Essay Sample on LGBT People in Japan

Introduction

Japan is a country that is known for advancements especially in sectors of technology. However, the one part where the country lags behind is issues related to Lesbians, Gays, Bisexual, and Transsexual (LGBT) community. In Japan, LGBT is a taboo topic. Many people are unaware of its dynamics. In recent times, people began to become more aware and accepting of the LGBT. Today, 8% of the population in the country belongs to the LGBT community. Despite the widespread knowledge of LGBT, there are still some hurdles that the country needs to overcome, especially on the issue of the community building a family between themselves and their acceptance in their families. LGBT families do exist in Japan. The paper provides a discussion of the LGBT people in Japan with a central focus on their family and acceptance.

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Family constitutes people who are married by birth, marriage or adoption. In Japan, some people do not accept their family members coming out as members of the LGBT community. The movie 弟の夫 revolves around Yaichi who has a gay twin brother Ryoji who was married to Mike Flanagan. Upon Ryoji’s death, Mike comes to Japan to visit Yaichi. Yaichi is uncertain about accepting Mike s part of the family, but his daughter Kana automatically accepts him. Eventually, Yaichi comes to accept Mike as part of the family after seeing his interactions with his family and friends. Based on the movie, it is apparent that as of today, Japan still has a long way to go in their path of accepting LGBT as part of their family. Considering its release in 2018, the movie puts forward that there is little or no understanding on the LGBT people. The movie might or might not work to the public because of one thing, which is becoming interested in the LGBT people. If anyone who watched the movie has interest, they would delve into more research about the LGBT, which would make them realize they are just like any other person and become more accepting of them.

Accepting LGBT people in Japan has proved difficult. For instance, Katsuei Hirasawa, a Japanese lawmaker stirred commotion for stating that Japan would collapse if everybody became LGBT (AP p.1). According to Hirasawa, same-sex marriage is unacceptable in Japan even though Shibuya ward and other municipalities accept it. Japan Info (p.1) talks about the situation of LGBT families in Japan. As he states, a survey conducted by the research institute LGBT Marketing Lab in August 2016, up to 90% of the respondents indicated that if their children ever came out as LGBT, they would be more accepting. The author attributes the results of the study to the changing outlook of Japan’s society, which has of late become more accepting of LGBT people. The author affirms that the harsh reality in Japan is that LGBT people find it difficult to start their families because same-sex marriage is unacceptable in the country. As he adds, the LGBT communities have no options of assisted reproductive technology and adoption because of Japan’s strict laws. Nevertheless, he indicates that they can apply for foster care but the foster parent will only be the person who applied and not their partner. Based on the lawmaker’s remarks, it is clear that even people of the high social ranking have little knowledge about LGBT. More awareness about the group would create acceptance in the Japanese society.

Understanding the LGBT would be one way to do away with the prejudice associated with it. The first step the government should take is to accept marriage equality. Other countries acknowledge this and the LGBT community has become known. In the movie, Yaichi and Mike had to go and get married in Canada because Japanese laws do not allow same-sex marriage. It is believable that people should choose who they want to be and choose their life partner. In Japan, ten same-sex couples intend to file a lawsuit against the government for denying them their constitutional freedom of marriage equality in February 2019 (Kyoto, p.1). Such cases can become unavoidable if the government accepts the LGBT community. If the Japanese government passes the law to allow same-sex marriage like other countries, then cases of prejudice and discrimination would reduce by a margin. Besides, people would want to know more about the LGBT, which would make them be more accepting.

Conclusion

Overall, Japan has come a long way in accepting the LGBT community. The people are struggling in Japan because of the limited laws. However, with the recent acceptance and widespread knowledge about the community, LGBT’s future seems bright. The little steps that Japan has taken to acknowledge the community as part of their own is a clear indication that the people will one day become accustomed to inclusivity. Very soon, Japan will see LGBT families as any other Japanese family. Furthermore, watching the movie would be a good start to help the Japanese people to get a good understanding of the LGBT community. A better understanding of the community would help the Japanese society to become more accepting of the LGBT. Japan needs to reconsider its laws to encourage same-sex marriage to enable the LGBT community to build a family. Most importantly, the Japanese society has to create a conducive and non-prejudicial environment where the LGBT will feel free to come out.

Works Cited

AP. Japanese lawmaker takes fire for saying a nation 'would collapse' if everyone became

LGBT. The Japan Times. 2019. Accessible at https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/01/05/national/politics-diplomacy/japanese-lawmaker-says-nation-collapse-everyone-became-lgbt/#.XDkVh95R3IU

Japan Info. Are There LGBT Families in Japan? What Is Their Situation Like? 2017. Accessible

at http://jpninfo.com/94177

Kyodo. 10 same-sex couples to sue Japanese government over marriage equality. The Japan

Times. 2018. Accessible at https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2018/12/29/national/crime-legal/10-sex-couples-sue-japanese-government-marriage-equality/#.XDu-h95R3IU