LGBT Representation in Japanese Media

LGBT Representation in Japanese Media

Media reflects society and we think that it's important to spread movies, tv shows and books that portray LGBT in a meaningful way. The more it's portrayed in the media, the more people will be aware of the normality of it.  

Movies

1. Rage (2016)


A man brutally murders a married couple and leaves the word rage ("Ikari") written with their blood. The killer undergoes plastic surgery and flees. At three different locations in Japan, a stranger appears. People suspect that the stranger might be the murderer. 



2. Fly Me To Saitama (2019)

People from Saitama Prefecture are persecuted and, because of this, they hide the fact that they are from there. In Tokyo, Momomi Hakuhodo is a male high school student and the son of the Tokyo governor. One day, he meets mysterious male transfer student Rei Asami from Saitama Prefecture.




Others include: The Cornered Mouse Dreams of Piece (2020), Kalanchoe (2017), French Dressing (1998)


TV shows

1. What did you eat yesterday? (2019)









2. Life as a Girl (2018)








3. Ossan's Love (2018)








Books

"Kitchen" Banana Yoshimoto
"Natsu no Yakusoku" Chiya Fujino [122th Akutagawa Winner]


Opinions

    Although media representation of LGBT is increasing every day, I think there can always be more. More representation would mean more normalization in society and more people understanding the normality of non-binary genders or non-hetero sexualities.

Comments

  1. UiJuly 26, 2022 at 9:56 PM

    I agree that media does reflect how we think, and it creates some stereotypes so I liked that this blog entry introduced movies, tv shows, and books that portray LGBT. I have not seen or read any of these however, I’ve watched “Call Me by Your Name” and “Love, Simon.” These two movies were in my opinion, beautifully filmed. “Love, Simon” was led by the queer actor playing one of the character’s interests and the director is openly gay so, it made it feel close. When I have time, I hope to watch or read these. I also hope Japan will normalize and have a better understanding of non-binary gender or non-hetero sexualities.

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  2. jodiasJuly 30, 2022 at 12:58 PM

    I'm glad you had a blog entry on media representatives of diversity as this is an important area. The Rainbow Reels film festival every year also adds to this landscape, but perhaps the audience of those films wouldn't necessarily be made up of as wide a range of the population as those who would view the TV shows and films you highlighted in your blog.

    Although they're American films, "Milk" (about the pioneering gay politician and icon Harvey Milk, who was assassinated in 1979) and "Any Day Now" ("Chocolate Donuts" in Japan) are excellent films that deal with homophobia in the not too distant past.

    In your blog post I would have liked to have heard, in somewhat more detail, how those films or TV shows where connected to LGBTQi issues, although you did touch on it a bit in your final presentation.

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