Japanese Society in Cameo: Guys emerging from a hot spring bath

[ This entry was also posted one of my other blogs: Kelly's Second Life and on my Tribe and JustUsBoys blogs.]


Some of these photos of Japanese men emerge from a hot springs (mineral baths) or 'onsen' were highlighted on QueerClick not long ago. I can't resist showing them again. It's just THE Japanese thing to do - and seems to be especially popular with groups of male college friends, intramural sports teams, or company excursions. They usually spend a night or two at the hot spring resort - one of the most famous - as well as accessible to Tokyo - is Hakone (near the Mt. Fuji Lakes area). Invariably, they have a nice meal - (that's a whole other story) and gulped down lots of beer, sake, and even whiskey or strong imported Chinese liquor.

They're all wearing the traditional 'yukata' - thin, cotton kimono-like coat - with (hopefully) nothing on underneath. When the alcohol, good food and camaraderie take effect, they start dancing sometimes in the buff or provocatively draped, they sing (karaoke) or do stunts (handstands, etc), and then everybody heads down to the communal baths in the resorts - usually downstairs and many
times facing outdoors - a river, wooded stream or even the ocean. Those who can no longer stand - due to the alcohol- might be helped by to their rooms, and fondled or groped or even much more (I only know what I would be doing if my buddy had passed out half naked). Back in the baths, the antics usually escalate - naked men are scrubbing each other's back, and there's the relentless teasing about the size of somebody's dick (often teased that he's too big), and sooner of later somebody passes out from heat exhaustion and too much liquor. A few erections may emerge from under the suds or hidden while squatting in the thigh-deeper hot pools of volcanic mineral waters.

 

All in all.. it's a great time for everyone.

Japanese men are horny a whole lot of the time and - in my opinion - the repressive nature of their society actually only deepens and heightens the sexual tensions for the average company worker. The stress of so many social and work responsibilities is sometimes almost too much to bear: 'fetch this' and 'do this now' is the only thing workers hear all day and half the night since they almost always work overtime for NO (or little) pay.

Without much recourse or with little leeway for arguing back, they submissively accept what they have to do, and go about it quietly (or at least only mutter out of earshot) or complain to their 'real'

friends later. All this comes bubbling to the surface when the drinks and relaxation reach the max at big group parties out in the country. The months of repressed desire also come bubbling to their consciousness - well.. at least it would in mind. Japanese men are generally dissuaded from 'flirting' in public - especially in an office situation. In fact, it use to be true that inter-office affairs and romantic relationships were so frowned upon that a worker risked getting transferred or - in the worse case - fired for dating a co-worker. It really is much less true nowadays because of the changes occurring in the society and in the economy. However, to some extent interoffice romance is discouraged. In that kind of environment, young men (ages 22- 35) before marriage didn't have many avenues for sexual or romantic release -except Japanese anime and pornography, and the nightly jerk-off once they crawled in to bed after midnight when they got home from a couple of 'mandatory' rounds a the local pub with the office gang - that often included their immediate superior (who was bucking for promotion or for leverage to support his pet projects).

 

The trips to the onsen (hot spring resorts) and the pub crawls after working later are rather like R & R for the troops in an army that's on dangerous duty. This was (and still is in some cases) the Civilian Military - (Japan Incorportated) because that was exactly how the typical Japanese factory or company used to operate. The new ones were the recruits -- called upon to have to endure all kinds of hardships (workign 12-16 hour days for example was expected), so these 'trips' were probably a natural way to help relieve a lot of stress.. some of it under the belt line - so to speak.


There is no doubt in my mind that many a young company employee (male or perhaps more so the females) was 'defrocked' while on one of these onsen excursions organized by his (her) company or social group.
The situation has ameliorated to some extent. It is not easy to determine how much though. Japan still has the highest rates of suicide of any industrialized (first world) nation, and the numbers continue to swell. Over 30,000 per year end their lives and by estimates, nearly 4 times as many try to do so.

Japanese has a massive social networking infrastructure long, long before the days of the Internet - or Facebook. I could write a book on this and related topics... but - in reality - much of it is coming to an end. Today's young people do not want to participate to the same degree as before. The number of 'freeters' - young people who refuse to get a full-time job, who often still live at home on their parents' dime, and are content with having little money - but lots of freedom and tons of free time to work part-time at as many as 3 jobs, quit when they get tired of one, go out with friends to sing karaoke or drink or just hang out, and play PS3 games or windowshop all night long.

