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Queer As Cat

gender・ sexuality・ race ・intersectionality

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  • Home
  • About
    • About QAC
    • About Vesper
  • Photos
    • Instagram
    • Tokyo Rainbow Pride
      • 2014
      • 2015
      • 2016
      • 2017
      • 2018
  • Resources
    • Asexual POC Resources
    • #LGBTQIA in Japan
  • Contact

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  • [A]sexuality,  Japan[ese],  Queer[ness]

    Random Stuff Going On In Japan: Sept – Oct 2016

    August 31, 2016 / No Comments

    Ace Spec Japan Meetup Ace Spec Japan, a LINE-based group for aces in Japan, will be having its next meetup in Chiba on Sunday, September 18th, 2016! see our new (and still under construction) WordPress blog for details! (Kansai) Rainbow Festa Rainbow Festa (aka Kansai Rainbow Parade) will be held in Ogimachi Park, Osaka on Saturday, October 8th, 2016. for more information, see the official website. Yokohama Diversity Parade Yokohama Diversity Parade (aka Yokohama Rainbow Festa) will be held again this year at the Osanbashi International Terminal in Yokohama on Saturday, October 15th, 2016. last year Yokohama hosted its first Pride and this year Yokohama will be its first Parade! see the official website for more information. i’ll be at the Ace Spec Japan meetup, of course, but i can’t make Kansai Pride (going to forever call it that because they keep renaming it ffs) again due to work… i really…

    continue reading
    Vesper H.

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    QAC 28 – On “Blackness”, Queer Identity & Intersectionality (a rant)

    July 14, 2014

    Tokyo Rainbow Pride 2016 selfies

    May 14, 2016

    …annnd that’s a wrap!

    May 7, 2017
  • gossip 〜 the first gay culture cafe in Tokyo
    [Random] Thoughts,  Japan[ese],  Queer[ness]

    gossip 〜 the first gay culture cafe in Tokyo

    August 24, 2016 / No Comments

    the-shynamites: 今月末に閉店しちゃうらしいです ???? マジか?うっわ、やっばい。マジだ… 2週間前に行ってホンマに良かった… (。ŏ﹏ŏ) so apparently Gossip, the first LGBT cafe in Tokyo which opened its doors in 2010, will be closing August 31st, 2016… the cafe’s owner, Takita-san, has posted a message in Japanese and English on the cafe’s website… ah, this news makes me really sad…. Gossip is where i’d always go when in Tokyo when i wanted to connect with the local LGBT scene without going to Ni Chome, which has always felt much less accessible to me as someone who doesn’t like bars or clubs… Gossip was where i could casually read LGBT books and magazines over cake or falafel, it’s where LGBT gatherings would be hosted… it was the first LGBT place that i went to in Japan. ahhh, i’m sad….. really sad. i’m glad that i went there 2 weeks ago, but wish i had known then that it’d be my last time going…

    continue reading
    Vesper H.

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    “the faces of Vesper”

    June 8, 2014

    『[4コマ]☆AセクシュアルとAce(エース)☆』

    July 27, 2016

    gender feels; racial trauma.

    December 6, 2017
  • [A]sexuality,  Japan[ese],  Q&A,  Queer[ness]

    Q&A: “I was wondering if you know of any articles or websites about what it’s like being ace in Japan…”

    August 20, 2016 / No Comments

    anonymous said: Hi there….I was wondering if you know of any articles or websites about what it’s like being ace in Japan (especially from the perspective of any ace people who are natively Japanese). I’m just interested in reading people’s experiences, where they learned about asexuality, etc. I tried searching google, but so much acephobic garbage came up that I had to finally shut down my browser. D: aside from the things that @harris-hijiri​ writes, which aren’t necessarily about the experience of being ace in Japan, i’m afraid that i don’t know of personal writing on being ace in Japan as a Japanese person that’s written in English. i tried searching for some, but i swear if i come across another article on herbivore men or ‘the japanese sex/population crisis’ written from a Western-centric point of view i’m going to throw my laptop out the goddamn window. everything that i could…

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    Vesper H.

