Dear Diary, My reverence and love for Japan and Japanese cu..
Published: April 17th 2024, 11:44:56 pm
Dear Diary,
My reverence and love for Japan and Japanese culture is also the story of the sadness and hope of my formative years. I was raised in rural South Carolina where I felt rejected and sometimes scared of my own culture. Many gay and queer people growing up have this experience, no matter where they might be from. It's not a unique story, unfortunately.
But I was a person of the internet age and we were lucky enough to get AOL dial-up at my home when I was maybe 12. The internet gave me access to a whole new world. I fell in love with Japanese pop music. It didn't matter that I couldn't understand the words—I felt safe and inspired in this world that was so different from my own.
I am aware that fetishization of other cultures and cherry-picking the best, most commercially appealing aspects are behind a lot of Western fascination with Asian culture at large. It's not surprising that most Americans would choose to watch an Anime film over a Chinese film. It's not surprising that most Americans would prefer to go to Japan over Korea or Taiwan. My point is, I am aware of my privileged place in the world and how my tastes have developed according to what I've been fed, but that at the same time my respect goes much deeper than consumerism.
I truly believe I would have remained in my tiny town, afraid of the world and painfully addicted to drugs and/or enmeshed in the dredges of poverty if I would not have found Japanese pop music and culture in general.
Coming to Japan has been really lovely and inspiring. I find myself wanting much more out of life than just dicks and cum and filming lately. Don't get me wrong, all of those things are great. But I feel that I betray myself when I present only one dimension to you. Like Japan, I am multifaceted and complicated. Like everyone, really. I'm not afraid to admit that.
The highlight of my trip has been Kamakura. It's a town about 2 hours south of Tokyo, costal and completely charming. An old-timey train runs through the area connecting you to beautiful places like Enoshima and Inagamurasaki. I have had a couple of very thoughtful and lovely meals here, which have inspired me greatly. I am writing a business plan and concept for opening a deli and small lunch spot in LA... if any angel investors out there want to help me let me know :).
Stay tuned for more. And get out there and get up close and personal with something that inspires you.