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Metropolis Japan
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Metropolis Japan
The 9 Most Influential Japanese LGBTQ+ Novels to Read
Photo credit: mirina From groundbreaking literary works to contemporary masterpieces, here are 9 of the most influential Japanese LGBTQ+ novels that offer a glimpse into the diverse experiences of Japan's queer community. Spanning from historical classics to modern breakthroughs, these authors provide rich, nuanced portrayals of love, self-discovery and resilience. They not only reflect the complexities of queer identity in Japanese society but also challenge conventions and open up discussions about acceptance and equality. Where available, we've also noted if an English translation exists for international readers. A seminal work in Japanese queer literature, Confessions of a Mask follows Kochan, a young man growing up in post-war Japan who struggles with his attraction to men while attempting to conform to societal expectations. Mishima's semi-autobiographical novel is a deeply introspective examination of repression, self-deception, and the burden of maintaining a facade in a rigidly heteronormative world. Through poetic and often unsettling prose, this novel remains one of the most influential works in LGBTQ+ Japanese literature. Told from the perspective of an elderly housemaid recalling her past, The Little House is a nostalgic and emotionally rich narrative set in pre-war Tokyo. As she reflects on the family she served, subtle yet profound themes of same-sex attraction emerge, adding layers of complexity to an already intimate portrayal of love and secrecy. Nakajima delicately explores how societal norms and unspoken desires shape relationships, making this novel a quietly powerful read. A lyrical and deeply personal novel, The Color of Water follows a teenage boy who struggles with self-acceptance after falling in love with his best friend. As he navigates the tension between his emotions and societal expectations, the novel vividly captures the bittersweet pain of first love. Yamauchi's elegant prose paints a poignant portrait of the beauty and fragility of youth, resonating with anyone who has ever wrestled with their identity. This bestselling fantasy novel follows a group of isolated students who are magically transported to a mysterious castle, where they must navigate a world filled with secrets and unspoken truths. While not explicitly an LGBTQ+ novel, Lonely Castle in the Mirror subtly explores themes of identity, alienation, and self-acceptance, offering an allegory for the struggles of queer youth in Japan. Its emotionally resonant storytelling makes it a must-read for anyone who has ever felt like an outsider. A bold and thought-provoking novel, Breasts and Eggs delves into themes of body autonomy, gender, and class, centering around three women navigating their own personal struggles. One of its key subplots involves a transgender character confronting Japan's rigid societal norms. Kawakami's candid and unflinching prose challenges conventional narratives on womanhood and identity, making this a groundbreaking and essential read. A contemporary exploration of gender and sexuality, We Are On Our Own follows two university students—one struggling with their gender identity and the other navigating queer romance in a society still grappling with acceptance. Wataya's sharp and insightful prose captures the anxieties of young adulthood, shedding light on the realities of coming out and self-discovery in modern Japan. This novel is an important voice in the evolving landscape of LGBTQ+ literature. While not explicitly LGBTQ+, this heart-wrenching novel explores themes of love, loss, and relationships through the story of a dying man bargaining with the devil to prolong his life. Within its tender narrative lies a subtle but profound contemplation of different forms of love, including those that defy traditional norms. Kawamura's storytelling is simple yet deeply affecting, leaving readers with a lingering sense of introspection. A witty and heartfelt novel about the struggles of an aspiring comedian, Spark offers an unexpected yet compelling subplot involving a same-sex romance. Matayoshi weaves humor and vulnerability into the narrative, highlighting the challenges of navigating queer identity in Japan's male-dominated entertainment industry. The novel's charm and emotional depth make it an engaging and thought-provoking read. Although not a novel, this groundbreaking anthology featuring essays, poems, and short stories from young LGBTQ+ voices across Japan, this collection captures the evolving landscape of queer identity in contemporary society. Each piece offers a unique perspective, from coming-out stories to reflections on cultural expectations, making it an essential and illuminating read for those interested in the future of LGBTQ+ representation in Japan. Queer Voices in Japanese Cinema – A list of must-watch LGBTQ+ films Whether you're looking for historical perspectives, contemporary coming-of-age stories, or genre-defying narratives, these Japanese LGBTQ+ novels offer rich and meaningful insights into the diverse world of queer literature. Let's celebrate and support the voices shaping the future of LGBTQ+ storytelling in Japan.
