Contributor

Alex Rickert

Alex always wanted to escape his dreary American small town and see the world. After teaching in Japan and loving it, this tumbleweed laid down some roots. He's dedicated to promoting cultural symbiosis, international exchange and leveling up his white mage Lalafell. He also hopes to make the world a safer place for LGBTQ people and other social minorities. In the meantime, he's wandering through rice paddies and climbing mountains, looking for his next adventure.

Articles

Culture

The Popularity of Gay Manga in Japan: What are ‘Bara’ and ‘Yaoi’ and Who Are Its Fans?

Japanese manga and anime depicting gay sex have a huge fanbase here and abroad. So what's it all about?

By 8 min read

Live

Incident in Tokyo’s Gay District Reignites Debate About Trans Rights in Japan

A trans lesbian was refused entry from a women-only bar in Shinjuku Ni-chome. The result? A positive step forward for trans rights in Tokyo's LGBTQ+ community.

By 5 min read

Live

LGBTQ in Japan: Avoiding the Closet, Revisited

Do people come out of the closet at work in Japan and if so — how?

By 5 min read

Work

6 Types of Students Language Teachers Will Meet in Japan

If “Teaching English in Japanese High Schools” were a movie, these six characters would get the lead roles.

By 8 min read

Culture

LGBT in Japan: Yes, it Gets Better!

Being queer in Japan hasn’t always been easy, but I want to be one of many voices that says it gets better.

By 4 min read

Live

Be a Teacher and an Ally in your English Classes in Japan

Students worried about being judged, bullied or rejected miss out on countless educational opportunities. As a teacher, you have the power to minimize that fear. Here are some key tips to create a safe space in class.

By 5 min read

Live

Queer Dating in Japan: Dos and Don’ts

Inter-cultural dating is already challenging, let alone when you include all the difficulties of LGBT life. Read on for tips on dating and communicating with your LGBT Japanese partner.

By 5 min read

Live

LGBTQ in Japan: Avoiding the Closet

If you’ve ever seen a Japanese horror movie, you know that closets in Japan are no place for the living — let alone us queer folk. Here are some ways to avoid and escape the closet, no matter what you’re doing in Japan.

By 4 min read

Live

A Night Out in Ni-chome, Tokyo’s Gay District

Join me on a tour of one of Japan’s most famous gay haunts: Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ni-chome. Lesbian and gay, Japanese and expat alike swarm there every weekend for drinks, dancing and debonair strangers. Let’s party.

By 7 min read 2

Live

LGBTQ in Japan: Finding Community and Getting Out There

It’s actually very easy to get out there in a country where, for several reasons, you may choose not to be entirely “out.”

By 7 min read