TOKYO - Japan is often viewed abroad as a country with an unusually visible sexual culture, shaped by adult videos, erotic manga and a wide range of related subcultures.
Terms such as 'hentai,' 'bukkake' and 'aoi' have entered the English language, reflecting the global reach of Japanese pop culture. Some observers attribute this partly to Japan's censorship rules for adult media, which they argue encouraged more imaginative forms of expression.
Yet Japan's attitudes toward sexuality have deeper historical roots.
Accounts from earlier centuries suggest that relationships between men and women were often regarded more openly than in many parts of Europe at the time. During the Sengoku period, roughly 500 years ago, Portuguese visitors to Japan recorded their impressions of local customs.
One such observer noted sharp contrasts with Europe. He wrote that virginity was considered highly important in Europe, while it carried less social weight in Japan. Prostitution, often concealed in Europe, was conducted more openly in designated districts in Japan. He also described relations between men and women as less restrictive.
Such accounts indicate that Japan historically maintained different social norms surrounding sexuality, shaped by its own cultural and religious traditions.
Ancient mythology also reflects this perspective. In the Kojiki, Japan's oldest chronicle compiled in the 8th century, the islands of Japan are said to have been created by the deities Izanagi and Izanami through union and procreation.
These creation myths suggest that sexuality was not treated solely as taboo, but also as a natural and sacred force tied to life itself.
Modern perceptions of Japan's sexual culture are therefore rooted not only in contemporary media, but also in centuries of social practice, folklore and religious narrative.
Source: Japanese Comedian Meshida
