New Bar Tanaka Gay Kikaku Opens in Japan

Tokyo-born Aiki Tanaka is hoping to change the minds and educate locals about queer culture after opening a new gay bar in the Yuda onsen hot spring resort in conservative Yamaguchi, Japan. 

Tanaka hopes the bold move to create a queer safe haven will help foster a better understanding of the LGBTQ+ community. “Being an outsider to Yamaguchi, I want to put some fresh air in the city,” said Tanaka. “I love the historical climate of Yamaguchi so much. So, I want it to be a more livable city for me.”

Currently, Ube is the only municipality in Yamaguchi Prefecture that officially recognizes same-sex couples, making them eligible for benefits and services. On the other hand, the Yamaguchi city government hasn’t been a progressive, saying that it is paying attention to how other cities are dealing with administrative matters when it comes to same-sex couples.

In addition to creating a welcoming atmosphere for customers, regardless of sexual orientation, Tanaka wants to host exclusive events for gay people and provide a gateway to learn about gay culture while grabbing a drink or two. 

After he was selected as one of six finalists for Mr. Gay Japan 2022 – a national competition held to promote rights for gay men – the 32-year-old bar owner used the platform to educate others about gay culture via social media and through video-sharing websites.

And now with the new bar, he just wants Yamaguchi residents to have compassion for the LGBTQ+ community. His goal isn’t to force people to understand his views. 

If you’re traveling to Japan, you may want to consider a trip to Yamaguchi to check out Tanaka Gay Kikaku – open from 8 p.m. to 3 a.m. from Tuesdays through Saturdays. 

Source: The Asahi Shimbun