About Japan Rainbow Cultural Club
Japan Rainbow Cultural Club is a group for LGBTQIA+ people who are interested in language learning and multiculturalism. Chatting and exchanging information in Japanese, English, and other languages can help you make new friends and acquaintances. It takes more time to get to know someone online than it does in person, but an advantage is that regardless of the state of the pandemic and your location, we can meet every week.
Our meetings last one hour, from 20:30 to 21:30 Wednesday (Japan Time).
Currently, to ensure that this group remains a safe space, new members are only those who have been introduced by other members. If you do not know the organizer and would like to visit us as a guest please use the contact form to provide a self-introduction and write this in your message. In our response, we will send you a link to the application form. We have this system in place to protect the safety of our members. Thank you for your cooperation.
Our Purpose
・ Provide a place where LGBTQI+ people can talk casually
・ Help to create lasting friendships and community
・ Through our online meetings, provide a safe space where people can connect from anywhere on the planet
・ Create something to do for weekday evenings when there are few events. Currently, every Wednesday evening from 20:30 to 21:30 Japan Time. Japanese and English sessions are held alternately.
Organizer Profile
Kikumi Suda
Raised in rural Gunma, Kikumi long felt drawn towards foreign countries, leading her to learn English, Korean, and Chinese. Her first love was when she was in 1st year of junior high school with a basketball club girl in the same class. While learning languages, she often encountered homophobic prejudice from instructors, inspiring her to become a language coach for LGBTQI+ people while working as an in-house translator and interpreter. Kikumi has also taught Japanese to foreign students, Chinese returnees, and children in Japan with foreign roots. She boarded the Peace Boat Cruise around the world as an interpreter. She has travelled to over 30 countries. Kikumi works at Pride House Tokyo Legacy. She is a member of the Advocacy Team of Marriage For All Japan, a PR vice president of Tokyo Rainbow Toastmasters, LGBTQ+ Tohmonkai (Waseda University’s LGBT alumni network). Kikumi lives alongside her partner of 16 years. For legal protection, she is legally adopted by her partner. Kikumi is working towards the day they can be recognized as spouses, rather than parent and child! They plan to relocate to rural Saitama. Kikumi is happiest when cooking.
Founding Purpose by Kikumi
In university, as I began to meet exchange students and LGBT people from other countries, I realized that by learning foreign languages, I could increase my understanding towards other countries. I became determined to improve my foreign language skills. As my language ability reached an intermediate level, I started to desire “free conversation” and to express myself more. But as a lesbian, things like the kind of person I’m interested in or the event I’m looking forward to this weekend are topics I can’t freely discuss without disclosing my sexuality. Debating whether or not to come out to the language instructor, finally getting the courage to do so, only to be faced with insensitive comments is something I’ve experienced more times than I can count, in every language I’ve learned.
When you can’t speak openly about your life, there are fewer things you can discuss, and having to lie becomes a burden. There are many times I’ve cried wondering, “Why do I have to agonize over this when all I wanted was to improve my language skills?”. 40 years have passed since I began studying English at age 13, but even now when selecting an online English, Chinese, or Korean class, I find myself nervous as I book the lesson, wondering “Will this instructor be okay?”.
But learning languages also brings many joys, including the chance to make new friends and learn new things. The LGBTQI+ community is made up of people from many walks of life. I used to think it was a shame if I got to know someone if we’d soon be far apart, but now, even if we are far away or the pandemic worsens, we can simply communicate online. I want us to take advantage of the internet and enjoy connecting with each other!