How 'Queer Eye Japan' made human connections and not exploitation

Before I begin, let me just say I have been a big fan of the show 'Queer Eye' for a very long time. But, when I heard about their new series that is focused in Japan, I became a little concerned. How would the people of Japan react to these five gay men entering their culture and attempting to 're-make' someone's life? Would they try and Americanize these Japanese people or accept them as a unique culture? And finally, my main concern: would they try and dress in stereotypical Japanese clothing?

All of these questions flooded my mind, but finally I gave in and watched the very first episode of 'Queer Eye: We're in Japan' and I have to say I was honestly, genuinely and completely surprised. They were able to encapsulate the culture of Japan in a way that would make foreigners or tourists realize "Oh right, they are humans just like me." I would love to go into the specifics of what made the show truly an appropriate well-rounded representation of Asian culture and did not incorporate any form of Orientalism whatsoever.

But first, if you have never heard of 'Queer Eye,' you may be sufficiently confused at this point, so let me explain. 'Queer Eye,' which was originally a makeover show on Bravo in the early 2000's, was rebooted by Netflix in 2018 and focuses on five gay men--Antoni, Tan, Jonathan, Karamo and Bobby--who travel to different parts of the U.S, and now even the globe, to advise people in the direction of a different lifestyle. The group, oftentimes called the Fab 5, forges relationships with men and women who have different beliefs from them, anything from homosexuality to racism, which leads to moments of social commentary and proof that any connection can be established. Each member of the Fab 5 has their own strong-suit, (Antoni on Food and Wine, Tan on Fashion, Jonathan on Grooming, Karamo on Culture and Bobby on Design)which allows for each member to connect with their makeover subject on different levels. The first four seasons of the show were filmed in Georgia and Missouri, but with such a huge fandom growing by the minute, the show decided to do a miniseries where they take their talents to Japan.

Now that we're all on the same page, let's begin to talk about what in the world 'Queer Eye' has to do with this fancy word I brought up earlier--Orientalism. Well, get ready to learn something ladies and gentlemen because here comes my fancy terminology discussion on the beauty of rhetoric. Orientalism was a concept created by intellectual Edward Said and he states that it is a "style of thought based upon an ontological and epistemological distinction made between 'the Orient' and (most of the time) 'the Occident." I know, that may not have made much sense, but basically Said is stating that Orientalism is how we have developed an idea of Eastern countries filled with ethnic and fascinating people, but we still believe we are superior as Westerners. Orientalism can be found many times in media, including film, TV shows and music videos, which is why I was concerned about the Fab 5 embarking on this adventure. Would they enjoy being with the Japanese people but not really see them as anything but 'exotic' foreign people and forget to actually treat these people like humans and respect their culture? Many tourists who travel to Eastern countries do not see the richness of a place's culture and tend to exploit the locals and treat them like amusement to their vacation. After looking up to the Fab 5 and being such an eager fan of the show, I did not want to them to go in that direction.

But, luckily, to my surprise, that is not what they did at all. I watched the third episode of the miniseries titled 'Crazy in Love,' where the Fab 5 meet Kan, a 27 year-old gay man struggling to live in a place where being queer is not completely accepted. While the Fab 5 were redesigning Kan's apartment, giving him a closet makeover and fluffing up his hair, they were able to relate to his story of struggling to come out while also learning about how his culture cannot let him be his happiest. Even though Kan had been able to travel to places like Vancouver and London to express his sexuality more, he has always called Japan home and would never want his life to crumble there. Although Kan has a significant other, Tom, who lives in London, he feels like he can't show his other persona,

"Fabulous Kan," and instead lives day to day conforming to culture and hiding his love for this man.

"When it comes to sexuality, it's difficult to live in Japan," said Kan. "I have my own life here with great friends. I love my company, too. When I think I may have to throw it all away, it makes me sad."

