Enter the fascinating world of Tokyo’s drag queens

This article appears in Tokyo Weekend, Vol. 3.
To read the full article, click here.

Over the past decade, drag has exploded in mainstream popularity, no longer just an underground safe space for queer expression. Drag queens have played a major role in advancing LGBTQ rights, challenging the strict boundaries of gender, sexual orientation, and self-expression.

Tokyo has its own vibrant drag community with an incredible group of local queens. Recently, Japan’s first major drag show, Opulence, was held at Zepp Shinjuku for the fourth season, with former RuPaul’s Drag Race The contestants include Alaska, Willam and Courtney Act, as well as a group of local Tokyo drag queens.

Tokyo’s queens brought energy and talent to the Shinjuku club scene, lip-syncing and dancing for thousands of people. After their performances, TW caught up with four of these iconic queens, including fearless MC MissLeading (a rare cisgender woman in drag), and beautiful performers Sera Tonin, Vera Strondh, and Labianna Joroe.

Sierra Toney

What is your drag style?

go astray: This is trendy and silly. Very MissLeading!

serum: Visually, I’m stupid, for example, She’s a pretty girl, but she’s a clownMy shows are often a story; I like to invite the audience on a journey filled with serotonin and things that make me happy.

Vera: She’s very hip-hop, R&B, and street style. Also – I’ve been wearing drag with sneakers for a long time. I’ve said that any kind of clothing is drag. People give me backhanded compliments, [implying] I’m just a dancer, not a drag queen, so I don’t wear heels. But I did make sure to cover them in Swarovski crystals!

Rabbi Anna: My drag style is sexy, educational and eclectic. I’ve been going to clubs since I was 18 and I know there’s a lot of stigma around club culture. I wanted to incorporate a sex education element into my performances.

go astray

What do you like most about drag?

go astray: Artistry. You can explore so many different aspects of art and really hone your talents.

serum: Unabashed self-expression. It’s incredible to see how eyelashes and wigs can give people a confidence boost. Disguise allows them to show their true selves.

Rabbi Anna: How we change people. When we’re in drag, people are more emotional and open in the way they interact with us. I call it the Mickey Mouse syndrome – when you see Mickey Mouse at Disney, you don’t think of the person inside. I think it’s a little bit like that.

Vera: I achieved the image of a strong woman that I dreamed of when I was young. We are artists. For example, Labi’s drag encompasses politics and education in a revolutionary way, while Sera presents her art through wigs and tells a story through performance.

Vera Strand

What’s the drag scene like in Tokyo?

go astray: I feel like drag can be too serious sometimes, especially in countries where the drag scene is bigger or has been around longer. Tokyo feels more relaxed.

serum: Tokyo drag is unique in that it allows 100% freedom of expression. Tokyo is known for its diverse styles, being ultra-fashionable and cutting-edge; this is also reflected in Tokyo drag.

Vera: Audiences overseas can be a little crazier than in Japan. The tipping culture is definitely different, like, when you compare a 100 yen coin to a 1 dollar bill, it’s easier to tip overseas. At Eagle Blue, where I work, most of the audience are foreigners, so the vibe is probably the same as overseas. However, outside of Tokyo, like in Nagoya or Osaka, sometimes when I jump from cartwheels to pushups, the audience doesn’t know how to react. I’ll be like, “No, I want you all to go crazy!”

Rabbi Anna: In Tokyo, you have to work hard and make connections. In Nagoya, you have to drink, and in Osaka, you have to be funny. The style of drag in Japan is also completely different—more like a hostess style. You sit and drink with the audience, rather than just performing. That’s changing, though, with shows like Opulence.

Rabbi Anna Joro

How was your experience performing at Opulence?

go astray: I have been a host twice, and I feel more relaxed each time. The audience always gives me great confidence.

serum: I’m honored to be a part of every Opulence show we put on, it allows us to truly grow as performers. Honestly, it’s a dream come true to have the opportunity to share my art form with such a large audience.

Vera: It’s like a roller coaster of emotions! It gives us pressure, motivation and enthusiasm. But the final bow is always so heartwarming. I always get teary-eyed.

Rabbi Anna: It’s really overwhelming, like you don’t realize how big the crowd is. When I first performed at Opulence, I almost peed my pants. I’d never performed in front of so many people before. Also, we were compared to the international RuGirls. But it was very comforting to hear people say, “The Tokyo queens are so awesome.”

Any interesting stories?

Vera and Rabiana: Sera is really easy to read.

go astray: Most of them have to do with Sera destroying something…

serum: I’m known to cause chaos in new places – not on purpose, of course! One time, I was halfway through a song when it came to the slow part. I sat on the table to seduce this lovely lady and ended up using my body weight to break the table in half, spilling food and drinks all over her. Thankfully, she thought it was hilarious. I was horrified!

Do you have any advice for people just starting out in drag?

go astray: Find what works for you, engage with your audience, and most importantly, be yourself.

serum: Find what makes you happy. Find what makes you glow from the inside out and bring that to the stage. The audience can sense when someone is nervous or overthinking, but if you feel happy and in love when you walk on stage, everyone will feel it. Both makeup and wigs take practice, but you have the time and support.

Vera: Don’t limit yourself to a certain image. Don’t be afraid to explore, because in the process of exploration, you will be able to find “you” and the image that best represents you as an artist.

Rabbi Anna: Believe in your ideas and essence so that people can believe in you.

What advice would you give to young queer people in Japan?

serum: Show up in your queer spaces, take up space, be seen, be heard, show the beauty of our community and how Japan needs to accept queer marriage and queer rights – you are their citizen and should have the right to be yourself and love who you love how you love.

Vera: Don’t be afraid and don’t be ashamed of yourself. If you want to wear those crystal-encrusted sneakers, then go out and show them those sneakers!

Rabbi Anna: When you feel like an outsider, blame others. If the people around you can’t understand you, they are boring.

Find Tokyo Queen on Instagram @Maria Papadopoulos (MissLeading), @Great, thanks (Serratoni), @Strong (Vera Strand) and @Rabbi Anna Joro (Rabbi Anna Joro).

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