LGBTQ+ experience in Pachinko

LGBTQ+ Experience in Korea:

In the 20th century, the social phenomenon of “love” was becoming increasingly popular in East Asia.

During this time, Korea faced a division between the process of modernization and colonial power

Love had become a public value from the influence of Christianity and patriotism
This idea of love had very little to do with sexual or romantic desires

Promotion of womens’ social rights, education, and free will. However, in this quest for women’s rights, women’s autonomy was lost and gave way to the patriarchal control of women

A Korean doctor once stated that “‘Sexual desire’ is basically between different sexes and does not exist between the same sex.”
These medical narratives conveyed same-sex love as “perverted sexuality such as rape, bigamy, and kinky abuse that resulted in sexual disease and homicide”
A big reason that same-sex love was viewed the way it was is because it does not lead to reproduction which ultimately does not help build an empire or military power

The LGBTQ+ community in Korea was marginalized but they were still able to act in resistance and build a supportive community. This was often done through the production of LGBTQ+ representation in the media.

Follows the story of a man who falls in love with an older married man
This film was one of the first queer films to challenge societal norms with the argument that sam-sex love and intimacy could challenge the heteropatriarchal norms in Korea.

LGBTQ+ Experience in Japan:

Rezubian is the Japanese term for lesbian and became a widely-known term in Japan in the 1960s

A large difference emerged between the meanings of onabe rezubian and non-onabe rezubian
"onabe rezubian" (お鍋レズビアン) refers to a masculine, while "non-onabe rezubian" (ノンお鍋レズビアン) refers to a femme lesbian.
"Onabe" (お鍋) literally means "pot" or "cooking pot" in Japanese and was used to refer to butch or masculine-presenting lesbians. This term comes from the idea that butch lesbians are like a pot, in that they are strong and provide support and stability.
In contrast, "non-onabe" (ノンお鍋) literally means "non-pot" in Japanese and was used to refer to femmes or feminine-presenting lesbians.

The relationship was considered “by far more equal than a male female relationship, full of mutual sharing and support, as well as recognition and consideration for each other”

“Being rezubian is one way for a woman to try and live an independent free life”

Forms of queer romantic relationships have existed since before Japan’s Meiji Period. This was a period of major political, economic, and social change from 1868 to 1912, during which Japan faced change at the hands of modernization and the westernization of the country

Japan acknowledges sexual diversity, but does not take legal steps to protect it