More to follow (eventually.....)

The above first 3 amateur photos were forwarded in a group message from: atitlan [ymna2] Yahoo group, the last one was sent in my Erik on his [cmnm] google group. Note: Queerclick displays their logo on the photo but they no more own the copyright (c) to that photo that Richard Nixon does!

 

Traveling to Tokyo: Enjoying Japanese Men

What to do on a short trip to Tokyo
Wesley wrote recently: "I will be traveling to Tokyo in May and would love to get some helpful tidbits about the city for a gay man traveling alone. I will be there only for five days. What hotels do you suggest, bars/clubs, restaurants, must see sites, etc."

My response is below.
You can start with this list of links -- some other are available from Cruisingforsex.com http://www.cruisingforsex.com

Then try to meet up with someone there before you go - to show you around and help you navigate. There are sites like: Gay Network Japan http://gnj.jp

I have not covered it all and probably cannot do the city justice - -but here is a start:

http://listings.cruisingforsex.com/cfs/index.php

If the URL does not work, then go to http://www.cruisingforsex.com/ Enter the site and then look for Sex Listings (then choose Metro Area Other Areas, Japan, Tokyo.)

Tokyo Visitors Bureau home page. http://www.tcvb.or.jp/en/index_en.htm

Tokyo Tourism Info http://www.tourism.metro.tokyo.jp/english/menu_siru.html


Gay Baths, Gay cruising spots (see CFS link above for more)

My favorite gay baths in Tokyo is 24-Kaikan in Shinjuku (between Shinjuku 3-chome and Shinjuku Gyoen-mae subway stations. (probably different than what I wrote about in 2003).
Actually, there are 4 different locations for this sauna (gay baths). The Shinjuku 2 chome branch is the nicest one and there are plenty of different types of guys (younger than some of the others) and also foreigners too.

24 Kaikan Bathhouse, Shinjuku 2-13-1, Tokyo. 3354-2424. Bathhouse with full facilities. Open 24 hours.
http://www.juno.dti.ne.jp/~kazuo24/english/english.htm

(There is also a 24-Kaikan Bathhouse (gay sauna) at Asakusa - just behind the Asakusa Kannon Temple grounds.

Sanja Matsuri
(Asakusa Temple Festival - May 19-21 or thereabouts)   This temple has one of the largest festivals in Tokyo -- this year on May 19-21 - begins on the temple grounds on Friday and then the floats are carried by men (almost nude in fundoshi (loincloths) through the streets of the neighboring communities until the 100 floats are paraded (hoisted in rhythm thrusts -- exotic and erotic too) back to the Temple on Sunday afternoon. It is a good chance to see a lot of sweaty Japanese men (some like the photos here) - they (and the spectators) like to get drunk too so you're sure to see some pranks, some naked butts and male bonding during the festivities. Great photo opp too.

Shinjuku 24-Kaikan (baths) It seems that there is no map on the English site to the Shinjuku
http://www.juno.dti.ne.jp/~kazuo24/map/map-shinjyuku.htm
Located just off of Shinjuku Dori (turn left just at Lawson's in Shinujuku 2-chome,
2-chome is about a 10-minute walk, go right out of Shinjuku JR Staion East (a main street level exit) and you will be on Shinjuku Dori. Follow passed Mitsukoshi and Marui Department Stores on your right and Isetan Dept Store on your left. Keep going passed two main intersection (one is Meiji-dori) and look for Lawson's on your left, turn left toward Shinjuku Park, 24-Kaikan is down on the left, at the second intersection (steps lead up to 2F entrance (entrance is visible from the street), car park is on ground floor.

