metroweekly.com
27.07.2023 / 20:09
Japanese Pop Star Comes Out as Gay
“I’m a gay man.”It’s a rare announcement for a man in conservative Japan.And it’s even rarer for a big performer whose livelihood depends on fans and sponsors — and who’s famous for lyrics like “Pretty girl, I still adore you.”On Wednesday night, 2,000 fans gathered in Central Tokyo to hear J-pop idol Shinjiro Atae, who has been on hiatus for nearly two years, discuss “the challenge of my life.”“I respect you and believe you deserve to hear this directly from me,” he said, reading from a prepared letter as he stood onstage in a dark auditorium. “For years, I struggled to accept a part of myself.”“But now, after all I have been through, I finally have the courage to open up to you about something.