Transnational Desire and Lesbian Fandom: Takarazuka Revue in Hong Kong and Taiwan

• In Event: Queering China: Transnational Genealogies

Abstract

Hong Kong and Taiwan are two Chinese societies that have developed a strong fan base of Takarazuka Revue, an all-female performing group founded in Japan in 1913. It is one of the cultural references that are shared by generations of lesbian women. This paper studies Takarazuka’s lesbian fan culture in contemporary Hong Kong and Taiwan. It focuses on the transnational mobility of popular culture in East Asia and the desires that are generated by Takarazuka in the local lesbian audience of Hong Kong and Taiwan. The paper is based on in-depth interviews of lesbian fans and participant observation of fan activities. It explores the following questions: How did Takarazuka Revue enter and interact with the local Chinese society? In what ways do Chinese lesbian fans make sense of the performances of Takarazuka Revue? What are the lesbian fan activities in Taiwan and Hong Kong? Will lesbian fans connect their gender or sexual identities with their interest of Takarazuka Revue? If any, what are the desires and identifications that are generated by Takarazuka Revue to local Chinese lesbian fans?

Author

• Lucetta Y. L. Kam, Hong Kong Baptist University