Latest news with #TokyoPride2025
Japan Times
14-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Japan Times
At Tokyo Pride's first queer art exhibition, intimacy and resistance share the wall
On the third floor of Tokyu Plaza Harajuku's Harakado space, the inaugural Queer Art Exhibition — one of the main events of Tokyo Pride 2025 — unfurls as both celebration and reflection. With 36 works by 30 LGBTQ+ and allied artists, the show presents a broad spectrum of media: painting, photography, illustration, mixed media — and an equally wide spectrum of voices. The result is less a tightly curated gallery show than a spirited, grassroots salon: uneven, but moving. The range of artistic quality is as wide as the range of mediums, and that goes for the messaging as well. While some pieces are fairly predictable — rainbow flags in various settings (one work is simply a painted flag) — others are intricate, formally sophisticated art objects. These standout pieces offer layered social commentary on what it means to live as an LGBTQ+ individual in Japan today, while also showcasing the technical and conceptual ingenuity of their creators. Organized through an open-call submission process, the exhibition is crowdsourced in the best sense, shaped by community rather than institution. That openness extends to the structure: visitors are invited to vote for the Tokyo Rainbow Pride Award, a ¥100,000 prize granted by public decision. Donations and artwork sales go directly to the artists themselves. In its structure and spirit, this is a show designed not just to exhibit queer art but to empower queer artists. 'Ordinary' by moriuo | ©TOKYO PRIDE 2025 Among the more resonant pieces is 'Ordinary' by moriuo, a painting drawing lightly on comic-book style, depicting a young male couple hand-in-hand by the ocean as a train passes in the background — perhaps in Kamakura. The image is seen through the eyes of an older gay man, who never had the freedom to express love so openly. 'I wish you could see this view ... this time that has finally come,' reads the artist's quietly devastating caption. It's a moment of tenderness across generations — a reckoning with what was once impossible. Noumra's 'In My Closet' turns introspection into visual poetry. A large, cutout panel painted in exquisite detail, it features the face of a bearded man surrounded by a wreath of flowers, foliage and a fox-like creature whispering into his ear. The face is serene. Here, the 'closet' is not a site of repression but a blooming inner landscape — a place where identity takes root. Noumra rejects outward signifiers of queerness and instead renders the closet as a space of psychological richness, where pride grows inside before reaching the surface. 'わたしたちの生活' ('Watashi-tachi no Seikatsu,' 'Our Lives') by Moe Kano | ©TOKYO PRIDE 2025 Moe Kano's photographic collage 'わたしたちの生活' ('Watashi-tachi no Seikatsu,' 'Our Lives') also echoes a commitment to pride via smaller gestures. A collection of slice-of-life, candid domestic moments shared with her partner — boxed lunches packed, rooms lived in, messes left uncleaned — it resists spectacle in favor of truth. 'We argue. We disagree. Sometimes we're broke,' she writes. 'But we're together.' The work gently insists that queer love doesn't need to be extraordinary to be valid. Then there are pieces that pierce more directly. Kazutaka Nagashima's '玫瑰少年' ('Meigui Shonan,' 'Rose Boy'), a gorgeous woodblock print, memorializes Yeh Yung-chih, a Taiwanese queer teenager who died as a result of bullying. Nagashima merges a rose tattoo motif with printmaking in an aching tribute. 