Kan is not the only one in this dilemma, as a study done in April of 2019 shows that one in ten people in Japan identify as LGBTQ or another sexual minority. This study, conducted by the Japan LGBTQ Research Institute Inc., also discovered in another survey that 83.9% of Japanese locals were not aware of the LGBTQ people around them. In an article discussing these findings, the Institute said "our society needs to face (the reality) in a sincere matter." Members of the LGBTQ community in Japan hide their true colors because of constant discrimination and having the shame of not following the "traditional" marriage and family unit that is accepted in the culture. Many people who identify with a different sexual orientation in Japan feel that they are invisible in plain sight since they cannot express truly who they are. In an article titled "What is it like being LGBTQ in Japan?", it discusses how more than 40% of Japanese parents claimed it would be "unpleasant" if they found out their children were homosexual and if they did discover their child's sexual identity, most would prefer that the child pretend to not be gay in public in order to maintain a sense of normalcy. The culture has been so accustomed to only being normal and many organizations are pleading for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to allow for equal rights and anti-discrimination toward all gender identities and sexual orientations. But until then, many continue to hide their truest self in the shadows.

I think the show really handles this struggle that Kan has really well by not just implementing an American approach, but showing Kan that parts of his culture are welcoming to who he truly is. They did not force him to come out, dress him in ridiculously bright colors or make him feel uncomfortable in any way. All they did was ease him into realizing he has the resources to truly be happy because of the amazing culture his is surrounded by.

A member of the Fab 5, Jonathan, said "I'm not making Kan more queer or more this or more that, I am just giving him tools so that he can explore who he wants to be and how he wants to present himself."

An article written by Siobhan Downes in Stuff, discusses how Queer Eye Japan was not at all focused on stereotypes of Japanese culture, but brought a "surprisingly nuanced take on the country, and refusal to shy away from some of its thorniest issues"--including Kan and his struggle with being gay in Japan.

Each one of them brought Kan closer to his own culture, whether it was Karamo introducing him to other people who are successful and happy living as a proud queer in Japan, or Antoni bringing him to a restaurant to learn a traditional dish called "yakitori" with a Japanese chef, or the group taking him to the first gay bar ever established in Tokyo. All of these examples show that they never exploited this culture with stereotypes but used the many attributes and specialities of the culture to make Kan feel more at home. And while the Fab 5 were there, they had a friend, Kiko, tag along with them. Kiko Mizuhara is an American-Japanese model and actress who was born and raised in Japan and was able to teach the Fab 5 Japanese traditions and how the culture is very different from America. Having Kiko there alongside them as a teacher, even if it was just to show them how to use chopsticks, shows the audience that they respect Japan and want to truly immerse themselves into this culture.

Even though there are English subtitles whenever Japanese is spoken, which may show the intended audience being Westerns, this still allows a chance for the locals to speak their language and for foreigners a chance to learn and bond even more with this culture. By showing the audience the similarities between Kan and the Fab 5, it makes Japanese people feel less foreign and more like humans who should be treated exactly like Westerners. Specifically, Kan and Karamo bond over their love for Beyoncé and their struggle for being accepted in their own culture--Karamo being an African-American queer from Texas. Getting rid of Orientalism can only happen by seeing that deep and meaningful relationships can be established between the East and the West, and that is shown to be possible in this episode.

After being with the Fab 5 for a week, Kan was able to feel inspired to change his perception of Japan and increase the acceptance of LGBTQ people in Tokyo. Just with the right space, the right outfit, and the right mindset, Kan finally feels at home and much more appreciative of his culture. At the end of the episode, Kan thanks the Fab 5 for everything they have done and truly thanks them for coming to Japan. By being a polite and respectful visitor or tourist, you will make an even bigger impact when you stray away from that Orientalism perspective.

Because of the Fab 5, Kan was able to finally come out as gay to his mother and brother and introduce his boyfriend, Tom, to them over dinner. He finally feels comfortable enough to walk the streets of Tokyo and hold Tom's hand or kiss him on the cheek. He states at the end of the episode that he hopes his story can help other queer people in Japan feel more welcomed and appreciative of their culture with the tools they have at hand.

Jonathan gives great advice to Kan, saying that everyone no matter where in the world, is subject to celebrating conformity rather than change, and it is up to people like Kan and people like the Fab 5 to change that and become what he calls a "rebel."

"You are a rebel if you choose to love yourself--let's all be rebels," Jonathan said.

Showing the significant bonds and relationships that were made in this 45-minute episode shows that Orientalism can eventually be dissolved. Once you figure out your similarities, whether it's Beyoncé or something else, you can be more aware of the unique culture the other one has and see yes, they are people--not objects. 'Queer Eye: We're in Japan' shows that rebels can help make the change. So, are you ready to be a rebel?