When Netflix announced earlier this year that the stars of "Queer Eye" would be crossing the Pacific for a special season of their feel-good reality TV show, the excitement was hard to contain. After four seasons of watching the show's stars (the Fab Five) lift people ("heroes") out of their respective ruts with life makeovers in the U.S., I was eager to see the quintet work its magic in Japan while exploring the streets of Tokyo. But my enthusiasm came with some reservations.
Recent Netflix shows such as "Tidying Up with Marie Kondo" and "Terrace House" have done wonders to bring Japanese sensibilities to international audiences, but I worried that the "Queer Eye" stars, who proudly espouse Western ideas of self-expression, self-love and open communication, would clash with Japanese social norms. Now, having binged "Queer Eye: We're in Japan!" I realize I needn't have worried.
The show sees model Kiko Mizuhara tag along with the stars as their Tokyo guide. Though her scenes of providing context are brief, her explanations help shine a light on the expectations and pressures of Japanese society. Take the first episode, "Japanese Holiday." The subject is Yoko Sakuma, a 57-year-old hospice nurse who has dedicated her entire life and home to taking care of others. Thanks to Mizuhara, the audience is taught the term "onna o suteru," which means to give up on being a woman. By learning that her situation is so prevalent there's a term for it, the Fab Five are able to help her while not pushing back against cultural norms.