'I could have ended up like him,' he confesses, reminding us survival can be political. '玫瑰少年' ('Meigui Shonan,' 'Rose Boy') by Kazutaka Nagashima | ©TOKYO PRIDE 2025 Natsuki Yoshida's trio of partially monochrome paintings — rooted in manga — traces lesbian romance with emotional clarity and quiet intensity. Through tender embraces, haunted gazes, and symbols like smoke and floating neck halos, these works capture the intimacy between young women, and also the beauty, hesitation and ache of desire in a world still learning how to hold it. Otokokokoto's '屁' ('He,' 'Fart') is a playful standout, a mixed-media depiction of a man in a public bath. Both irreverent and strangely tender, the work turns bodily humor into a bold artistic gesture. Queer art, it turns out, can embrace absurdity and the delightfully unserious. Taken together, these works form a constellation of perspectives — some polished, some raw, all urgent in their own way. And in this mix lies the true strength of the exhibition. Because it is crowdfunded and community-sourced, the show makes no claim to curatorial perfection. But it does succeed, powerfully, in reflecting a grassroots artistic community in all its heartfelt and irreducible complexity. The overall message is one of unity and inclusion: Everyone is welcome. The Queer Art Exhibition at Tokyu Plaza Harajuku's Harakado, runs through June 18. For more information, visit
NHK
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- NHK
Tokyo Pride 2025 aims to promote rights of sexual minorities
An LGBTQ+ event is being held in a park in Tokyo to promote understanding of gender diversity with the goal of achieving a society free of discrimination and prejudice. Tokyo Pride 2025, organized by a Tokyo-based NPO, got underway in Yoyogi Park in Shibuya Ward on Saturday. The event coincides with Pride Month celebrations in Japan, which aims to boost the rights of LGBTQ+ people. About 180 groups, including universities, companies and LGBTQ+ groups, are taking part in the two-day event, showcasing their activities and programs. Students from Ryukoku University in Kyoto asked attendees how they felt about the current situation surrounding sexual minorities. They had to identify one of three categories -- expectation, anxiety and anger -- and leave a message. On stage, pairs of women engaged in ballroom dancing which is traditionally danced by a man and a woman. One participant said while the LGBTQ issue seemed sensitive, learning about it at this event was fun. Pride Parade, one of features on Sunday, is scheduled to start at noon with people from the LGBTQ+ community and their supporters taking part.
Tokyo Weekender
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Tokyo Weekender
Tokyo Pride 2025: LGBTQ Events Happening This June
Tokyo is set to celebrate Pride Month in June 2025 with a vibrant lineup of LGBTQ+ events, marking a significant evolution in the city's commitment to diversity and inclusion. From the annual Tokyo Pride Parade to queer community events, here are some events not to miss this month to celebrate, be proud and show your support for LGBTQ+ rights in Japan. List of Contents: LGBTQ+ Events Happening June 2025 Related Posts LGBTQ+ Events Happening June 2025 Tokyo Pride 2025 The heart of Tokyo Pride 2025 beats at Yoyogi Park, where the main Pride Festival takes over the Event Plaza and Outdoor Stage, running from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on June 7 and 8. Plus, it's completely free. There will be diverse crowds, live performances, food stalls and booths representing organizations from across Japan's LGBTQ+ spectrum. On Sunday, June 8, the Pride Parade kicks off at around 12 p.m., following the classic Shibuya to Harajuku route that transforms Tokyo's busiest districts into a rainbow river of celebration. Date & Time Jun 07-08・11:00-18:00 Price Free Location Yoyogi Park More Details Queer Art Exhibition Explore diverse LGBTQ+ perspectives through 36 works by 30 artists at the Queer Art Exhibition, part of Tokyo Pride 2025. Free admission at Tokyu Plaza Harajuku, June 6 to June 18. Date & Time Jun 06-18・11:00-21:00・Closes at 19:00 on the Final Day Price Free Location BABY THE COFFEE BREW CLUB GALLERY ROOM/ART STREET More Details Queens' Brunch at The Tokyo Edition, Ginza On Thursday, June 12, Sophie at Edition, the modern brasserie on the 14th floor of The Tokyo Edition, Ginza, will present its