Yahoo
06-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'Dying For Sex' Is Based on a Heartbreaking and Inspiring True Story
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Fans of Molly Kochan's podcast will recognize the story told in FX and Hulu's latest series, Dying for Sex, which stars Michelle Williams as the host and Jenny Slate as her best friend, Nikki Boyer. The drama, which premiered on April 4, tells the story of Kochan, who received a Stage IV cancer diagnosis and decided to leave her husband of 15 years to embark on a journey of self-discovery. Supported by her best friend, Boyer—who also executively produced the series—Kochan set out on a quest to learn more about herself and her truest sexual desires. And yes, it's based entirely on the very true and heartbreaking story of Kochan's life. Let's dive in. Indeed, it is. By 2015, Kochan had already undergone chemotherapy, a bilateral mastectomy, radiation therapy, and a breast reconstruction when she was re-diagnosed with Stage IV breast cancer. Knowing that this meant that her diagnosis was terminal, Kochan embarked upon the adventure of a lifetime: She left her husband and endeavored to explore her sexuality in her final years, which she documented in a podcast also called Dying for Sex. The idea for the podcast, which documented and dissected nearly 200 of Kochan's escapades, came in 2018 when she and Boyer met for lunch following two dates Kochan had already been on that morning. Eventually released by Wondery in 2020, a year after Kochan's death, the six-episode podcast quickly became a hit and has since been downloaded five million times. The podcast synopsis reads: 'As they peel back the layers, we learn that Molly isn't just grappling with breast cancer: She's also dealing with some trauma from her past. Along the journey, the friends explore bigger themes that affect us all—like healing, forgiveness and what do we do with the time we have left.' 'Sexually, we had difficulties before cancer came along,' Kochan said of her marriage in one episode. 'Right before I got diagnosed, I was kind of looking to recharge our sex life… and then cancer showed up.'$14.99 at Kochan's memoir, Screw Cancer: Becoming Whole, was also published in 2020, one year after Kochan eventually died at the age of 45. One notable fan of Kochan's came in the form of New Girl creator Elizabeth Meriwether, who, alongside Boyer, adapted it for the television series. Shop Now You Might Also Like The 15 Best Organic And Clean Shampoos For Any And All Hair Types 100 Gifts That Are $50 Or Under (And Look Way More Expensive Than They Actually Are)
Forbes
04-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
The True Story Behind ‘Dying For Sex'—What Happened To Molly Kochan?
