LGBTQ Japanese inspired by pop star Shinjiro Atae’s coming out story: ‘very brave, admirable’
- The artist said he wanted to share his ‘life’s challenge’ with fans, after years of struggling to accept his identity
- Atae’s move was cheered by many in Japan, with one LGBTQ activist saying it would encourage more people to ‘be who they want to be’
Japanese pop star Shinjiro Atae has received an overwhelmingly positive response after surprising his fans and the country’s music industry by announcing that he is gay at an event in Tokyo.
Atae rose to fame as a backing dancer at the age of 14 before becoming a singer with the J-pop outfit AAA, and then going solo. The artist has been living in the United States for the last two years, where he has been working on his 446 Double Four Six apparel brand in Los Angeles.
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. I am a gay man
He announced the fan event in Tokyo’s Shibuya district in June, saying on his website, “I would like everyone to continue to support me, but I also recognise that it is difficult for them to understand.”
Atae added that he wanted to meet his fans to explain “my life’s challenge”.
In front of around 2,000 fans at the Line Cube Shibuya venue on Wednesday, Atae read from a piece of paper: “I respect and believe you deserve to hear this directly from me. 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. I am a gay man.”
Onlookers said the audience was initially silent, before they broke out in screams, applause, tears and calls of, “I love you!”