annual Queens' Brunch. Guests will enjoy dazzling live performances by Kily Shakley, DJ sets by Elli-Rose and an exciting raffle featuring fabulous prizes. The brunch menu showcases a variety of carefully selected gastronomic delights, including seasonal vegetables sourced from local farmers across the Kanto region and more. Date & Time Jun 12, 2025・12:00-15:00 Price ¥8,800 with welcome cocktail | ¥10,000 with a glass of champagne Location Sophie at Edition More Details UNIQUE at The Tokyo Edition, Toranomon At The Tokyo Edition, Toranomon, pride month festivities will be in full-swing on Wednesday, June 18, with Unique, a two-part Pride event. The evening will kick off at the 31st-floor Lobby Bar and will continue with an after-party at the Gold Bar on the 1st floor. DJs and guests will be styled in statement pieces by Windowsen, the avant-garde Shanghai-based fashion brand, creating a tasteful atmosphere for both the main event and the after-party. Date & Time Jun 18, 2025・20:00-04:00 Price Prices vary Location The Tokyo Edition, Toranomon More Details Queer Creative Fair at Black Bird Eatery Celebrate pride month at Black Bird! This is an art fair by the queer people for the queer people and allies. Come out and support the unique and beautiful queer creative works of folks in Tokyo. Date & Time Jun 21, 2025・13:00-17:00 Price 1 drink order to enter Location Black Bird Eatery More Details Open Mic: Pride Month Special Come share your creativity with a lively, supportive audience at Black Bird Eatery. Music, poetry, dance, illustrations, your story — anything you wish to share. Date & Time Jun 27, 2025・19:00-23:00 Price ¥1,000 including one drink Location Black Bird Eatery More Details Related Posts Everything You Need To Know About Tokyo Pride 2025 LGBTQ Discrimination in Japan's English Teaching Industry Inside the Fabulous World of Tokyo's Drag Queens
Tokyo Weekender
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Tokyo Weekender
Upcoming Tokyo Exhibitions and Art Shows: June 2025
Tokyo's art scene is extensive and vibrant, and there's always so much to see. Whether you want to see some traditional Japanese art or a modern exhibit, here's a list of exhibitions happening in Tokyo that are worth checking out. List of Contents: Exhibitions Art Shows Related Posts Tokyo Exhibitions in June Queer Art Exhibition Explore diverse LGBTQ+ perspectives through 36 works by 30 artists at the Queer Art Exhibition, part of Tokyo Pride 2025. Free admission at Tokyu Plaza Harajuku, June 6 to June 18. Date & Time Jun 06-18・11:00-21:00・Closes at 19:00 on the Final Day Price Free Location BABY THE COFFEE BREW CLUB GALLERY ROOM/ART STREET More Details Ando Teru Exhibition: The Sculptor of The Hachiko Statue This exhibition revisits the sculptor behind Shibuya's beloved Hachiko statue, marking 80 years since his death. Date & Time Jun 21-Aug 17・10:00-20:00 Price ¥1000 Location The Shoto Museum of Art More Info Closed on Mondays (except for July 21, and August 11, 2025), July 22(Tue.), and August 12(Tue.), 2025 More Details Ukiyo-e In Play Exhibition Explore the evolution of traditional Japanese woodcut printing at the Contemporary Ukiyo-e Exhibition, featuring 85 artists reimagining the timeless art of ukiyo-e. Date & Time Apr 22-Jun 15・09:30-17:00 Price ¥1000 Location Tokyo National Museum More Details Love Fashion: In Search of Myself Exhibition A fashion exhibition from the archives of the Kyoto Costume, exploring clothing through our dreams and desires. From luxurious historical garments to iconic contemporary pieces from Alexander McQueen to Yohji Yamamoto, the show covers centuries of style to examine the deep connection that clothing has with human nature and the self. Date & Time Apr 16-Jun 22・11:00-19:00・Closed on Mondays Price ¥1600 Location Tokyo Opera City Art Gallery More Details Living Modernity: 1920s–1970s Architecture Exhibition "Living Modernity" explores the home as an innovative space of beauty, and the 20th century ideals that shaped how we live today. Showcasing