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    ‘Let the Good Times Roll’: The Kawasaki Penis Festival!

    ‘Let the Good Times Roll’: The Kawasaki Penis Festival!

    By John Lewis– When most Americans hear the word “Kawasaki,” they likely think of the renowned motorcycle company, with its famous advertising slogan: “Let the Good Times Roll.” But every…

    Ethereal and Ephemeral

    Ethereal and Ephemeral

    By John Lewis– It’s sakura or cherry blossom season in Japan!  I’d never been in Japan at this celebratory time of the year, so for weeks I eagerly anticipated seeing…

    The Queerness of Camphor Trees

    The Queerness of Camphor Trees

    By John Lewis and Stuart Gaffney– Two magnificent 103-year-old camphor trees stand together aside the majestic gate to the Meiji Shrine in the heart of Tokyo. A plaque underneath their…

    Queer Rights Firestorm Ignited in Japan

    Queer Rights Firestorm Ignited in Japan

    By John Lewis and Stuart Gaffney– His words were searing. “I would hate it if [an LGBTQ couple] lived next to me. I would hate to even see [them].” So…

    Sumo Dancers

    Sumo Dancers

    By John Lewis– The powerful Japanese giants, weighing as much as 350 pounds and clad only in their mawashi (loin cloths), dig their heals into the compressed clay surface of…

    Harnessing “Double Gender” Power in the New Year

    Harnessing “Double Gender” Power in the New Year

    By John Lewis — Happy New Year 2023! In Japan, that means marking the beginning of the Year of the Rabbit with celebrations, gatherings of family and friends, and traditions…

    Fighting for Equality from Washington, D.C., to Tokyo

    Fighting for Equality from Washington, D.C., to Tokyo

    By John Lewis– A few weeks ago, I was with hundreds of other LGBTIQ people and supporters outside the Tokyo District Court building awaiting the court’s decision in an historic…

    Pride and Prejudice in Japan

    Pride and Prejudice in Japan

    By Stuart Gaffney and John Lewis– “Regressive,” “outdated,” and “abusive.” These are three of the words that Human Rights Watch has used to describe Japan’s requirements for transgender people to…

    A Queer Kaleidoscope of Japan

    A Queer Kaleidoscope of Japan

    By Stuart Gaffney and John Lewis– “Taking what is there just as it is and presenting it ‘just as it is.’” That’s how the masterful modern artist Lee Ufan describes…

    OMG Osaka! Rainbow Festa 2022

    OMG Osaka! Rainbow Festa 2022

    By John Lewis– “Oh My God Osaka!” Those were the words I heard belted out joyously from the stage at the recent annual Rainbow Festa (or Osaka Pride) on October…