[PG-18] 武士と文明開化とセックスと。　〜日本人の価値観をガラリと変えた西洋文化〜【COTEN RADIO #221】

Summary

This video script delves into Japan's complex history of sexuality, tracing its evolution from ancient times through the Edo period to modernity. It explores the openness of sexual practices in ancient Japan, including the acceptance of same-sex relationships among Buddhist monks and samurai warriors. The narrative highlights how these practices were influenced by religious and cultural beliefs, leading to a society where sexual freedom was more accepted than in many other parts of the world. However, the script also covers the shift towards more restrictive views on sexuality following the Meiji Restoration, as Japan sought to modernize and align with Western norms. This transition marked a significant change in Japanese society, impacting views on marriage, gender roles, and sexual morality.

Takeaways

• 📚 The script discusses the historical context of sexual practices and relationships in ancient Japan, particularly focusing on the influence of Buddhist monasteries and the prevalence of same-sex relationships among monks.
• 🌊 It touches on the Greek-like practices of pederasty within these religious settings, where older monks would engage in sexual relations with younger males as part of an educational and spiritual relationship.
• 🖥️ The narrative shifts to the Samurai era, highlighting how these practices were adopted and normalized within the warrior class, leading to a culture where male-male sexual relationships were common and socially accepted.
• 👨‍💻 The script delves into the structured relationships within Samurai society, where age and status differences dictated the dynamics of these sexual relationships.
• 💎 It also explores how these practices were not just limited to the monastic or warrior classes but were prevalent across various levels of society, including the common people.
• 🛡️ The arrival of Western influences during the Meiji Restoration is discussed, highlighting a shift towards more Western norms of sexuality and relationships, leading to a suppression and stigmatization of the previously common practices.
• 📚 The script then discusses the modern era, touching on the gradual liberalization and acceptance of diverse sexual orientations and practices, including a resurgence of interest in and acceptance of LGBTQ+ identities in Japan.
• 📷 It highlights the contrast between ancient Japan's open and accepting attitudes towards sexuality and the restrictive norms imposed during the Meiji era under Western influence.
• 💧 The script suggests that historical practices of sexuality in Japan were complex and intertwined with social, religious, and cultural norms, undergoing significant changes over time due to internal and external influences.
• 🎮 It concludes with a reflection on how historical contexts of sexuality can inform current understandings and acceptance of diverse sexual orientations and practices.

Q & A

What was the general attitude towards sexuality in medieval Japan?

It was relatively open and unrestrained compared to later periods under Western influence. Things like same-sex relations and prostitution were common and accepted.

How did the rise of the warrior class impact marriage practices?

It weakened the traditional arranged marriage system, as warriors were often away at war. Love marriages, divorces, and male inheritance of property became more common.

What was the purpose behind the elaborate rituals at pleasure quarters?

They were designed to allow men to recreate an idealized experience of old-fashioned courtship and marriage from the Heian period.

Why did the government start intervening in male students' sex lives in the late 1800s?

There were concerns about promiscuity, sexually transmitted diseases, and the integrity of the emerging modern nation state.

How did European attitudes shape modern Japanese views on nudity and sexuality?

Western concepts of modesty and restraint influenced the development of legal prohibitions and social taboos around topics like nudity, homosexuality, and adultery in Japan.

What impact did the Meiji Restoration have on concubinage practices?

They were officially banned in the late 1800s under Western pressure, but continued illegally for some time after due to long cultural traditions.

How was sexuality and marriage regulated under the Tokugawa shogunate?

Formal marriage was monogamous but men could access sex through informal concubines. Prostitution was restricted to licensed quarters but was still widespread.

When and why were mixed-sex public baths banned?

They were banned during the modernization of the Meiji era due to Western concepts of modesty and privacy around nudity.

What kinds of same-sex relations were accepted in the Edo period?

Both male-male and female-female sexual relationships, particularly among the samurai class and Buddhist monks and nuns.

How do modern Japanese attitudes towards sexuality compare with the past?

While relatively open through most of history, sexuality was strictly regulated in the 20th century. Today attitudes are again becoming more liberalized.