Sexist Anime Is Japanese Culture?
How do we talk about sexism, heterosexism, and ciscentrism in anime/manga when it’s part of “their culture”? Can we criticize misogynous, homo...
Tag: culture
Language, culture, and identity——a translation tip that I learned after watching a lot of Doctor Who
Language is a weird thing. It’s external but also integral to our human psyche. By the time you’ve learned to speak, you become situated, recognizab...
A gay man’s opinion about yaoi/BL
Consumers and creators of BL are often the target of online harassment and attacks. But I think there’s misogyny and homophobia behind that. (This video i...
Why You Need To “Unlearn” Your English (or any second language)
How do I say “bless you” in Japanese when someone sneezes? Why do Japanese people say “itadakimasu” (I shall take/eat it) before eating ...
Debunking myths about LGBTQ politics & cultures in Japan
“Hate crime is nonexistent in Japan,” “Japan only recently started having pride marches,” “homosexuality is accepted in Japan beca...
Interview: Filmmaker Graham Kolbeins (“Queer Japan”)
Queer Filmmaker Graham Kolbeins talks about interviewing queer people, funding for queer documentary filmmakers, creative freedom vs focus, the Western gaze, th...
Is homosexuality orientation or preference?
There’s a debate on whether homosexuality is a preference or orientation. But is one better than the other? Let’s take a moment to go back in histor...
Intent vs Impact: How Discrimination Operates Without Your Consent
When someone confronts you and says you’re racist, misogynous, homophobic, ableist, etc…. it’s tempting to say “that’s not what I ...
My Interview on Feminism, Queer Activism, and Representation in Japanese Pop Culture Is Now Online at AniFem
Amelia said she wanted to interview me for the AniFem website, and I agreed, part of the reason being it's a new website and yet they promise to pay all writers...
Read before you write about LGBT politics in Japan
Although this isn't intended to be an exhaustive summary of history of LGBT politics in Japan, which I cannot possibly provide given my limited knowledge, I jus...