"Dying For Sex" FX's new series Dying for Sex isn't your typical cancer story. The show chronicles the extraordinary real-life journey of Molly Kochan, a woman who set out to explore her sexuality after being diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer. Over the show's eight episodes, Michelle Williams portrays Kochan, while Jenny Slate plays her best friend, Nikki Boyer, who supports her throughout the entire process. 'After Molly receives a diagnosis of Stage IV metastatic breast cancer, she decides to leave her husband and begins to explore the full breadth and complexity of her sexual desires for the first time in her life,' the official synopsis reads. All eight episodes of Dying for Sex are now streaming on Hulu. Keep reading to learn more about Molly Kochan and how closely the show mirrors her actual life. FX's "Dying For Sex" on Hulu. Yes, FX's new series Dying For Sex is based on the popular Wondery podcast of the same name, which Kochan and Boyer created during the final months of Kochan's life. Kochan also documented her cancer journey on her website Everything Leads to This, which she initially kept anonymous before eventually going public with her story. While on her deathbed, she wrote a memoir titled Screw Cancer: Becoming Whole (2020), detailing how her stage IV breast cancer diagnosis led her to seek life's deeper meaning through 'a sexual journey of exploration,' according to the description. 'She juggles dozens of online suitors and brings kinks and fetishes into the real world, all while dealing with the ups and downs of her cancer treatment.' Molly Kochan was born and raised in New York but moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in acting. She decided to stay in LA after getting engaged to her husband. According to People, in 2005—shortly after her engagement—Kochan visited her gynecologist due to pain during sex and a small lump in her breast. However, doctors dismissed both symptoms, she later shared in her blog and memoir. On Everything Leads to This, she shared an open letter addressed to her OB-GYN, recalling how she had gone to his office to voice her concerns—only for him to allegedly treat her visit "much like an encounter at a cocktail party.' 'I told you about discomfort with sex and you asked me if I really loved my fiancé. When I said I did, you mentioned another patient who had had a similar problem and, it turned out, wasn't in love with her partner. I then told you about a lump that was concerning. It was small, it was hard, it was nothing you said after kneading around it for a minute. Plus, you said, I was way too young to worry about something like breast cancer. I was 33. After that you rushed through the rest of the exam and had me meet you in your office once I got dressed,' she wrote in the post. Four years into her marriage, in 2011, Kochan was diagnosed with breast cancer. She underwent chemotherapy, radiation, a bilateral mastectomy, and breast reconstruction, according to her book. Although she initially believed she was in the clear, the cancer returned three years into her hormone therapy—this time spreading to her bones, liver, and brain. The diagnosis was Stage IV and terminal. After learning in August 2015 that her cancer had metastasized to her liver, Kochan realized she could no longer stay in her marriage. She left her husband and set out on a sexual journey in hopes of reconnecting with her body. In March 2016, she moved out and later opened up about the difficult decision on her blog. 'The truth is, without this diagnosis I probably would have stayed, continued to try to make things work,' Kochan wrote at the time. 'Because there is a lot of love there. But there is also a lot of stress. And a stressful environment is not a good one when battling cancer.' FX's "Dying For Sex" on Hulu. Nikki Boyer was one of Kochan's closest friends for over 20 years. The two first met when they were paired together in an acting class. 'She didn't like me very much because I was annoying and probably vying for everyone's attention,' Boyer told The Sunday Times Magazine. Had their drama teacher not matched them, she says, 'I don't know if Molly and I would have found each other's friendship.' As Kochan faced her cancer diagnoses, she and Boyer grew inseparable, remaining by each other's side until the very end. 'We've been together through marriages, divorces, boyfriends, her step kids, and now my cancer ... twice,' Kochan penned in her memoir. 'She cries, sometimes as much, if not more, than I do about my diagnosis. But we laugh, too. That's always been the light of our relationship: laughter.' Kochan began a hormone therapy that was supposed to lessen her libido, but it ended up doing the complete opposite, giving her a full-on sexual awakening. 'I literally wanted to hump everything and everyone that I saw,' she said on her podcast. 'For a long time with sex—and this is why I had a problem in my marriage—I was really, really, really good at figuring out what other people liked and then I could simulate that like an actor for them,' Kochan said in an episode of the podcast. 