SoraNews24 —Japan News—

A gaping loophole in Japan’s already grossly outdated law means any same-sex oriented part of the sex-industry can technically operate with total impunity.

Japan, News
(fueiho • gender • law • LGBT • Yokohama)

Mini documentary discusses importance of Sailor Moon for 90s LGBTQ kids

Anime News Network
Apr 2, 2016

Anime & Manga, Global
(anime • documentary • LGBT • LGBTQ • Sailor Moon • video)

Queer Japan documentary Kickstarter reaches goal

Anime News Network
Mar 16, 2016

Documentary features interview with manga creator Gengoroh Tagame.

Japan
(documentary • gay • Kickstarter • LGBT • Queer Japan • video)

Son comes out to father in surprisingly moving commercial from McDonald’s Taiwan【Video】

Master Blaster
Mar 8, 2016

Fast food empire McDonald’s took an unexpected, socially conscious turn in Taiwan recently when it produced a commercial depicting a young man telling his father that he’s gay.

Internet, Taiwan
(coming out • commercial • fast food • LGBT • McDonald's • Same-Sex • video)

Panasonic to recognize same-sex marriages of its employees starting this April

Preston Phro
Feb 18, 2016

Panasonic, the Japanese electronics producer and one of the Olympic Games’ biggest sponsors, announces sweeping policy changes.

Japan
(gay rights • LGBT • LGBTQ • marriage • Panasonic)

And now, a transgender Indian version of Pharrell’s “Happy” 【Video】

Master Blaster
Jan 13, 2016

Dubbed “India’s first transgender band,” the Brooke Bond Red Label 6 Pack Band’s first single shows just how happy the hijra community can get with an Indian-flavored take on the Pharrell Williams hit of 2014.

W Asia
(6 Pack Band • happy • hijra • India • LGBT • music • Pharrell Williams • transgender • video)

Japan releases results of its first national same-sex marriage survey

Jamie Koide
Dec 2, 2015

On November 28, the results of Japan’s first national survey about attitudes toward gay marriage were revealed. What kind of image did they paint of the people of Japan?

Japan
(gay marriage • gay rights • government • Japan • LGBT • national survey • survey)

Two Tokyo wards issue Japan’s first ever same-sex partnership certificates

Krista Rogers
Nov 6, 2015

Tokyo’s Shibuya Ward has been creating headlines around the world since the district first announced that it would begin issuing Japan’s first same-sex partnership certificates in the fall. Fast forward to this month, and both Shibuya and neighboring Setagaya Ward today issued their very first certificates!

Japan
(LGBT • partnership certificates • rights • same-sex marriage • Setagaya • Shibuya • Tokyo)

Japanese cell phone provider gives same-sex couples with Partnership Certificates family discount

Casey Baseel
Oct 26, 2015

Cell phone service in Japan isn’t exactly cheap, and if you spend a lot of time on your smartphone talking with clients, chatting with friends, or otherwise keeping in touch with the rest of the world, it’s not hard to run up a monthly bill in the neighborhood of 10,000 yen (US$84). Thankfully, Japanese providers offer a variety of discounts to help soften the blow, with reduced rates for family members being a huge help.

Now, as part of the changing societal concept of what constitutes a family, Japan’s largest telecommunications provider has begun offering family discounts to same-sex couples who present documentation of their union.

Japan
(Docomo • LGBT • NTT • same-sex marriage • Shibuya • Smartphones • society)

Tokyo’s Setagaya Ward to begin legally recognizing same-sex partnerships

Meg Murphy
Jul 31, 2015

In a landmark move last February, Shibuya Ward in Tokyo announced it would begin legally officiating same-sex partnerships, giving gay couples the same rights as married heterosexual couples. While the movement, set to begin in October this year, has received some scrutiny, it has also seen plenty of support.

Now, in what may be the beginning of a domino effect, one of Shibuya’s neighboring wards, Setagaya, has also announced that it will be offering the same legal recognition to same-sex couples, beginning this November.

Japan
(gay marriage • gay rights • LGBT • Setagaya • Tokyo)

Kesho Danshi: Visiting Yushima’s sublime transgender bars

Preston Phro
Jul 28, 2015

Miya Inoue is the kimono-clad owner of the chain of bars in Tokyo’s Yushima neighborhood operating under the Kesho Danshi brand staffed primarily by transgender women. She also built the interior of the first location herself by hand, drawing on her previous work experience as a carpenter. As the “Big Mama” of Kesho Danshi, Miya spends her time managing the staff at three locations, chatting with customers, and, amazingly, remembering everyone’s name. Oh, and did we mention she’s written an inspiring book about her life?

If you’re looking for good conversation and a fun place to drink in Tokyo, you can’t find a much better place than sitting across the counter from Miya or any of the welcoming staff members. Click below to take a visit to all three of the Kesho Danshi locations and listen in on our chat with “Miya Big Mama” yourself.

Japan
(bars • Kesho Danshi • LGBT • nightlife • transgender)

Tokyo’s Shibuya Ward to offer marriage certificates to same-sex couples

Preston Phro
Feb 12, 2015

Good news today for supporters of same-sex marriage in Japan! Tokyo’s Shibuya Ward is moving towards administering marriage certificates for same-sex couples. If the proposed plan is enacted, it would take effect on April 1 this year, making Shibuya the first ward in Japan to recognize same-sex marriage.

Japan
(certificate • equality • gay • lesbian • LGBT • same-sex marriage • Shibuya)

Edo era Samurai were pretty gay

Master Blaster
Jan 21, 2015

Recently a Japanese TV program highlighted an interesting bit of historical trivia: The most common type of revenge killing in the Edo period was between gay lovers. It’s a statistic that shocked many viewers in modern Japan, but there is ample evidence to support that a whole lot of gay sex was going on in the country from between 1400 and 1900.

It was at first a playful fancy of the ruling classes but then grew into a cold yet efficiently run military system of battlefield man-pleasuring. However, as we can see from the previously mentioned little factoid, once guys start letting emotions get involved, the whole thing starts to fall apart.