projects from Japan, Europe, America and Brazil, the exhibition includes an impressive name-call of iconic architects, and shares how Japan responded to modernism with a focus on natural materials. With display objects spanning graphic art, models and immersive experiences, this exhibition is sure to delight fans of interior and architectural design, alongside anyone who has ever taken pleasure in a Zillow scrolling session. Date & Time Mar 19-Jun 30・10:00-18:00・Closed on Tuesdays Price ¥1800 Location The National Art Center, Roppongi More Details Joan Miró Exhibition From March 1 to July 6, the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum will host a retrospective dedicated to Joan Miró, one of the 20th century's most celebrated artists. Date & Time Mar 01-Jul 06・09:30-17:30・Fridays open until 8:00 p.m. / Last entry 30 minutes before closing / Closed: Mondays (except April 28 and May 5) and May 7 Price ¥2,300 / ¥1,300 for University Students / ¥1,600 for people over 65 years old Location Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum More Details Tokyo Art Shows in June Aokabi Saya: Mille Crepe 2 Exhibition Illustrator Aokabi Saya returns with Mille Crepe 2, a solo exhibition of new works showing at Parco Museum Tokyo. Known for blending analog and digital techniques, Aokabi draws inspiration from the stylized character designs of 1990s Japanese animation, reinterpreting them with a delicate balance of precision and spontaneity. Date & Time Jun 13-30・11:00-21:00 Price Free Location Parco Museum Tokyo More Details Isao Takahata Exhibition: The Man Who Planted Japanese Animation Explore the life and legacy of Isao Takahata, co-founder of Studio Ghibli, through rare art and materials from his iconic films, including Grave of the Fireflies, opening this summer at Azabudai Hills Gallery. Date & Time Jun 27-Sep 15・10:00-20:00・Last Entry 19:30 Price ¥1,200-¥2,000 Location Azabudai Hills Gallery More Details Hokusai: Another Story in Tokyo Immersive Exhibit Hokusai's masterpiece ukiyo-e come to life in a way never experienced before. This immersive experience presents the beauty of Hokusai's art with modern technology for an interactive exhibit. Date & Time Feb 01-Jun 01・11:00-20:00・Last admission at 19:10 Price ¥4200 Location Tokyu Plaza Shibuya More Details Sophie Taeuber-Arp and Jean Arp Exhibition Celebrating the visionary duo Sophie Taeuber-Arp and Jean Arp, this exhibition explores their radical art and design fusion in the Dadaist movement. Together their work redefined 20th century modernism — offering a vibrant dialogue between form, freedom, and creative synergy. Date & Time Mar 01-Jun 01・10:00-18:00・Open until 20:00 on Fridays. Closed Mondays. Price ¥2000 Location Artizon Museum More Info (¥1800 if purchased online) More Details Machine Love: Video Game, AI and Contemporary Art "Machine Love: Video Game, AI and Contemporary Art" at the Mori Art Museum spotlights contemporary artists that utilize game engines, generative AI and virtual reality technologies as tools for their visualization. Date & Time Feb 13-Jun 08・10:00-22:00・10:00-17:00 on Tuesdays, Admission until 30 minutes before closing Price ¥2000 for adults, ¥1700 for seniors, ¥1400 for university/high school students, free for children Location Mori Art Museum More Details Hilma af Klint: The Beyond Go and see the new exhibition of pineoreeing abstract artist Hilma af Klint (1862-1994) coming to the National Museum of Modern Art in March. Date & Time Mar 04-Jun 15・10:00-17:00・Closed on Mondays/Fridays and Saturdays open until 8 pm Price ¥2300 Location National Museum of Modern Art More Info ¥1,200 for University Students/¥700 for Highschool Students More Details "Japanese Gentian - Twin Lines," Daiya Yamamoto, 61 x 73 cm Daiya Yamamoto Solo Exhibition Daiya Yamamoto is an artist who skilfully merges traditional Western painting techniques with a distinctly Japanese aesthetic sensitivity to capture the essence of contemporary time. On view from May 24 to June 22, this exhibition