Queer Eye: We're in Japan!: Season 1

November 1, 2019 6:18 PM - Season 1 (Full Season)

New places. New faces. New heartwarming journeys of self-care and courage--with the glam squad coming in for the hugs.

Decider - Stream It or Skip It: ‘Queer Eye: We’re in Japan!’ on Netflix, Serving International Makeover Realness

Hollywood Reporter - In the newest season of Netflix's hit makeover series, the Fab Five venture to Japan to revitalize the lives of some troubled folks.

Refinery29 - Queer Eye‘s Japan Guide Kiko Mizuhara Is A Really, Really, Really Big Deal

posted by oh yeah! (8 comments total)

I watched the first two of these & stopped on the third (I was working, so ...) and I was expecting worse and I'm glad it wasn't that. I do feel like they all approached these people with absolute cultural sensitivity (although ... maybe not completely ... I am a white American ciswoman so I'm carrying that perspective) and it was clear that the participants knew of Queer Eye (due to Netflix being a global brand, after all), so they knew what they were getting into.

Was it all perfect? No. But I love Queer Eye & its willingness to engage with complicated issues. I'm curious to watch the rest of this season and see how much everyone learns and grows.
posted by darksong at 7:26 PM on November 1, 2019

I watched all 4 last night - I was also braced for cultural missteps, but, it did seem like they did well at knowing what they didn't know and deferring to others. I wasn't sure about Jonathan's skills when it comes to Asian hair; I liked all the haircuts (especially the last, amazing how much better Makoto looked in the after), but it seemed like Yoko the hospice nurse's Hepburn cut was going to be pretty hard to maintain on a daily basis without a lot of styling.
posted by oh yeah! at 5:47 AM on November 2, 2019 [1 favorite]

I always look for updates on their lives afterwards - Yoko hired another staff, is happy and dating.
posted by dorothyisunderwood at 5:56 AM on November 2, 2019 [10 favorites]

The Makoto episode stressed my best friend and I so much, we were seriously expecting a divorce. I did find his Twitter and he's released music with his wife!!!

Kan's episode, as someone who led a very similar life, hit me hard. One foot out the door because your country won't accept you...urgh.

Also Kei (manga girl)'s episode - I'm SO GLAD Antoni picked up on the mother being the problem and finding a way to address that. I was so annoyed at her family when her episode started, she deserved so much better.
posted by divabat at 12:26 AM on November 3, 2019 [2 favorites]

Yoko + Antoni + apple pie 4ever
posted by Orange Dinosaur Slide at 10:17 AM on November 3, 2019 [1 favorite]

For the first couple of episodes, I kept saying to my friends, "Are they going to end up guying everyone beds?" Because while Yoko's self-denying floor-sleeping was sad, I didn't think Kan's futon was quite as dire as they were making out., even though the pull-out did create more usable space.

Also, I'm still mystified by Makoto's whole deal. He seemed to be able to express so clearly what he wanted to the 5, but not to his wife, which made me wonder what had been edited out.
posted by pykrete jungle at 2:52 PM on November 3, 2019 [1 favorite]

My kids were baffled by the translation on-screen and when I went back to the first episode to show them the in-ear microphones, they went 'oooooooh'. The woman translating did a fantastic job with difficult cultural-emotional subjects, and the guys have great listening faces to body language. Huge props to her.
posted by dorothyisunderwood at 10:45 PM on November 4, 2019 [3 favorites]

I'm a few months behind so I'm not sure if anyone will see this but this article is worth a read:
My Culture is Not Your Toy: A Gay Japanese Man’s Perspective on Queer Eye Japan
posted by paperback version at 10:16 AM on April 10, 2020