Japanese pop star Shinjiro Atae publicly came out as gay on July 26, 2023, telling roughly 2,000 fans at a free event at Line Cube Shibuya in Tokyo, “I am a gay man.” Atae, a member of the mixed-gender group AAA, announced the news the same day on his Instagram account.
Atae, 34 at the time, said he had struggled for years to accept his sexuality and had not been able to say it even to himself. He wrote that living authentically was better for him and for the people he cares about, and expressed hope that others facing similar struggles would find courage and know they were not alone. He also announced that part of the proceeds from his new single, “Into the Light,” released the same day, would go to Pride House Tokyo, Japan’s first permanent LGBTQ+ community centre, and ReBit, a support group for LGBTQ+ young people. Atae later said fans had responded far more supportively than he had expected, with many telling him that his sexuality did not change why they backed him.
Atae has since said he does not necessarily see himself as an LGBTQ+ activist or leader, but hopes to keep supporting others as someone who has shared similar experiences.
Japan remains the only G7 country that does not legally recognise same-sex marriage. In June 2023, the national parliament passed the LGBT Understanding Promotion Act, which critics said lacked substantive anti-discrimination provisions. Against that backdrop, a major pop artist speaking openly about his sexuality before thousands of fans has been regarded as a highly visible moment for LGBTQ+ representation in Japanese entertainment. Analysts note that whether such public disclosures can translate into lasting institutional change will depend on future legislation and shifts in social attitudes.
Asian Editorial Department: Kim Min-jun