While Japan seems more open to LGBTQI+ themed ideas on the surface, without oppressive religion and a handful of openly gay personalities on TV, the actual rights of the people have not been seriously considered. A country known for harmony and fitting in does not lend much room for anyone outside what society deems the “norm.” With Japan embarrassingly low on the list of countries that consider gender equality important, what room does that leave for minorities?Ī well-known saying of “A nail that sticks out gets hammered down,” is often recited in society if you want to successfully go with the flow- structured, cis-hetero, Japanese masculine dominated flow. Only in its second year, Mr Gay Japan is already gaining fast recognition amongst the Japanese LGBTQI+ community despite the constant prevalent struggle to be seen in Japan. The Mr Gay Japan Pageant took place in Tokyo this year, nominating Tiger Shigetake to represent Japan in the 11th Mr Gay World competition.