'But I never really knew what I liked.' Boyer told The Times that Kochan's sexual exploration was also a way for her to confront past trauma, including being sexually assaulted at age 7 by her mother's then-boyfriend. 'A lot of people think, 'She's just having sex, f------ around to make herself feel good,'' Boyer said. 'But it wasn't just about that. There was healing of old wounds. Her whole life she felt fragmented and during sex she was allowed to make her own choices and put the pieces together for herself.' Molly Kochan passed away on March 8, 2019, after more than three years of living with Stage IV cancer. In a blog post titled 'I Have Died,' published after her death, she shared that her 'last days were great.' 'I was with the people who were meant to be there,' she said. 'I never wanted to deal with this disease and blame no one for even remotely not wanting to be around it. Even unconsciously.' Boyer told The Times that she was by her best friend's side during her final moments. 'I put my hand on her head and my other hand on her heart. I said, 'I'm here, I've got you,'" she recalled. 'I was in awe of her in that moment. It was one of the most magical things I've ever experienced. It was so intense and beautiful.' She shared that creating the podcast after Kochan's death delayed some of her grieving, as it felt like she was still working alongside her. 'I felt she was guiding me,' she said, 'which is the most vulnerable thing to do… I saw every phase of Molly. I saw her sexy self. I saw her sick. I was scrolling hundreds of messages. I saw more dick pics than I ever thought possible." While Dying For Sex largely stays true to Kochan's real-life story, the FX series did take a few creative liberties, according to Boyer. For example, the show is set in New York, even though Kochan actually lived in Los Angeles. The producers also merged several of the men Kochan encountered (many of whom were into kinks and fetishes) into a single character known as 'neighbor guy,' played by Rob Delaney. Another moment in the series shows Molly revealing that her husband hadn't touched her in years and that she'd never had an orgasm with another person. Boyer told that this plot point was one of those creative liberties. However, Kochan was open on the podcast about how she and her husband had fallen out of sync sexually during her cancer treatment. In Dying For Sex, viewers will also see Molly exchanging sexy photos with men she met online. Boyer clarified to that while Kochan did, in fact, date a man who enjoyed being kicked in the groin, she did not break her femur doing so. However, she did meet men who wanted to be dominated in the bedroom. In the series, she's shown barking orders at suitors (and in one case, quite literally, as one guy liked pretending he was a dog). Boyer said that Kochan actually did meet a man who wanted her to treat him like a pet dog and live in her home in a cage (which is why one episode title is called 'My Pet"). Her best friend revealed that Kochan also had sexual encounters in her hospital bed near the end of her life. 'She wanted to feel really alive and as normal as possible, so it just didn't feel like she was stuck in the hospital for days on end,' Boyer said. Dying For Sex is streaming on Hulu. Watch the official trailer below.
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
She was diagnosed with terminal cancer. So she slept with as many men as she could
When Molly Kochan was diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer aged 42, she had a rather unexpected reaction. Within weeks of her diagnosis she had left her husband and embarked on an odyssey of sexual self-discovery, trying anything from kicking a man as hard as she could in the crotch, to spending time with a foot fetishist and engaging in, er, 'water sports'. After relating one such date to her friend, Nikki Boyer, the pair decided to make a podcast about her new mission and in 2020 Dying for Sex was released. So extraordinary is Kochan's story that the notoriously choosy five-time Oscar nominated actress, Michelle Williams, broke her acting hiatus to play her in a new TV adaptation of the same name. After two days immersed in Kochan's story I feel like a human raisin: dehydrated from crying and laughing. It's so desperately sad to keep realising that this vividly funny and thoughtful person died in 2019. When Kochan started hormone treatment, two things happened: her libido increased and she couldn't sleep. So she began posting sexy selfies in her underwear to men she met online all over the world – she loses count at 183 – to 'distract [herself] from pain or illness'. Photo swapping progresses into FaceTime calls and, eventually, physical liaisons – including with a man who wanted to be treated like a dog and be caged up in her house (Kochan simply laughs when reporting this on the podcast: 'I'm so interested in learning why?'). Many of these experiences are condensed into one character called 'Neighbour