Tag: japan

Queer Tokyo, Lost In Translation

Walk through the narrow streets of Ni-Chome on a Saturday night, and you’re forgiven for thinking you’ve stumbled upon a massive impromptu gay-pride festival. That’s because Ni-Chome (pronounced knee-chomay) boasts the highest concentration of gay bars in Asia, if not the world. When I first started coming here 30 years ago, much of the action… Read more »

Japan revises law to protect against same-sex sexual harassment

The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare acts on rising reports of sexual harassment by colleagues of the same gender Japan has taken a small step towards better gender equality by banning same-sex sexual harassment in the workplace. From July 2014, a female boss who keeps asking subordinates of the same sex to dine with… Read more »

Japan: Government district in Osaka becomes first to support LGBT human rights

A local government ward in the city of Osaka has become the first Japanese district to officially support LGBT human rights. Yodogawa ward, one of 24 wards in Osaka, passed a resolution recently after a consultation with residents on LGBT issues, including Hiroko and Koyuki Higashi, who were the first gay couple to get married… Read more »

Osaka district becomes first Japanese government area to support LGBT inclusion

Yodogawa ward in the city of Osaka has become the first government area to officially support the inclusion of LGBTs, passing a groundbreaking resolution A local government area in the city of Osaka has become the first Japanese district to officially support the inclusion of LGBT people in society. Yodogawa ward, one of 24 wards… Read more »

First-ever Pink Dot Okinawa sees 800 participants

Pink Dot Okinawa, which is the first public LGBT-affirmative event in the prefecture, attracted 800 participants on Sunday, July 14. Inspired by the event of the same in Singapore, co-organiser of Pink Dot Okinawa Hideki Sunagawa was inspired to organise one as a way for Okinawans to show their solidarity for a more tolerant and… Read more »

Dutch LGBT rights advocate says Japan is starting along path to gay marriage

Borris Dittrich, former Dutch MP and LGBT director for Human Rights Watch, said ‘the start is happening now’ The man who helped make the Netherlands the first country in the world to legalize gay marriage in 2001 has said ‘the start is happening now’ for the same in Japan. Borris Dittrich, former Dutch MP and… Read more »

Gay pride march kicks off first ‘Tokyo Rainbow Week’

Thousands of people joined a parade Sunday to kick off “Tokyo Rainbow Week,” a series of events aimed at supporting sexual minorities. Organizers said about 12,000 people took part in the inaugural parade, which has been held for several years around the Harajuku district as a gay pride event. The week of special events runs… Read more »

Japan: Thousands march in Tokyo in support of LGBT rights

Thousands marched in Tokyo this weekend as Japan kicked off its first Rainbow Week, which aims to reach out to LGBT people in the country. Organisers of the parade estimated that 12,000 people took place in the parade on Sunday, the first in a week of events in a programme which runs until 6 May.… Read more »

Lauren Anderson: The Brit fighting for LGBT rights in Japan

GSN meets the girl from Liverpool who is committed to achieving equality for gays and lesbians in Japan and has become a key part of Tokyo Rainbow Pride On a recent visit to Tokyo, Lauren Anderson’s name seem to come up a lot. The English communications officer for Tokyo Rainbow Pride – it was clear… Read more »

Tokyo Rainbow Pride planning a bright future for Japanese gays and lesbians

GSN meets the organizers of Tokyo Rainbow Pride I met Inui Hiroteru, co-chair of Tokyo Rainbow Pride at the Park Hyatt hotel near Shinjuku. ‘Call me Hiro’ he said politely as we shook hands; 33-year-old Hiro’s English was perfect, my Japanese non-existent. It was happy hour in the New York Bar, so we chatted over… Read more »

Tokyo Rainbow Pride planning a bright future for Japanese gays and lesbians

GSN meets the organizers of Tokyo Rainbow Pride I met Inui Hiroteru, co-chair of Tokyo Rainbow Pride at the Park Hyatt hotel near Shinjuku. ‘Call me Hiro’ he said politely as we shook hands; 33-year-old Hiro’s English was perfect, my Japanese non-existent. It was happy hour in the New York Bar, so we chatted over… Read more »

Lost in Tokyo

GSN channels our inner Scarlett Johansson and explores the Japanese capital This was my first visit to Japan and I was excited. I flew Virgin Atlantic from London’s Heathrow to Tokyo Narita Airport (grabbing some Yo Sushi! for breakfast to help me start to connect with the Japanese culture). I was prepared to be overwhelmed… Read more »