5. Pre-Meiji Japan
Pre-Meiji Restoration Japan, especially the Edo period, is rife with historical references to positively portrayed homosexual behavior. Three ancient practices have been identified as homosexual by scholars: shudō, wakashudō, and nanshoku. Shudō behaviors were limited to the military class of pre-Meiji Japan, especially samurai. Much like the Greek paiderastia, shudō involved an older, dominant man and a submissive younger mentee. The wakashudō behavior appears to be very similar in that it involved adolescent boys and older men in a military context. Nanshoku dealt with monastic relationships but again involved older men and younger mentees. Male prostitutes were prevalent in the era and catered to both female and male clientele. While many older erotic works have yet to be translated into English, at least one exists that depicts a bisexual man’s sexual adventures.
Japan stands alone as a compelling case where western influence played a role in the developing homophobia of a nation, but at the hands of the nation’s leaders and scholars themselves. The Meiji Restoration saw Japan intentionally attempting to westernize itself through imported scientific and social ideals. Japan was never colonized, so their importation and use of western models is a fascinating case and shows how the power of culturally dominant western ideals can spread even without active colonization.