Guy' in the Hulu show, played by Rob Delaney. Kochan is delightfully open-minded and kind about these hook-ups and when Boyer manages to interview some of the men Kochan met it is clear how caring she was towards them, even for just one night. The question of why she is experiencing these desires haunts Kochan personally, and we eventually learn of a terrible childhood incident, where she was molested by her mother's boyfriend at the age of seven. Dominating her partners gives her a sense of control in sex when she had none as a child, helping sexual experiences to feel empowering rather than shameful or, as she says on the podcast, a 'power struggle'. This sense of agency is also important to coping with her cancer diagnosis – another thing she feels like she has no control over. Her newfound agency encourages her to meet with her doctor on her own terms, asking him to sit to answer her questions and allowing her to address him by his Christian name. It sounds like a small thing but juxtaposes brilliantly with the scenes showing the harrowing realities of cancer care: from scars, tubes and walking sticks to being strapped down to have radiotherapy on her eyeball. In the podcast, Kochan realises, with time, that the reactions to her photographs and her trysts don't shield her from her cancer like they did at the beginning, and what she really desires is connection. Sadly she doesn't get that romantic love in the end, but she has a deep, beautiful and enduring friendship and love from Boyer right up to – and beyond – her final breath. Following Kochan's death, Boyer got to work on the podcast with the assistance of the recordings she and Kochan did together, along with Kochan's bequeathed phone, laptop and book manuscript. The podcast is just six episodes long, and Boyer has explained since that she and Kochan intended it as the first of many series, with follow-ups to include a fuller exploration of Kochan's childhood trauma and Boyer's own heartbreaking health battle with miscarriage and IVF, which she was going through during Kochan's cancer treatment and which the TV show leaves out. Fans of the podcast will see plenty of moments from the podcast however, including many of Kochan's recorded words in the script, but some interesting changes have been made. Most obviously, it is based in New York rather than LA, meaning Kochan is wearing dungarees and camisoles over T-shirts for dates, rather than the sexier tight black jeans and bra-showing tank tops we know she wore in LA. Similarly, Boyer is made out to be more like a quirky thespian, scattily taking on Kochan's medical care and struggling to hold down a home, job and relationship, whilst in real-life she is clearly very 'together'. It also seems like, in reality, Boyer was less hands-on with Kochan's care than she is in the show, and didn't, as far as we know, sacrifice acting jobs to care for her. But her devotion in getting her best friend's story made into the podcast and TV show, and publishing Kochan's manuscript, is clear from Jenny Slate's tender portrayal of Nikki in the show. Timing is everything when it comes to getting a TV show made or a podcast commissioned. The contrast in cultural context from when Kochan and Boyer were thinking about the Dying for Sex podcast in 2018 (top TV shows: Yellowstone, Succession, Jack Ryan) vs when it was actually released in 2020 (top TV shows: I May Destroy You, Normal People, Sex Education) is stark. Even more recently there have been some brilliant TV shows and films (Babygirl, The Idea of You, The Principles of Pleasure, Sex, Love & Goop) and books (All Fours by Miranda July, Want by Gillian Anderson, Three Women by Lisa Taddeo) exploring the desires of women, particularly women in their 40s, and the idea of female self-discovery through sex. Kochan's story ends with self-acceptance. 'I realise I did get to fall in love. I am in love. With me,' she says, as she frantically sought to finish her book, Screw Cancer: Becoming Whole in her final days. And so, when death came, she felt ready. As she says in one of her last recordings, she looked forward to it, like 'going on a trip'. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
04-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
She was diagnosed with terminal cancer. So she slept with as many men as she could
