Japanese Drag Queens

Ever wonder what a Japanese drag show is like? Probably not I guess, but it's something that me and the rest of the Kanoya gang were eager to check out once we heard there was a tranny bar in Kagoshima city. I was curious to see what the atmosphere would be like, seeing as how the Japan I have come to know in Kagoshima is quite subdued, and very traditional. There are no crazy clubs in Kagoshima, and people under the age of 90 (let alone dancing) are hard to come by. What's more, besides spending a strange weekend at a Japanese hippie festival a few weeks ago, I have yet to really encounter any kind of "subculture" in Japan. What would these queens be like!? Would it still feel distinctly Japanese? Or would it feel as though I had stepped into another world?

The first number

Raunchy skit, starring our own girl.

Final number.

The first thing I saw when I stepped inside the small fourth floor bar was a tall thin queen, striding by in tall heels and a flowing sequined dress. She let out a deep "Irrashaimase" (welcome)- the only indicator that she was in fact a man. Confirmed. These queens were gorgeous. Of course, this didn't surprise me. In a culture where the men pluck their eyebrows, wear pink, and are just as concerned about their weight as women, I would expect cross dressers to be right on the money.

We were ushered to our reserved table where our own girl was waiting for us, ready to pour us our first nomihodi drinks ( Nomihodi is where you pay a flat fee for all-you-can-drink, which lasts an hour or two. A common practice in Japan, and often a recipe for drunken disaster for the penny pinchers among us.) Our girl was pretty, although more of a matronly type, with a short bob and a thicker figure. As we settled in, it became pretty clear that she was there to entertain. She called us all "girlfriend" in Japanese, and filled the awkward silences as they came with witty jokes. The whole thing reminded me of the geisha tradition, or of the modern day equivalent in Japan- snack girls, who pour drinks and entertain Japanese business men, but don't strip for them or sleep with them. Whatever the similarities, we enjoyed ourselves, and found our hostess to be funny and endearing, even if it was an act. 

This being my first drag show ever, I had no idea what to expect. I thought perhaps we would see a lot of outfit changes, and some choreographed dances? It turned out to be a mixture of that and raunchy slapstick parodies of famous Japanese TV shows. I found this to be incredibly fitting, and totally Japanese. Some elements of Japanese culture have a way of coming off completely ridiculous and kitschy to the foreign eye, while remaining totally serious to the Japanese. Sometimes it astounds me how Japanese people can miss the irony or complete hilarity of things. This was exemplified in the closing number, where three of the most beautiful girls did a very sexy number to... Purple Rain. A song that we find dated and cheesy (although great of course- I love Prince...), they find completely sexy and compelling. (See above picture of purple outfits to match...)

After the final number, and the giving of many tips to the girls (1,000 yen notes slipped between unbroken chopsticks) the lights came on and we were promptly handed the bill and ushered out. A very Japanese ending to a Japanese drag show.