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Queer Voices from Japan: First Person Narratives from Japan's Sexual Minorities (AsiaWorld)
Queer Voices from Japan examines the wide range of queer voices in Japan, and the longevity that these minority communities have enjoyed in society. Mark McLelland, Katsuhiko Suganuma, and James Welker bring together historical and contemporary narratives that contribute to the study of sexual identities in Japan. These essays trace the evolution of queer voices in Japan with analyses of the presence of homosexuality in the Japanese Imperial Army, the development of Japan's first gay bars, and same-sex experiences in the pre- and post-war periods. This book offers a variety of perspectives including a range of male-to-female and female-to-male transgender voices and experiences. The broad scope of this volume makes it an invaluable text for understanding the development of Japanese sex and gender categories in the twentieth century. Queer Voices from Japan is a compelling read that will appeal to those interested in Asian studies and human sexuality.
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First published January 1, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
September 6, 2020
As advertised this is a collection of translated accounts by gay writers focusing on their personal experiences over the past 60 years or so.
For better or worse it seemed to skew towards articles submitted to publications about and/or by gay activists and organizers, or otherwise individuals involved in night trades, over the stories of “regular” people. First hand stories of anti-gay violence and discrimination, themes like the impact of AIDS, family anxieties and struggles in ‘coming-out’, etc. feel surprisingly glossed over as opposed to discussions about the search for a communal identity and desire for wider social acknowledgement. Even after reaching the book I don’t particularly feel like I’d be able to say a whole lot about the contemporary gay experience in Japan.
A significant portion of the text, perhaps a majority, is dedicated to the development of a lesbian community and movement from the 70s on. Explicitly transgender voices are few (I think two of the 21 articles) and feel a bit perfunctory, neither come across very likable.
As a reader unfamiliar with queer history I would have benefited from more connective tissue from the editors, such as introductions to each article or section providing more social background. The articles seem roughly arranged chronologically by publication but many reflect on past events. Hopping about through time it’s easy to become a little lost when considering where queer society, mainstream perceptions, and ‘the movement’ are at a given point.
There is a good chronology inserted as an appendix, but I’d have preferred this follow the introduction at the beginning, and perhaps note the dates that each article focus on and were published in. A glossary with notes about the major organizations and publications that appear across multiple articles would also have been helpful for reference. Finally I know it`s personal preference, but I wish the footnotes would’ve been inserted at the bottom of each page rather than at the end of each article. It’s a hassle to have to continually flip through the pages to see whether the notes are useful background information or simple references.
Though an easy read, I think I’d recommend this less for general audiences and more for people researching queer culture in Asia, for interested gay travelers or local guides likely to work for them.
For better or worse it seemed to skew towards articles submitted to publications about and/or by gay activists and organizers, or otherwise individuals involved in night trades, over the stories of “regular” people. First hand stories of anti-gay violence and discrimination, themes like the impact of AIDS, family anxieties and struggles in ‘coming-out’, etc. feel surprisingly glossed over as opposed to discussions about the search for a communal identity and desire for wider social acknowledgement. Even after reaching the book I don’t particularly feel like I’d be able to say a whole lot about the contemporary gay experience in Japan.
A significant portion of the text, perhaps a majority, is dedicated to the development of a lesbian community and movement from the 70s on. Explicitly transgender voices are few (I think two of the 21 articles) and feel a bit perfunctory, neither come across very likable.
As a reader unfamiliar with queer history I would have benefited from more connective tissue from the editors, such as introductions to each article or section providing more social background. The articles seem roughly arranged chronologically by publication but many reflect on past events. Hopping about through time it’s easy to become a little lost when considering where queer society, mainstream perceptions, and ‘the movement’ are at a given point.
There is a good chronology inserted as an appendix, but I’d have preferred this follow the introduction at the beginning, and perhaps note the dates that each article focus on and were published in. A glossary with notes about the major organizations and publications that appear across multiple articles would also have been helpful for reference. Finally I know it`s personal preference, but I wish the footnotes would’ve been inserted at the bottom of each page rather than at the end of each article. It’s a hassle to have to continually flip through the pages to see whether the notes are useful background information or simple references.
Though an easy read, I think I’d recommend this less for general audiences and more for people researching queer culture in Asia, for interested gay travelers or local guides likely to work for them.
July 16, 2024
Lot of interesting stories, first-person accounts.
August 18, 2014
it's a very fascinating read and i would recommend it.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews