The genderless star with, his face expertly made up and hair dyed has been making waves in the Japanese entertainment industry in recent years, while challenging the social norms and reducing stigma around men. Link by RYUCHELL(りゅうちぇる)ĭubbed as the Harajuku style’s charisma model, Ryuji Higa, better known as Ryucheru (りゅうちぇる) is a Japanese model, singer and fashion icon. Ikkyu-san (一休さん) borrows from the Japanese monk’s legends and the vivid music video is overflowing with queer references while staring many cross-dressers and drag queens. The vocalist, KOM_I, who performed at 2019 Tokyo Rainbow Pride and hyped up the crowd with her high energetic performance is known for her advocacy for the LGBTQ+ community. Their unconventional music style is a combination of elements such as EDM, J-pop and Hip-Hop genres. Wednesday Campanella is a J-pop group formed in 2012. Ikkyu-san by Wednesday Campanella (Suiyōbi no Campanella, 水曜のカンパネラ) She sings “My body, my choice”, sending an empowering message to listeners to pursue their ambitions, regardless of gender, sexuality, race, or class position in society. Making a reference to Riot grrrl, an underground feminist punk movement that began in the early 1990s in the States. She released a succession of singles and EPs while being embraced by the general masses and her single “GRRRLISM” is one of her most ambitious works. In 2017, she released a song “Ultra Gender”, which clearly stated that she was going to be a rapper who is willing to address issues you don’t hear much about in Japanese mainstream culture. Japanese female rapper, Akko Gorilla built up a name for herself with MC battles and has been breaking social conventions with her hyper-speed flow ever since her debut. The lyricist and composer of the band’s songs, Avu-chan has written, in her songs, about the prejudices one faces being a mixed-race Japanese, and she often explores themes such as sexuality and being a queer individual. The band’s eccentric landmark gig at a secret party held by the Japanese fashion brand, Hysteric Glamour, caused a sensation, bringing Queen Bee to prominence.Īll members of Queen Bee work under pseudonyms and the personal details such as their age, sex, family and educational background are not officially stated, though have sometimes been alluded to in passing by members or addressed in their lyrics. Queen Bee, a Japanese rock band that formed in Kobe in 2009 first made headlines when they were chosen to play on the extremely selective “Rookie a Go-Go” stage at the largest outdoor music festival in Japan, Fuji Rock Festival. Happy Pride! Disco by Queen Bee (Ziyoou-vachi, 女王蜂)
What better way to celebrate the upcoming Gay Pride Month than to listen to a playlist filled with happy, gay Japanese anthems? Most celebrities in the list below identify as queer but some do not, however they certainly put their public platform to good use.
#GAY PRIDE SONGS 2020 FULL#
Here are 10 great songs by Japanese LGBTQ+ artists that deserve your full attention.
The celebration went on for a week and many big stars, who openly support gay rights in Japan, including Thelma Aoyama, M-Flo, Ryuchell and Wedsneday Campanella participated in celebrating the occasion. This May, nearly 200,000 people took the streets during Tokyo Rainbow Pride 2019, to celebrate the 25th Pride celebration since its first launch. In comparison to western countries, Japan has a long way to go, in terms of visibility and equal rights for LGBTQ+ people, but many Japanese musicians are celebrating diversity and fighting for gay rights within Japan. So, LGBTQ + musicians have been busy, to say the least. The world fell in love with pop phenomenon Troye Sivan, who cultivated a serious fan base and has been outspoken about his sexuality and his support for the LGBTQ community. Janelle Monáe opened up about her being pansexual this April and how her Grammys nominated album, ‘Dirty Computer’ set her free. Last year, the Japanese-American gay icon (aka “lesbian Jesus”) Hayley Kiyoko’s viral hashtag #20GAYTEEN kicked off a year of LGBTQ visibility like never before.