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    them gay enbian feels

    October 16, 2016

    QAC 28 – On “Blackness”, Queer Identity & Intersectionality (a rant)

    July 14, 2014

    allo by default: hypocrisy in “aspec” spaces

    February 25, 2017
  • [A]sexuality,  Gender[queer],  Japan[ese],  Queer[ness]

    navigating trans misogyny in the Japanese lesbian community…

    July 4, 2016 / No Comments

    translation: Accepting participants for the Ibaraki Lesbian Outdoor Meetup ★ [ …… ] Women loving women, FtMs, non-binary people & those questioning, let’s relax and chat together! However, this time only those who are registered as single and female on their family register are allowed, sorry. (Trying to gradually be a little more lax, but… ?) ….and THIS is why i almost always end up having to go all the way to Tokyo to participate in stuff, because the most (seemingly) active part of the LGBT community here (the lesbian community) is so goddamn transphobic. for the last two meetups, the OP was like “no trans women, sorry!” and that was the end of it. this time it doesn’t even mention trans women at all, only providing enough wiggle room for trans men and non-binary people provided they have “F” on their family register… am i or people like me supposed to…

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    Vesper H.

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    Re: QAC 51 – #ProudToBe Black Non-Binary Bi Pan AND Asexual

    June 23, 2016

    QAC 31 – Relationships… Meh.

    November 17, 2014

    Japanese gender / queer theory, anyone?

    May 22, 2017
  • Japan[ese],  Mental [Un]health,  Q&A,  Queer[ness]

    Q&A: “In your experience, does the culture in Japan label asexuals as “otaku”, “shut-ins”, or with mental illness?”

    April 9, 2016 / No Comments

    anonymous said: In your experience, does the culture in Japan label asexuals as “otaku”, “shut-ins”, or with mental illness? Or is there not as much discrimination as there is in the asian-american community? i can’t compare Japanese culture to those of Asian American communities because i’m not Asian American myself, so i can’t comment on what happens within Asian American communities. having said that, in my experience, asexuality is even less heard of in Japan than it is in America. since society for the most part doesn’t even know asexuality is a thing, i myself am not really out outside of LGBTQIA spaces and the majority of the Japanese aces that i know aren’t out outside of LGBTQIA spaces either, i have no experience with and haven’t heard of asexuals in Japan being labeled as such. yes, there certainly is stigma towards “otaku”/オタク (which doesn’t mean the exact same thing…

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    Vesper H.

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    mission Read All The Queer Manga

    December 18, 2016

    Asexy Aces at Tokyo Rainbow Pride 2014 (04/27/2014)

    May 7, 2014

    spotted: same-gender marriage feature on Japanese news

    October 12, 2015
  • [Random] Thoughts,  Gender[queer],  Japan[ese],  Queer[ness]

    transphobia & non-binary erasure in Japanese media

    March 17, 2016 / No Comments

    on Twitter i live-tweet my frustrations with various things i see on Japanese TV, including how trans and non-binary celebs are treated. the downside to this is that tweets quickly get lost in my timeline and then it’s a pain in the ass to dig them back up if/when i want to reference them. this post is me digging up some of those tweets and putting them here for my own ease of reference and so others can see examples of transphobia & non-binary erasure in Japanese media.

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    Vesper H.

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    …ok, so i lied about not posting sappy cat updates till i bring him home.

    September 12, 2017

    QAC 07 – Transmasculine & Transfeminine (my opinion)

    June 4, 2013

    QAC 20 – Aspirations, Goals & More For 2014

    December 29, 2013
  • [A]sexuality,  Gender[queer],  Japan[ese],  Queer[ness]

    VICELAND – GAYCATION Episode 1: Japan

    March 3, 2016 / No Comments

    from VICE.com: GAYCATION follows Ellen and Ian as they set off to explore LGBT cultures around the world. From Japan to Brazil to Jamaica to the USA, the two meet some fascinating people during their travels and hear their stories. In the first episode of the series, Ellen and Ian head to Japan, where same-sex marriage is still not legal and same-sex couples often bear a social stigma. However, certain cities have begun to recognize same-sex partnerships and the LGBT community continues to thrive in the country’s vibrant culture and nightlife. Ellen and Ian find out what it’s really like to identify as LGBT in Japan and meet some of the people struggling to find their voice in a country that refuses to give them equal rights under the law. so, episode 1 of GAYCATION can be watched in full (44mins) on YouTube. if you’re interested in what it’s like…

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    Vesper H.

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    「私はゲイ」自分の言葉で、自分を語る / “I’m Gay” – Talking About Myself By Myself: Gay men talk about their own identity.

    May 6, 2016

    commentary: “Where Is The Asexual Representation in LGBTQ Pride?”

