The arrangement was committed but not monogamous. Like ancient Greece, where older men took youthful male lovers, Japan’s Nanshouku tradition brought mentorship and sexual relations between elder monks and younger fellows coming of age. Tachikawa-ryu was banned in the 13th century, and its writings destroyed or locked away…though some believe it still operates covertly. One ritual involved grinding up human skulls, after all. Opponents, however, said it was dark-sided black magic. Their sexual rituals were said to control supernatural and cosmic forces. But Tachikawa-ryu, Japan’s take on Tantra, made it a religious experience. There was a Sex Cultīuddhism and Shintoism do acknowledge sex is special. Same-sex orgasms didn’t warrant coming out parties.
Moreover, just because you had sex with another man (or woman), there was no need to label it ‘gay’. Getting around was the way to validate you were a succulent piece of sashimi that could still soak up the soy sauce. Male or female, everybody was fair game in the quest to commingle conjugal cowbells. Unlike today’s Christian sensibility, where the point of sex is procreation, ancient Japan got it on like free-loving hippies. Evil! Treacherous! Gay sex was the more wholesome alternative. Women were – in no uncertain terms – evil and treacherous. You scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours. Moreover, if you got your freak on, Buddhists could appreciate the synergy of a same-sex dalliance. There were no Christian guilt trips, confessions or penance. Still, Buddhists acknowledged sexual desire was normal. The Shinto tradition was soon followed by Buddhism (which definitely encouraged abstinence in the name of spiritual purity). Mind you, it was still possible to “sexually pollute” oneself, but only in the context of spiritual enlightenment. And since sex, regardless of your partner, was an expression of love it was an inherently benign act. As old as Japan itself, the spiritual tradition believes all people are fundamentally good. Read on for a taste of Japan’s queer history. It was only our recent Western (read: Christian) influence that made the Japanese sour on homosexuality. While Japan plays catch-up with queer life today, it’s worth noting the Samurai, and in turn the general population, openly indulged in same-sex shenanigans.
This is welcome news, but the country could still be several years away from legalization. It was only this year – 2021 – that a district court ruled it unconstitutional to ban same-sex marriage. While Japan leads countless trends and technologies, gay culture has further to go on this archipelago. The trip culminates in the world’s largest supercity where the population rivals Canada (the second largest country on Earth) at 37 million.
Perfect for city slickers, it serves up ten days in megalopolis surroundings, with tastes of nature and small town living thrown in. While many Out Adventures holidays delve deep into jungles or up the tallest mountains, the Kyoto To Tokyo tour through Japan is our most urban adventure. In and out of battle, the Samurai loved a good sword fight.