GAY MEN AND HIV IN JAPAN

Unique aspects of Japanese culture have shaped the response of homosex ual men to HIV infection in Japan. Japan is a relatively homogeneous s ociety that has, by and large, felt invulnerable to AIDS, viewing it p rimarily as a Western phenomenon. This attitude has been common in the gay community as well and has resulted in some gay men engaging in hi gh-risk behavior. Among those who have contracted HIV, there is often a sense of denial, so men often do not seek help until they develop AI DS. However, many motivated gay men in Japan are establishing preventi on programs geared toward the gay community. In many cases, these prog rams are modeled on those developed by community groups in the United States but are adapted to Japanese culture. Cooperation and collaborat ion with governmental prevention programs, a new concept to the gay co mmunity in Japan, is proving to be mutually beneficial in reaching a h igh-risk population.