A comment from CFS:
This is a wonderful place and not intimidating for gaijin. The sauna is easy to find, as it's near the Buddhist temple in Two-chome and not far from the Shinjuku garden. On maps you can see the inverted swastika for the Buddhist temple, and just remember that the Buddha is looking over the buildings at the sauna. Go up the outside stairs. Upon entry have a ten yen coin ready. You will take off your shoes at the top of the stairs, put in your ten yen, and take the key. Then to your left will be a ticket machine. Put in bills or coins for 2600 yen if you just want a locker and press the lit-up 2600 yen button. A ticket and change will come out. Take the ticket and your shoe locker key to the attendant who will take those from you and give you a new clothes locker key and a bag with two towels and a robe. They ask you for your name but don't check ID.
Bring condoms if you engage in hot sex. I was surprised that two Japanese guys wanted to engage in unprotected sex with me. You can have a lot of fun here - several levels - bath at the faucets before getting into the hot baths, sauna and dark rooms (very clean), also dry, wet and steam saunas. Enjoy safely.
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About sightseeing in Tokyo -- any good guidebook or LonelyPlanet (online site) will have a list of the main sightseeing spots. I have included a few of the most famous ones here.

Asakusa Temple
Asakusa (old town with quaint shops, canals) - You can take a boat (passenger boat-bus) down the Sumida River (near the Asakusa Kannon Temple (largest in Tokyo) - get off at Takeshisanbashi, you can take boat-bus (a ferry) to Odaiba (manmade beach or also take the Yurikamome Train across the Tokyo Rainbow Bridge to Odaiba Marine Park (Fuji TV Station HQ is an interesting building to explore)
Shopping in Akihabara -- electronics town
Shinjuku - kind of metro 'center' but also not far from the 'gay' section - Shinjuku 2-chome (in fact you'll pass 2-chome Street a block before Lawson's (24H convenience store) on Shinjuku-dori.
By the way, a great out-of-town trip is Nikko -- there is a train from Asakusa Station (slower but less expensive than a bullet train (shinkansen). If you have a full day to spend for a day-trip out of Tokyo - -I recommend Nikko or if you might take a bus/guided tour of a hot springs resort (Hakone - out towards Mt. Fuji is one of the most popular) and you can do it in a day - but don't expect to get laid - although you may get to bathe (nude or semi-nude) with a group of men (probably older Japanese and curious foreigners).

Kabuki Theatre is a fun experience -- you can buy ticket for short performances and rent a English-narration player to help you enjoy. Full performances last hours and cost a lot, but there are short session performances (last 30-45 minutes) costing $8-10. Shows runs from 11:00am -9:00pm -- so it's a great way to squeeze in some culture between meals, sightseeing and cruising the baths .


Kabuki-za is located in Ginza and there is an English website: ttp://www.shochiku.co.jp/play/kabukiza/theater/

Meiji Shrine (near Harajuku Station (2 stops from Shinjuku on JR Yamate Line (Green Circular line) is a nice place for outdoor stroll in the gardens. Next door is Yoyogi Park -- where some cruising goes on .
Hibiya Park between Yurakucho (JR Yamate) Hibiya/Ginza stations (subway) and also Kasumigaseki Station (subway) is pretty cruisy -- especially the toilet just near the corner of th park - not far from the Imperial Hotel.

The Imperial Palace and the stroll around the moat can be nice. (not far from Hibiya Park a 10 walk)


It is too hard to tell you where to eat -- you almost can't go wrong because you can usually check out the menu (realistic plastic dishes and prices are displayed in the shop window or the menu (with pics) is posted. No tipping is needed in Japan.

However, be aware that in the gay section (or some 'gangster' type places) if there is no menu and no prices, ask before ordering. It is pretty rare nowadays but not completely unheard of being asked to pay 5 or more times the price for a glass of beer or some simple appetizers (if some shady -- backroom- establishments).

Lunch - by far - is your best for getting more for your money -- typically the same item ordered at night cost 1.5-3 times more (except at family-type restaurants / fastfood). Many places have lunch specials so I recommend eating well at lunch and then going light at night -- except when you want to splurge.

Well... hope this helps. If you have specific questions, I may be able to answer them.

By the way, I don't think it matters that you are African-American -- it some ways it may be as attractive to Japanese men as any other kind of foreigner. Japanese are respectful and polite -- but don't take their shyness or backwards for something it is not (although you are probably all too aware that ignorance can show its ugly face in almost every society). Prejudice is no more prevalent in Japan than other places and in fact may actually be less -- Japanese tend to be less assertive and easily intimidated so foreigners and visitors may sometimes mistake their timidity for an attitude that is not really there.