When Molly Kochan was diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer aged 42, she had a rather unexpected reaction. Within weeks of her diagnosis she had left her husband and embarked on an odyssey of sexual self-discovery, trying anything from kicking a man as hard as she could in the crotch, to spending time with a foot fetishist and engaging in, er, 'water sports'. After relating one such date to her friend, Nikki Boyer, the pair decided to make a podcast about her new mission and in 2020 Dying for Sex was released. So extraordinary is Kochan's story that the notoriously choosy five-time Oscar nominated actress, Michelle Williams, broke her acting hiatus to play her in a new TV adaptation of the same name. After two days immersed in Kochan's story I feel like a human raisin: dehydrated from crying and laughing. It's so desperately sad to keep realising that this vividly funny and thoughtful person died in 2019. When Kochan started hormone treatment, two things happened: her libido increased and she couldn't sleep. So she began posting sexy selfies in her underwear to men she met online all over the world – she loses count at 183 – to 'distract [herself] from pain or illness'. Photo swapping progresses into FaceTime calls and, eventually, physical liaisons – including with a man who wanted to be treated like a dog and be caged up in her house (Kochan simply laughs when reporting this on the podcast: 'I'm so interested in learning why?'). Many of these experiences are condensed into one character called 'Neighbour Guy' in the Hulu show, played by Rob Delaney. Kochan is delightfully open-minded and kind about these hook-ups and when Boyer manages to interview some of the men Kochan met it is clear how caring she was towards them, even for just one night. The question of why she is experiencing these desires haunts Kochan personally, and we eventually learn of a terrible childhood incident, where she was molested by her mother's boyfriend at the age of seven. Dominating her partners gives her a sense of control in sex when she had none as a child, helping sexual experiences to feel empowering rather than shameful or, as she says on the podcast, a 'power struggle'. This sense of agency is also important to coping with her cancer diagnosis – another thing she feels like she has no control over. Her newfound agency encourages her to meet with her doctor on her own terms, asking him to sit to answer her questions and allowing her to address him by his Christian name. It sounds like a small thing but juxtaposes brilliantly with the scenes showing the harrowing realities of cancer care: from scars, tubes and walking sticks to being strapped down to have radiotherapy on her eyeball. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Nikki Boyer (@nikkiboyer) In the podcast, Kochan realises, with time, that the reactions to her photographs and her trysts don't shield her from her cancer like they did at the beginning, and what she really desires is connection. Sadly she doesn't get that romantic love in the end, but she has a deep, beautiful and enduring friendship and love from Boyer right up to – and beyond – her final breath. Following Kochan's death, Boyer got to work on the podcast with the assistance of the recordings she and Kochan did together, along with Kochan's bequeathed phone, laptop and book manuscript. The podcast is just six episodes long, and Boyer has explained since that she and Kochan intended it as the first of many series, with follow-ups to include a fuller exploration of Kochan's childhood trauma and Boyer's own heartbreaking health battle with miscarriage and IVF, which she was going through during Kochan's cancer treatment and which the TV show leaves out. Fans of the podcast will see plenty of moments from the podcast however, including many of Kochan's recorded words in the script, but some interesting changes have been made. Most obviously, it is based in New York rather than LA, meaning Kochan is wearing dungarees and camisoles over T-shirts for dates, rather than the sexier tight black jeans and bra-showing tank tops we know she wore in LA. Similarly, Boyer is made out to be more like a quirky thespian, scattily taking on Kochan's medical care and struggling to hold down a home, job and relationship, whilst in real-life she is clearly very 'together'. It also seems like, in reality, Boyer was less hands-on with Kochan's care than she is in the show, and didn't, as far as we know, sacrifice acting jobs to care for her. But her devotion in getting her best friend's story made into the podcast and TV show, and publishing Kochan's manuscript, is clear from Jenny Slate's tender portrayal of Nikki in the show. Timing is everything when it comes to getting a TV show made or a podcast commissioned. The contrast in cultural context from when Kochan and Boyer were thinking about the Dying for Sex podcast in 2018 (top TV shows: Yellowstone, Succession, Jack Ryan) vs when it was actually released in 2020 (top TV shows: I May Destroy You, Normal People, Sex Education) is stark. Even more recently there have been some brilliant TV shows and films (Babygirl, The Idea of You, The Principles of Pleasure, Sex, Love & Goop) and books (All Fours by Miranda July, Want by Gillian Anderson, Three Women by Lisa Taddeo) exploring the desires of women, particularly women in their 40s, and the idea of female self-discovery through sex. Kochan's story ends with self-acceptance. 'I realise I did get to fall in love. I am in love. With me,' she says, as she frantically sought to finish her book, Screw Cancer: Becoming Whole in her final days. And so, when death came, she felt ready. As she says in one of her last recordings, she looked forward to it, like 'going on a trip'.
