Television The Boyfriend, Japan’s first-ever same-sex dating show, renewed for a second season by Netflix Japanese gay reality show The Boyfriend, which is the country’s first-ever same-sex dating show, has been renewed for a second season by Netflix. The show brought nine queer men together for a month-long stay in a beach house called ‘the Green Room’. While running a mint-green coffee truck together, By Graham Robson • 1 min read
International News Streets flooded with colour for Tokyo Pride 2024 The streets of Tokyo‘s Shibuya Ward were flooded with colour on April 21 as 15,000 community members and supporters participated in the 30th Tokyo Rainbow Pride parade. Over the last three decades, social attitudes toward sexual minorities in Japan have changed significantly, as evidenced by a landm By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Film LGBTQ+ film ‘EGOIST’ part of the UK’s biggest celebration of Japanese film The Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme, billed as the UK’s biggest festival of Japanese cinema, which has run for over 20 years, is to return this year from February 2 – March 31. This year’s programme features the LGBTQ+ film Egoist, which is based on the autobiographical novel Egoist by TAKAY By Graham Robson • 1 min read
A participant holds up a placard during the International Transgender Day of Visibility rally in Shibuya district of Tokyo on March 31, 2023. (Photo by Yuichi YAMAZAKI / AFP) (Photo by YUICHI YAMAZAKI/AFP via Getty Images) International News Supreme Court of Japan makes ‘landmark decision’ ruling surgery not required for legal gender change The Supreme Court of Japan has today (October 25) issued a ruling in a family law case, declaring that the stipulation of the Special Law on Gender Identity Disorder, which mandates surgical sterilisation as a prerequisite for gender reassignment, is unconstitutional in Japan. This decision was base By Graham Robson • 1 min read
LGBTQ+ News International LGBTQ+ Travel Association to take its Global Convention to Asia for the first time with Osaka, Japan announced as host destination for 2024 The International LGBTQ+ Travel Association (IGLTA) announced today, Tuesday, March 7, that it has selected Osaka, Japan as the destination for its 2024 Global Convention. By Graham Robson • 2 min read
General News Japan accused of violating Olympic charter over LGBTQ+ rights Japan has failed to pass a bill to protect the rights of LGBTQ+ citizens. By Rachel Badham • 1 min read
General News Petition calls for LGBTQ+ equality in Japan A petition has been sent to Japan’s ruling party to call for LGBTQ+ equality. By Rachel Badham • 2 min read
General News Japanese court rules same-sex marriage ban is unconstitutional A district court in Japan has ruled that criminalising same-sex marriage in unconstitutional. By Rachel Badham • 1 min read
General News LGBTQ+ Marriage: Japanese Court Rules Ban Unconstitutional Legal benefits stemming from marriage should be equal says Court. By Paul Wright • 1 min read
General News Study finds Japan’s workplaces lacking LGBTQ+ specific training and policies A new study by online financial services provider, Au Jibun Bank, found many Japanese workplaces are lacking LGBTQ+ inclusivity with only 36% conducting LGBTQ+ awareness training. By Rachel Badham • 1 min read
General News LGBTQ+ activists in Japan launch petition for equality law The Japan Alliance for LGBTQ+ Legislation launched a petition on Thursday 15 October in collaboration with various LGBTQ+ activists in the country to demand an official LGBTQ+ equality law is implemented in time for the Tokyo Olympics next year. By Rachel Badham • 1 min read
General News Tokyo politician blames LGBTQ+ community for falling birth rates Masateru Shiraishi of Japan’s ruling party has faced criticism after claiming his north Tokyo ward would ‘no longer exist’ if LGBTQ+ people had legal protections. By Rachel Badham • 1 min read
General News LGBTQ+ information centre to open in Tokyo The Pride House Tokyo Legacy is due to open its doors on October 11 2020 in time for the Tokyo Olympics 2021. By Rachel Badham • 1 min read
General News Advocates call for regulations to prevent ‘outing’ in Japan Japanese LGBTQ+ activists are calling for authorities to increase protection of the queer community from being outed against their will. By Rachel Badham • 1 min read
Arts BOOK REVIEW: Mentaiko Itto Poster Book: You can’t imagine Japan’s manga scene without Mentaiko Itto’s strange but funny gay mangas. Bruno Gmünder publishes his works for the first time in English, introducing him to a broader audience. With two manga volumes already released: Priapus and The Boy Who Cried By Eric Page • 1 min read
