The Current State of LGBTQ+ Perceptions in Japan
In 2019, a gay Irish man speaking about his experiences living in Japan since the 1990s, particularly in the light of the 2015 referendum that legalized same-sex marriage. His conclusion was clear: Ireland had changed since the 1990s, while Japan had stayed the same.
By this, he meant that Japan’s attitudes towards LGBTQ+ people was essentially, “just leave them alone and let them get on with it. No hatred, but no particular kindness, either.” This can be alienating for LGBTQ+ people in Japan, especially for those who have immigrated from countries with more progressive views. It’s due to this that many seek out and join LGBTQ+ groups.
Why join LGBTQ+ groups?
Joining an LGBTQ+ group or finding a welcoming space can be a great way to be a part of a community. This can be great not only for meeting people, having fun, and making friends, but can also be crucial for help and advice during moments of difficulty. This is especially useful for foreigners who have moved to Japan, and whose friends and security net will now be on the other side of the world.
So, whether it’s for fun, socializing, support, help, or just having some understanding and common ground, joining an LGBTQ+ group is a great way to curate your space and find your people. So what are some groups that you can join? Let’s take a look at some groups in Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto.
LGBTQ+ Groups in Tokyo
Queer Social Japan
A casual monthly gathering, Queer Social Tokyo is a place for LGBTQ+ people to relax and have a good time. Run by progressive education NPO Kosodate Village, guests who visit the group at Ryozan Park Lounge can play games, have a drink, and connect with others. The events often have a seasonal theme, such as encouraging coming in costume at Halloween.
Tokyo Queer Collective
Started to celebrate queer joy and build a community, Tokyo Queer Collective is a highly progressive group that is involved in a number of events and gatherings that differ from the usual. Intended as an LGBTQ+ group for people to come together without relying on alcohol, TQC hosts book exchanges, picnics, art fairs, and even gender-affirming haircuts. A deeply progressive organization, TQC is also dedicated to art and anarchism, and has raised funds for charities that feed Tokyo’s unhoused population, among others.
Neon Book Club
Started in 2022, Neon Book Club is a bilingual book club that meets at The Breakfast Club in Nakameguro two or three times a year to discuss books with queer and feminist themes. The group discusses each book in two groups: one Japanese-language, and one in English, before coming together to discuss as a whole at the end. The club also publishes its own ‘Zine, which features poetry, essays, short stories and art from club members.
ReBit
An NPO dedicated to eliminating discrimination and supporting LGBTQ+ people through all stages of life, ReBit takes a long-term approach, believing that the actions we take today can change the world in just ten years. It gives advice to schools and teachers on looking after LGBTQ+ youth, so that they can become happy and successful adults. It also provides counseling to businesses to prevent discrimination against LGBTQ+ employees in the workplace, as well as giving career advice to employees themselves.
Colorful Heart
Catering to both Japanese and English-speaking attendees, Colorful Heart is a volunteer organization that hosts regular meetings for LGBTQ+ people with mental health issues. This group is intended to be a safe space for anyone in the LGBTQ+ community dealing with addiction, neurodevelopment disorders, and mental health problems to come and talk to others who are experiencing the same problems. It also collaborates with other health organizations to run workshops and seminars about sexual and mental health. Although no volunteers are psychiatrists, they are able to point anyone in need of professional help in the right direction.
LGBTQ+ Groups in Osaka
QWRC
Established in 2003, the Queer and Women’s Resource Center (pronounced “Kwark”) takes a feminist perspective on society and sexuality, and is a space for women, sexual minorities, and anyone interested in these topics to learn more. It also offers telephone counseling, as well as hosting events and holding lectures on a diverse range of topics. Some regular events include a bird game night, a tea party for LGBTQ+ parents and their children, and an under-23 gathering for young people questioning or exploring their sexuality.
Abe no LGBT Shokudou
Sometimes it’s nice to just have a relaxing dinner in like-minded company, and that’s exactly what Abe no LGBT Shokudou does. Every month, it has a dinner gathering for LGBT people, as well as non-binary, asexual, and other queer guests. The menu changes monthly, and attendees are encouraged to stay afterwards for some alcohol or a soft drink to keep the evening going. Non-LGBTQ+ people are only permitted if attending with someone from the community, and to ensure safety, anyone that makes the group anxious or uncomfortable will be asked to leave.
Nijiiro Diversity
This organization, begun in 2013, is a non-profit that exists to promote diversity and inclusion in the workplace. As such, Nijiiro Diversity works to help employees suffering from anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination, as well as providing training, consultations, and lectures for businesses, academia, and government organizations. It has won awards from Google, the Nikkei, and the Osaka Bar Association for its work. It also works closely with the NPO Business for Marriage Equality to positively influence the debate over same-sex marriage in Japan.
Colorful Blankets
Another NPO, Colorful Blankets exists to promote solidarity among LGBTQ+ people and their allies in order to create a more tolerant and accepting Japan. In addition to creating a space for people to come together to share and gove advice on personal problems, it holds outside seminars and study sessions to raise awareness of the challenges faced by the LGBTQ+ community in Japan. For many years, it has also been touring its “We Want to be a ‘Good Couple’ Too” exhibition, highlighting the plight of Japanese LGBTQ+ partners who want to get married, but who cannot yet.
Pride Center Osaka
A permanent LGBTQ+ space in Tenmabashi, Pride Center Osaka is a hub of information and support. It has a library filled with books, pamphlets, and more for anyone who is seeking to learn more about LGBTQ+ concerns in Japan, as well as a space to play games or speak to a counselor. In addition to hosting its own events, it is also a terrific resource to find out about LGBTQ+ events taking place all over Osaka.
LGBTQ+ Groups in Kyoto
Colorful Kyoto
Colorful Kyoto’s goal is to “make Kyoto more colorful”, and by this, it means it aims to create a community where everyone can be active in letting their true selves shine. It promotes LGBTQ+ understanding both among members of the community and allies by focusing on self-actualization, co-existence, and communication. It regularly holds events to further understanding of LGBTQ+ issues, including “Let’s Live in Color,” where guest speakers discuss issues facing and opportunities for the community.
Gender Garden
This is a group that will most appeal to students: at Doshisha University, they have created a “Gender Garden,” to have flowers bloom across the campus and hold regular events to educate people on LGBTQ+ issues and meet people of any and all genders. It holds regular film screenings, workshops, and music appreciation. It prides itself on being a safe space for anyone.
Tsunagary Cafe
Tsunagary Cafe, which also has branches in Kobe and Osaka, is not just a place to come for coffee, but is a community space for people who want to spend time in a space where they can be themselves, and connect to other LGBTQ+ people. It makes a point to let people know that it is open to listen to and help people who may be unsure of or exploring their sexuality, as well as people over 40 who may have grown up in a different era, and want to finally express themselves.
Kyotoiro
Begun by a Kyoto-based social worker, Kyotoiro was initially an organization started to give transgender people a space to meet one another. Now, it has evolved into a group where anyone can come together to discuss sex and sexuality. The group meets once every three months, and holds events such as film screenings and discussions.
Kyoto Marble Space
Provided by the Kyoto City government, Kyoto Marble Space is a community space where LGBTQ+ people, their families and friends, and other allies can gather to make connections and learn more about one another. It also holds special consultation sessions with professional counselors to discuss any concerns that guests may have, including any discomfort with their current gender identity or how to navigate a same-sex relationship for the first time.
Conclusion
There are as many groups, communities, and spaces to join in Japan as there are reasons to join them. It doesn’t matter if you’re struggling, or want some professional advice, or just want to make some new friends. Wherever you are in Japan, you’ll be able to find the people you are looking for.
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