Male homosexuality in Japan from the perspective of the younger generation: a case study of students at a National University

This study, based on a series of surveys conducted at a national university in Western Japan examines perceptions of homosexual men in contemporary Japanese society specifically from the perspective of college students. Through the investigation of a variety of elements that shape attitudes among the younger generation such as personal background and personal experiences, the results confirm that gender is the most powerful indicator in the changes of respondents' attitudes toward male homosexuality. Moreover, we observed that personal experiences such as having gay friends, sex education, and having knowledge about LGBTQ events mainly have a significant effect on such "affective" factors as civil rights and distant contact, close contact with gay men, personal opinions, LGBTQ-related campus activities, and school life, yet, these personal experiences do not seem to have much impact on "socially constructed" factors such as stereotypes, social norms. Nevertheless, this study suggests that increasing individuals' knowledge represents the surest path toward achieving greater respect and tolerance for social diversity in general and particularly for LGBTQ populations.