://www.westernbuddhistreview.com/vol3/homosexuality.html
• Bibliography of Gay and Lesbian History
  • http://www.infopt.demon.co.uk/biborien.htm