marks Yamamoto's highly anticipated first solo show at Galerie Taménaga's Tokyo location since his acclaimed 2023 presentation at the gallery's Paris space, which captivated art enthusiasts in Europe. Featuring approximately forty new works, the exhibition spotlights Yamamoto's refined take on trompe-l'œil, a Western technique that creates the illusion of real-life presence. Date & Time May 24-Jun 22・11:00-19:00・11:00-17:00 on Sundays & Holidays Price Free Location Galerie Taménaga More Details Wisteria and Hydrangea Early Summer Goldfish 2025 Dive into the beauty of early summer at Art Aquarium Museum GINZA's Wisteria and Hydrangea Early Summer Goldfish 2025. Date & Time Apr 25-Jun 22・10:00-19:00・Last Entry at 18:00 Price ¥2,500 - ¥2,700 Location Art Aquarium Museum GINZA More Info Free Admission for elementary school children More Details Godzilla the Art 70th Anniversary Exhibition Godzilla is celebrating its 70th anniversary. Godzilla the Art Exhibition at Mori Arts Center Gallery showcases 29 artists and their interpretation of the giant monster. Date & Time Apr 26-Jun 29・10:00-19:00・Until 20:00 on Fridays and Saturdays, last admission 30 minutes before closing Price General and university students: ¥2500, high school students: ¥1600, elementary school and under: ¥600 Location Mori Arts Center Gallery More Info Weekday tickets are discounted More Details Kenjiro Okazaki Exhibition at Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo Kenjiro Okazaki's first major Tokyo retrospective highlights groundbreaking works, exploring the transformative power of form across media. Date & Time Apr 29-Jul 21・10:00-18:00 Price Location Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo 1F/3F More Details Exhibition: World Fair in Japan 1970-2005 Architecture fans will delight in this deep dive into Japan's Expo designs, from Osaka in the '70's to Aichi 2005's eco-conscious pavilions. Date & Time Mar 08-Aug 31・10:00-16:30 Price Free Location National Archives of Modern Architecture More Info Closed on Mondays, except public holidays (closed the following day instead) More Details Related Posts Jigoku Dayu: The Hell Courtesan Who Brought the Underworld to Japanese Art Discover Japan's Hidden Art Spaces: 5 Immersive Installations From Dragon Meat to Flying Cars: Expo 2025 Osaka's Most Incredible Innovations
Metropolis Japan
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Metropolis Japan
Tokyo Pride 2025
Experience the vibrant celebration of love, diversity, and inclusion at Tokyo Pride 2025, formerly known as Tokyo Rainbow Pride. This year's event marks a significant shift, aligning with global Pride Month in June and introducing a new name to reflect its broader scope. The theme for 2025 is 'Same Life, Same Rights', emphasizing equality and human rights for all. Pride Festival: Held on June 7–8 from 11am to 6pm at Yoyogi Park Event Plaza, the festival features booths from LGBTQ+ organizations, businesses, and food vendors, along with live performances on the Pride Stage. Pride Parade: Join the march on June 8, starting at 12pm, as participants walk a 3km route through Shibuya and Harajuku, advocating for LGBTQ+ rights and visibility. Pre-registration is required for participants. Pride Night: Celebrate the culmination of the weekend on June 8 from 6pm to midnight at AISOTOPE LOUNGE, featuring music and performances. This is a ticketed event. Youth Pride: Aimed at younger generations, this festival-style event takes place on June 14–15 at WITH HARAJUKU HALL, offering resources and networking opportunities. Queer Art Exhibition: From June 6–18, visit the exhibition at Tokyu Plaza Harajuku 'HaraKado' 3F, showcasing diverse artistic expressions from the LGBTQ+ community. Human Rights Conference: Engage in discussions on critical human rights issues on June 22. Details on the venue and schedule will be announced on the official website. Yoyogi Park Event Plaza ￥Most events are free and open to the public. However, some events, like Pride Night, require tickets.
