Introduction: queer lives in contemporary Japan

Abstract

This introduction aims to situate four research articles on "Queer Lives in Contemporary Japan" in the larger field of gender and sexuality studies. It argues that, historically, the concepts "queer" or "transgender" are not particularly novel. Early twentieth-century progressives in Japan observed and sought social acceptance and suggested that individuals thought of as "sexually abnormal" would one day outnumber single-sex/gender men and women. Yet, the Japan story is more complicated and contradictory than the notion of a neat progression from the 1920s to our own moment would suggest. It also has more local and cultural flavor than the increasingly global sexual rights struggle might indicate. Ultimately, the introduction highlights the significant selfconscious individualism and self-determination a broad range of individuals bring to bear in order to pursue the increasing normalization of queer lives.

Queering Gender Boundaries and Redoing Heteroamorous Desire: Youth Scenes As a Social Field for (Re-)Negotiating Gender Arrangements and Sexuality

“…According to Charlebois (2017), since the 2010s, deviations from heteronormativity have been gradually tolerated or even accepted in Japan. At the same time, they are confirmed to have the potential to disrupt gender norms (Frühstück, 2020). Regardless of Japan's gender conservatism, Visus see their scene as open, respectful, tolerant and diverse.…”