Loveless Book Store

Loveless Book Store

One thing to note is that Japan seemed to be similar in its queer spaces the same way the United States of America was like in the '90s and early 2000's. There is a moderate level of acceptance, and there are very few spaces that are openly queer outside of the bars. But even the queer bars would be tucked further back in the populated malls, and they would all be clumped together. This was one of the only places that wasn't a bar that my group mate, whose project was researching queer spaces, and it was difficult to find. The bookstore was tucked away down a small alley, up four flights of stairs, and small room that was packed as tight as possible to make up for the small space. It is just more difficult to make progress when the shame culture that perpetrates their nation makes it difficult to have progressive conversations. The Japanese government paved their city layout to make it nearly impossible for protestors to actively protest because protesting is seen as disruptive, and you are supposedly allowed to do whatever you want, as long as it isn't disruptive. You shouldn't make people uncomfrtable, and having progressive conversations makes people uncomfortable. Japan is still working on progressing, like the States, but their societal structure creates more push-backs.

Tatum Pond

Knox College Abolition Labs

November 29, 2024

Knox College, Tatum Pond

mp3 audio recording

Japanese, English

mp4 audio recording

01:36

There is the soft sound of music playing. It is soft, almost like a combination of lofi and indie jazz. It has a small line of choruses, a bass line is being plucked in the beginning, and it continues to provide a soft atmosphere to the location. The beginning is filled with a siren the fast pressure of air as a police car and a train travel past.