Monthly Archives January 2016

Japanese style wedding ceremony is now available to international same- sex couples.

Ahsh Inc., a wedding company in Osaka started their new service “Equal Wedding Japan” that offers Japanese style wedding ceremony to international same-sex couples. Ahsh Inc. provides international same-sex couples and transgender couples with a variety of Japanese traditional wedding clothes. International same-sex-couples and transgender couples are able to hold a wedding ceremony in places such as a Japanese traditional house in Kyoto, a Nohgaku stage, a Japanese style shrine in a hotel, and Toei Kyoto Studio Park. All the procedures will be taken care of by English-speaking assistants. On Ahsh Inc.’s website, you can see great pictures of same-sex
Read More

Being Out in Japan Part 1: Public Display of Affection

By: Roz Natsuko and I first started dating in February 2013. There was no talk about same sex marriage or any laws protecting LGBTQ  in Japan at the time. It wasn’t illegal either. I remember feeling terrified to show affection in public in Japan in fear that someone would attack us. When we held hands I felt myself watching everyone’s eyes around me preparing my body to move quickly in response to a sudden strike. When we went out to dinner I felt afraid to show we were a couple and not friends. I often felt uneasy and couldn’t relax.
Read More

HOW DID YOU GET A JAPANESE PARTNER?

BY ROZ When people meet my girlfriend and I they ask how we met. A question commonly asked to couples. But after I give them the short answer, “in a quiet little bar”, they ask me the question again. This time they clearly state their reason for asking. “I am a foreigner like you and I would like to date a Japanese person but it’s too hard to get them to date me. How did you manage to get a Japanese partner?” The question is not about my relationship. What they want to know is if I have some secret
Read More

Kinema Junpo magazine announced the top ten films. Ryosuke Hashiguchi, a Japanese film director, won the awards for Best Japanese Director and Best Screenwriter and his latest film “Koibitotachi”(The Lovers) ranked 1st among the top ten Japanese films.

The 89th Kinema Junpo Magazine Best Ten Films was announced and Ryosuke Hashiguchi, an openly gay film director won the awards for Best Japanese Director and Best Japanese Screenwriter. His latest film, “Koibitotachi”(The Lovers), ranked 1st among the top ten films and Atsushi Shinohara, who plays the lead in “Koibitotatchi”(The Lovers), won the award for Best New Actor. Hashiguchi’s latest film,“Koibitotachi”(The Lovers)”, which is his first feature film in 7 years, was released last November. The film portrays lives of three people living with diverse backgrounds. Atsushi, whose wife was killed by a random killer on the street, still remains
Read More