Have fun and I know you will enjoy the visit.

 

Nudist Beaches in Asia: What are the alternatives for getting naked?

I have just joined a gay social networking and news media site for men in Asian called Fridae.com - one of their tribes (discussion groups) is the Nudist and Naturalist Networks. Here is what I added to several responses concerning: Where in Asian can a guy go to a nudist beach?

In Japan, there are only two places where guys (mostly gay men) go as a nude beach (one in Chiba, and the other is a deserted spot on Shonan Beach). Neither are well known by the general public partly because they are so hard to find, and far from Tokyo. Also, it's not like Black's Beach or ones in other Westernized countries, people get naked very discreetly even on a supposedly nude beach. They generally wear swimwear when walking around or when in the water, but remove their clothes while lying in the sun.

The next best thing to a nude beach then is a hot springs resort or a public bathing spa, the latter of which there are over 50 in Tokyo. In these, men and women have separate bathing areas. Often, there is a small outside areas (enclosed by a fence for privacy) where the naked men can soak in a pool of mineral waters or lounge naked or draped in a towel. Inside, there are various types of baths, but the men are usually totally naked when walking to and from each pool and when they sit on stools at individual showers for washing body and hair. Many of them have wet and dry saunas.

So, despite their being little interest in nude beaches, Japanese are often fond of such warm mineral baths, and even travel to stay in the many areas of the country where there are nice resort hotels grouped around these hot springs, such as Hakone.

However, you don't have to go far from any metropolitan area to enjoy the same atmosphere of men enjoying being naked. Formerly, there were the old-fashioned public baths or 'sento' in every neighorhood, which have just about disappeared these days, being replaced by large, more modern and luxurious: bathing resort (or 'onsen' - hot springs bath or spa).
 The water has a higher content of minerals, particularly sodium (salt) and it's either brought in or created, but in sometimes comes naturally from the ground as Japan is a set of volcanic islands, also prone to earthquakes, as everyone knows.Well... for those in Malaysia or Singapore, and other places where there are not naked places, you can do what I often do: Make your own nude beach by just getting naked where the general public cannot see (easily).

I love being naked outdoors and often do so when there is a patch of land or a bushy area along side a river or a section of recreational land. If men are already sunbathing someplace, then just find a more hidden place in the same area and take it a step further: remove all your clothes and cover your privates. When no one is around, you can remove the covering.

In my trips to Thai, Singapore and Malaysia, I can recall a few places where this might happen, such as Sentosa Island, or a bit further afield - take a ferry or boat to one of the Indonesian islands not far from Singapore. There are surely some deserted beaches as well along Malaysia's southern coast, perhaps on Tioman Island (as there are plenty of foreigners), and also in East  Malaysia (Sarawak), I was able to get naked inside the Bako National Park both inland and at any of many deserted beaches. Guides on individually hired boats can take you to a certain point, and pick you up later.

I realize that an important element may be missing when you simply go out and get naked alone. One of the most fun things about nude beaches is not only about being seen in the nude. It's also the chance to see others (especially men) in all their naked glory. You can't always do both at the same time. There must be places and events where men in various Asian countries are naked or dressing / undressing so take advantages of those spots even if you can't be naked yourself at the same time.

However, you may get a chance to see both nature and men doing things in nature and completely naturally that you didn't expect to see, such as guys having sex or masturbating because they think they are alone, like in this photo from a voyeur site above. Or scenes like the ones below - where everyday Asian guys just enjoy finally being able to get completely naked in public.

A young gay asian guy from the Philippines takes a walk every Saturday afternoon, but not because he is in love with nature, but because he loves to be naked outdoors. Sneaking out of his house on Saturday, he heads into the forest.   As soon as he is out of sight of his home his clothes start to come off. Walking down the path the leaves and branches brush against his thighs, causing him to get very horny. The silky feeling of the brush against his skin causes his cock to get hard. It's not long before his cock is ready to explode in a massive cum shot.   Come inside and see our gallery collection of Jaycee (Jecee) on his naked nature walks.

 

Sex visit to a gay sauna in Tokyo: 24 Kaikan Shinjuku

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