Explosion (エクスプロージョン) in Osaka’s gay district, Doyamacho (堂山町), would be the most expected answer to “Are there any gay clubs in Osaka?” Explosion hosts full-fledged gay events on weekends. Otherwise, it’s functioning as a tourist-friendly gay bar with all-you-can-sing karaoke and local drag queens tending to customers on weekdays.
At Explosion’s entrance.
Welcomed by a drag queen, my cisgender heterosexual girlfriend and I sat at the counter overlooking a dancehall with a cozy garish stage. A group of buff Taiwanese men were singing karaoke in their language. Seemingly visitors from Europe were sipping what they had at the same counter. A congenial, Japanese masculine bartender asked us what we wanted. Two drinks arrived with the drag queen. Then we ordered a drink for her as the Japanese tacit rule at some bars urged us. Three of us cheered.
In the middle of the star-studded flyer is Kyoto’s RuPaul, Simone Fukayuki (シモーヌ深雪).
The drag queen kept talking as if that was mandatory, which sort of reminds me of Japanese kyabakura (キャバクラ / hostess bars). But the conversation was fun because she was gay and professional. Three drinks, a queer yet polite conversation, and countless tiny Japanese snack bags cost 3800 yen / $29.20 (1500 yen for the first drink, 800 yen per glass after that). Gay bartenders at Explosion were generous enough to offer a free photo session with the drag queen on the stage. My budget exploded. But it was fun.
On the stage.
Explosion | 8-23 Doyamacho, Kita Ward, Osaka, 〒530-0027, Japan
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