Ethnosexuality : exploring interracial gay male desires and relationships in Japan

Abstract

This thesis explores interracial gay male desires and relationships in Japan, focusing specifically on those between Japanese and white individuals, as well as those between Japanese and other Asians. Using in-depth interview data collected between 2019 and 2022 from twenty Japanese and twenty international migrant men residing in urban areas, such as Tokyo and Osaka, this thesis highlights the inseparable construction of ethnicity and sexuality, so-called ‘ethnosexuality’ through their intimate experiences. In Japan, relationships are commonly categorized separately as ‘interracial marriage/couples’ and ‘same-sex partnership/couples.’ Consequently, studies on interracial relationships have focused on heterosexual couples, while research on same-sex relationships has primarily examined Japanese couples. This categorization has overlooked the experiences of people in same-sex and interracial relationships. Given the growing diversity of the domestic population, research on interracial sexuality among queer individuals is crucial. This thesis consists of two main themes: desires and relationships. The former draws on ‘critical race theory’ and ‘sexual field theory,’ illuminating how Japanese and international migrant gay men strategically negotiate and fulfill their interracial desires. The interview data indicates that Japan strongly promotes ethnic endogamy and defines Japaneseness as normatively desirable. Thus, Japanese gay men who actively seek sex and romance with foreign men are likely to face social marginalization. On the other hand, international migrant gay men tend to experience sexual racism due to their lack of Japaneseness. The way these gay men manage their interracial desires simultaneously resists and perpetuates Japan’s ethnocentric gay dating culture. Moreover, their practices ironically maintain the boundary between Japanese people and foreigners, reinforcing Japan’s alleged homogeneity. The latter draws on ‘racework’ and ‘homonormativity,’ analyzing how interracial gay male couples make ongoing efforts to sustain their intimate relationships. The interview data suggests that interracial intimacy potentially offers Japanese partners a transformative opportunity to recognize their privileged ethnic majority status and cultivate critical race consciousness. However, it must be emphasized that such couples do not necessarily challenge the negative stereotypes associated with their interracial intimacy. Furthermore, past studies indicate that same-sex couples often develop innovative relationship models beyond monogamy. This thesis, on the other hand, proposes that interracial status may encourage gay male couples to adhere to monogamous ideals. This thesis represents a significant departure from existing literature that has been hetero/Japanese-centric, making an original contribution to transnational sociology, particularly within the fields of race and ethnicity, gender and sexuality, and migration studies. By examining the peripheral and subordinate status of white and Asian migrant men in Japan, this study prompts a reconsideration of the dominant narratives surrounding racial hierarchy that emerged from the Western gay community. Moreover, its focus on inter-Asian desires and relationships facilitates the new production of knowledge and enriches queer Asian scholarship. Lastly, this thesis uncovers Japan’s historical and evolving relations with the West and the rest of Asia, underlining the interconnectedness of personal lives and broader societal structures.