Queer Japan: Personal Stories of Japanese Lesbians, Gays, Transsexuals and Bisexuals

Rating:
Summary: A Voice for those who have been discouraged from speaking
Review: I came across this book three years ago, when I first arrived in Japan. I was reading it just as I was coming to terms with my own homosexuality. It contributed to the opening of my mind, and helped me find courage to come out and start living my life to the fullest.
Queer Japan was, at first, my only way of knowing about Japanese attitudes toward alternative lifestyles, and about Japanese gays and lesbians themselves. Since the subject is never discussed (in either a good or bad light) at work or in the media here, the book helped me realize that there were indeed a lot of Japanese people out there in situations similar to mine.
The book provides an extremely accurate portrait of how homosexuality is viewed in Japan, but that's not really the point. The point is that it allows so many individual gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transsexual Japanese people to tell their stories -- something they are all too often forbidden to talk about.

Rating:
Summary: A very interesting and accurate glimpse of Japan
Review: I have lived in Japan for more than twenty years and I was very pleased to read this book. Though I am not gay I have many Japanese and non Japanese friends who are, and I have listened over the years to their stories. This book is a perfect example of what the gay experience is like here in Japan. It's very honest and moving. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in Japanese sub culture.

Rating:
Summary: Expanding the Understanding of Japan
Review: People will stumble upon this book, I think, from their interest in other areas, gay and lesbian studies, or Japanese culture for example. The area of gay and lesbian studies in Japan is still so new and relatively small compared to the United States, for example, that as a discourse it does not quite have the independence and stature to attract wide notice or sympathy.

That said, this is an excellent introductory book, one-of-a-kind, in fact, of Queer Japan. In every story, translated by a trio of non-Japanese academics who have spent several years apiece in Japan and are active in gay-lesbian-bisexual-transexual groups, the author is awash with gratitude, to be allowed finally to speak in one's own voice, of the struggles, pain, and yes, the joys experienced. In such an oppressive culture, where candid, direct speech is not encouraged, or even actively discouraged as being childish and selfish, these essays are all the more remarkable.

My only complaint, which prevented me from giving 5 stars to the book, is technical: there are numerous grammatical errors, as well as careless word use. Sorry, I was an English major in college. I was trained to spot misuse of transitive/intransitive verbs, for example. It makes me sad that such errors suggest to me a lack of attention on the part of the publisher; in other words, this makes me feel that those involved in editing the book did not take as much pride in their own book as their subjects, which conflicts with the heartfelt call for those in the book, and others like them who struggle in Japan, to take pride in themselves, their essential beings.

In short, an excellent, though technically flawed book, for those looking to expand their understanding of modern Japan.

Rating:
Summary: Not quite what I expected, but still a worthwhile book
Review: This is the first book I have ever come across that dealt with the lives of lesbians, bi-sexuals and gays in Japan.

For that reason alone, the book is well worth reading.

It relates the personal stories of Japanese lesbians, gays, bi-sexuals, and even one transexual person, who interestingly is a lesbian male to female.

I was hoping, however, that the book would be more detailed. I found most of the narratives quite generalized. I also would have preferred more of a "coming of age" slant to the naratives.

The book focuses more on coming out and social and political issues relating to Japanese homosexuals.

I found it quite interesting that it not a religious bias that causes discrimination against homosexuals in Japan, but rather a social and cultural prejudice. Japan is very geared towards the traditional idea of spouse and children.

Homosexuals are looked upon as being objects of ridicule and considered abnormal or psychologically sick.

Japanese homosexuals end up living quite closeted lives for the most part. Many are pressured into marriages.

There is hope, however, and several good organizations for lesbians, bi-sexuals and gays have sprung up. Hatred and ridicule against homosexuals is no longer tolerated unquestioningly in the media, these organizations are fighting it, and frequently they have been successful.