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On LGBT
history in Japan: Unlike many other nations on Earth, Japan has
no native religious taboo against same-sex relationships or
transgender people, as its dominant Shinto faith is based around
nature spirits and shamanism. Open gay relationships were an accepted
part of Japanese samurai and Buddhist monastic society, and were
similar to pederasty in Classical Greece. Women had less social
freedom than men for a large part of Japanese history and
consequently lesbian relationships were difficult if not impossible.
Following the Meiji Restoration and the importation of Western ideas,
prejudices against same-sex relationships and transgender people
emerged. With the information age and the proliferation of BL and
yuri – despite their frequently-skewed perspective on the realities
of LGBT romance – general acceptance is appearing in the mainstream
for LGBT communities.
On
same-sex expression in Japan: Due to the nature of Japanese
culture, the type of expression that might be expected from a
Westerner is almost non-existent outside of popular media as such
individualistic statements make that person seem out of place.
Japan’s focus on community over individuals generally makes
statements of sexual identity far rarer and more low-key than in
accepting Western countries. Without that overt expression, there is
a focus on people over aspects such as sexuality in most cases, so
acceptance is more widespread except when there are social or
corporate pressures. A major pressure to this day is the focus on
continuing the family line, which leads to social discrimination
against LGBT people from peers and loved ones alike.
On
same-sex couples in Japan: As of 2017, several cities extend or
are planning to extend same-sex partnerships many of the same rights
as married couples, but there is nothing in law to enforce this.
Same-sex marriage as understood in many Western countries is
currently illegal in Japan, as Article 24 in Japan’s Constitution
defines marriage as being between two people of the opposite sex. A
common route adopted by same-sex couples is through the koseki, the
governing body for family life in Japan, with a process similar to
adoption taking place and one partner giving up their surname as a
wife must do in Japanese heterosexual marriage. Informal marriages
and instances of people living together also occur, and Japan has
recognised marriage between a Japanese national and a foreigner in a
country where same-sex marriage is legal. Popular support in Japan
for equal marriage and partnership rights for LGBT people grows by
the year, and several Japanese government officials have spoken
publicly about pushing to legally recognise same-sex marriage.
On the
pornographic manga owned by Airnori: As stated in Article 175 of
Japan’s Penal Code, the sale and distribution of uncensored
sexually explicit media is prohibited. Sexual elements are allowed
only within very strict guidelines. The two most notable elements are
that male genitalia should not be shown in detail – which still
exists today – and that no pubic hair be shown – this part having
been repealed during the 1990s. These resulted in various types of
censorship ranging from lines and panels to pixelation depending on
the medium. An active pornography market through specialist stores
does exist in Japan, covering all media and being most widely
recognised by Westerners through gei-comi or bara along with the BL
and yuri genres. To avoid prosecution for infringing Article 175,
Japanese pornography continues to incorporate elements of censorship
in their work. Despite the production of illegal explicit
pornography, the enforcement of Article 175 and prosecution of
offenders is still rather spotty. While such media have brought LGBT
people to a wider audience, they are acknowledged to present skewed
or dramatic versions of real-life events, negatively affecting public
perception of same-sex relationships.
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My acknowledgements go to the YouTube couple Rachel & June, particularly their video "Being LGBT (Gay) in Japan【同性愛者（日本）】日英字幕", which partially inspired the whole project.
In addition, I would like to include an acknowledgement to the intriguing work of Takeshi Matsu, a bara artist whose work has less pure erotica and more emotional depth than many other bara writers (you must absolutely be over 18 to see anything but the briefest and safest glimpses of his work, trust me).
Also, my gratitude must go to multiple authors both Japanese and Western, in addition to the encouragement of fellow author and Japan lover Sarah Ash, when creating this project.
If these notes have given you any interest, then please check out this article, which contains links to all four parts of When Ai Met Yu, an LGBT romance set in contemporary Japan.
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