What do they think of us in Japan?? We love that song by Calle 13, hilarious… For now we’ll talk about a few things that we had no idea about. A friend of ours suggests Manga better known as Yuri (dedicated to love between girls) in which we discover, for example, that if you want to live with your girlfriend n Korea, your parents have to adopt her. So… incest is preferable to being a lesbian???

Another friend, Oscar (Oscar, from Frikiviajes) suggests his best localizers if you want to go to Tokyo. With all this, we have our first Asian post…

Lillicious is a site dedicated to yuri in which you can find all kinds of manga. Don’t miss one that’s called Free Soul the lezzy version: Keito adores Niki. Keito works in a record shop. Keito and Niki sleep together but for Niki it’s just something occasional. Keito insists…

Tokyo is a more tolerant city than the rest of Asia concerning homosexuality and diverse lifestyles, as long as you’re discreet. The international scene has a healthy nightlife, publications and support groups.

There are curious cultural phenomena like the Takarazuka Gekijo female theater(http://kageki.hankyu.co.jp/english/) that attracts housewives and young women in love with thr Drag-King actors, or the otome (Otome Road in Ikebukuro http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otome_Road), the female version of the otaku, that share an obsession for the boys love manga (comics about romantic relationships among men). While Tokyo doesn’t recognize the non-heterosexual population, its existence is perfectly normal in a rich variety of artistic forms, like a kind of fantasy away from day to day life. So even though society tries to ignore it, the truth is that the GLBT Scene in Tokyo is full of life.

For more information, please check http://www.fridae.com/directory/japan/tokyo and www.utopia-asia.com/japntoky.htm. You can also check out the latest version of the Tokyo Journal (http://www.tokyo.to/) on the Internet and print out the list of events and gay and lesbian bars.

The Best Bars

• Advocates Bar (Shinjuku): It’s simply a small bar in which the crowds start growing throughout the night and overflows until it looks like a neighborhood party. The waiters speak English and it’s a good place to start the night in Nichoom

• Arch (Shinjuku) – www.clubarch.net: In this club you can have fun among the varied crowd, dance to the rhythm of whatever the Dj’s playing or cheer on the extravagant drag queens. There are women only and men only nights; you can check that out on their website.

• Arty Farty (Shinjuku) – www.arty-farty.net: This pace is another unconditional of the gay atmosphere and has many special free drink nights. There’s an explanation for their long-time presence and it’s that it has won the trust of the crowd, it’s a good place to start the evening and get an idea of where to go next.

• Kinswomyn (Shinjuku): In contrast with the other gay places in the area, in which you can find mostly men, this is a place for lesbians managed by Tara, a popular activist. It’s perfect for visitors since everyone speaks English and it’s comfortable for Japanese and foreign women.

• Tokyo International Lesbian & Gay Film Festival- www.tokyo-lgff.org

• Tokyo Gay Pride Paradewww.parade.tokyo-pride.org

Plus, on fridae there’s a complete directory of bars and events on the GLBT scene in Japan.

Fridae Japan Directory – http://www.fridae.com/directory/japan?search=1

Tags: asian post, calle 13, directory japan, drag king, friend oscar, glbt scene, hankyu, heterosexual population, japan tokyo, keito, lillicious, manga comics, oscar oscar, otaku, rich variety, romantic relationships, takarazuka, tokyo journal, wikipedia, yuri
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