Gay rights in Japan

In Japan, if you are different, the best thing is to act as if you don't exist. As a gaijin (or foreigner), I learned this lesson early on and it served me well. Because I chose to not stand out, the Japanese left me alone and I can say that I never faced any overt discrimination in Japan.

Gays in Japan do the same, and so do the handicapped. Things are changing somewhat, though. Kanako Otsuji, a lesbian politician, contested an election and the gays and lesbians actually organized a parade in Tokyo. Despite these small improvements, this group of people has a long way to go before they get any recognition in the country, where things don't change fast.