    June 10, 2017

    *scribble scribble*

    September 15, 2016
  • Japan[ese],  Queer[ness]

    withU: a new Japanese LGBTQIA+ social networking site

    August 1, 2015 / No Comments

    withUは「全国のLGBTが一つになれる場所」というコンセプトで運営されています。普段の生活では会うことのできなかった人達と出会い、あなたのコミュニティの輪を広げましょう。サイト内の機能はすべて無料で使うことができます。 withUの中ではあなたがLGBTであることを隠す必要はありません。サイトを通じて本当の自分を理解し合える仲間を見つけてください。 withUの参加者はみんながあなたの理解者です。 just want to signal boost a new Japanese LGBTQIA+ social networking site called “withU” for those of you who speak Japanese and/or live in Japan. so far, the site seems very interesting and promising, having gained over 1,000 members since it became public last month. it’s like what would happen if mixi.jp and OKCupid teamed up and made a Japanese site? lol so far, the site seems to be inclusive of not just the L and the G, but also bisexual, pansexual, asexual, transgender and non-binary (Xジェンダー) people. you’re able to select all of these identifiers in your profile and when searching for people. there are even two asexual groups already! 😀 that said, the site does have some kinks to work out… the site seems to load slowly. also, in your profile you are required to make a selection from a dropdown menu titled 「セクシュアリティ」 (’sexuality’) which…

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    Vesper H.

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    パレードの皆さん、お疲れ

    April 26, 2015

    QAC 75.5 – Life Update: Leaving Japan?! | Legal Name Change | Goodbye Locs

    March 5, 2019

    QAC 16.5 – Life Update: Japan & Channel Changes

    September 16, 2013
  • [A]sexuality,  Japan[ese],  Queer[ness]

    TBS to air 2 hour special on “Lesbian Marriage” (May 25th @7:00pm)

    May 24, 2015 / No Comments

    tomorrow, May 25th @7:00pm on the TBS show 「私の何がイケないの?」 (”What’s wrong with me?”) will be airing a 2 hour special. the topic?  “Lesbian Marriage”. apparently the show will be discussing the recent legalization of civil unions (Japan’s calling it marriage but it really isn’t) in Shibuya-ku, the “marriage” of a female geinojin to her wife, the relationship between a former Takarazuka star and her partner and a trans woman (they describe her using the term 女装, ugh) who teaches at Todai?? if anyone gets a chance to watch this, could you let me know what you thought of it? i’ll be at work tomorrow during it, but i’m already cringing a what will probably happen during the show, based on various past experiences with Japan’s media coverage of the LGBT community…

    continue reading
    Vesper H.

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    …one of many examples of why navigating セクマイ / LGBTQIA spaces in Japan can be painful at times.

    October 7, 2016

    QAC 54 – Confusing Gender Envy & Admiration with Attraction || Non-Binary | Asexual

    October 10, 2016

    QAC 06 – Coming Out as a Panromantic Asexual

    June 1, 2013
  • [Random] Thoughts,  Gender[queer],  Japan[ese],  Queer[ness]

    NHK Heart Net TV to air feature on non-binary people

    May 6, 2015 / No Comments

    for those of you who don’t know, last month (4/30/15) the NHK series Heart Net TV (ハートネットTV) aired an episode that discussed problems that X-gender / Xジェンダー* people face in Japan. more specifically, they: read fanmail sent in by a person in their 40s who’s questioning and was given shitty “advice” from a support hotline interviewed an FtX person who is out in their workplace discussed issues live on air with two guests, an FtM** and an FtX** person aside from Japan’s continuous failure to distinguish between sex, gender and sexuality, it was a good episode, imho. you should definitely check it out if you missed it (and can understand Japanese)! the episode will be reaired tomorrow, 5/7 (Thurs) @1:05PM on NHK Eテル. you can also watch it online here! もし先月に放送されたNHK EテルのハートネットTVのXジェンダーについてエピソードを見なかったら、明日5月7日(木)午後1時05に再放送されますので是非見てください!又はネット上でも見えます!クリックしてね。 * for those wondering, X-gender / Xジェンダー is the Japanese equivalent of genderqueer and/or non-binary in English. **…

    continue reading
    Vesper H.

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    my collection…

    March 7, 2013

    QAC 48 – Non-Binary Gender Norms & (A)sexuality: Yeah, No.

    March 27, 2016

    QAC 19.5 – Life Update: Thank you! + Names + Japan

    November 15, 2013
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VESPER H.

YouTuber & Blogger

Queer As Cat is the blog and YouTube channel of Vesper, an American expat currently living in Japan.
reoccurring topics include: #asexuality, #nonbinary, #queerness #blackness & #mentalhealth

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Recent Posts

  • literal “social distancing” from the ace community April 1, 2020
  • legalized weed in America: one of many chips on my Black shoulder March 7, 2020
  • willpower, sweat, and tears January 30, 2020
  • 🎬 QAC 79 – The Neverending Queer-y: My Queer Ace Journey || LGBT YouTube & COPPA January 4, 2020
  • #YouTubeIsOverParty: COPPA & The Hypocrisy of YouTube December 15, 2019

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