Cave paintings have shown evidence of homosexual tendencies in humans dating back as far as 1200 BC. Throughout all of history from that point on, homosexuals have been involved in and influenced human culture. The way that others have viewed them, however, has been constantly changing dramatically over time. They have been universally accepted, persecuted, seen as mentally handicapped and everything in between over the course of human history. Although the acceptance of homosexuality has been on the rise in recent decades, a large number of Japanese citizens, like those of the United States, continue to look down upon this “deviant” sexual behavior. Ironically, despite the controversial role that homosexuality has recently played in Japan, it was for much of history an integral and accepted facet of Japanese culture.
The Tokugawa-period in Japan lasted from 1603-1868 and evidence of homosexuality throughout this era can be seen in many different aspects of Japanese culture ranging from religion to theatre. This period produced one of the most extensive records of the tradition of sex between males in world history. However, McLelland notes that “despite the fact that same-sex eroticism is celebrated in much of premodern Japanese art, poetry and literature, this has little relevance for the way in which homosexuality is understood today either by the wider society or by homosexual men themselves.”1 During this time, same sex intercourse was viewed as only one of the many different types of erotic pleasure and having it did not prohibit a man from also being attracted to women. It was accepted as a valid and common form of sexual satisfaction and men were not labeled or judged for taking part in it. Homosexuals were not seen as a distinct type of individual, and homosexuality was like any other male characteristic. At this time Japan was a very strong patriarchal society, and sexual relationships often reflected the differences in status and power of the...