In fifth grade, Takamasa Kobayashi felt a deep discomfort when handed a red randoseru, a traditional Japanese schoolbag meant for girls. It wasn’t until years later, when diagnosed with Gender Identity Disorder (GID), now known as gender dysphoria, that Kobayashi understood why he struggled with this gendered expectation. Despite being assigned female at birth, Kobayashi always knew he was male. At the age of 20, he underwent sex-reassignment surgery, making him one of Japan’s youngest individuals to do so at the time., as they’re called in Japanese, for girls. Black or navy blue for boys. Kobayashi felt uneasy about the color allotted to him: red. 

Miyuki Tokoi’s documentary Zero As You Are (2020) chronicles Kobayashi’s personal journey, alongside the stories of two other trans individuals.

“This film is about transgender people, but what I really wanted to portray is how we can live the way that we want to live,” says Tokoi, who began directing the film in 2010. The documentary’s subjects include Jun Nakajima, who identifies as X-gender (or genderqueer), and Miyuki Yashiro, a World War II veteran who underwent sex-reassignment surgery in Thailand at the age of 78.

Legal and Societal Challenges for Trans Youth in Japan

Tokoi’s documentary sheds light on the challenges of trans youth in Japan, capturing their personal struggles with identity and societal expectations. According to a 2018 survey, nearly every transgender person in Japan faces significant obstacles while seeking employment. Negative encounters include invasive questions about their sexuality during job interviews and having to fill out gendered forms on resumes.

“The majority of people are not actively against the LGBTQ+ community, but are unaware of the issues surrounding transgender people,” Tokoi says. Award-winning documentarian Ian Thomas Ash, a close friend of Tokoi’s, adds that transgender visibility is almost nonexistent outside of the entertainment industry. “Transgender people are often used as clowns on TV, but aren’t seen as humans,” Ash explains.

In addition to the absence of anti-discrimination laws based on sexual orientation and gender, Japan enforces a restrictive law that makes it difficult for trans individuals to obtain legal recognition. Known as the Gender Identity Disorder and Special Cases (GID) Act, the law requires a diagnosis of GID (now referred to as gender dysphoria) in order for someone to acquire documents that reflect their gender identity. The law also mandates sterilization, which remains a significant hurdle for many trans individuals.

Shifting Attitudes and Hope for the Future

Despite these challenges, Tokoi remains hopeful that attitudes toward gender in Japan are evolving. “More people are beginning to see gender as a spectrum, rather than two distinct, opposite forms of male and female,” she says. By amplifying the voices of trans youth and gender nonconforming communities in Japan, Tokoi hopes to spark necessary conversations that highlight the often-invisible struggles—and triumphs—of Japan’s LGBTQ+ population.

Tokoi remains hopeful that more people are opening up to the notion of gender as existing on a spectrum, rather than two distinct, opposite forms of male and female. By uplifting the voices of trans youth and gender nonconforming communities in Japan, Tokoi hopes to inspire and inform necessary conversations surrounding the often invisible struggles of Japan’s LGBTQ+ population, as well as its triumphs. 

Zero As You Are
ぼくが性別「ゼロ」に戻るとき

Resources for Trans Individuals in Japan

For those in Japan seeking support, here are some resources available to the trans community:

Yorisoi Hotline
A free 24-hour, 365-day hotline offering support for a variety of personal struggles, including issues related to gender identity and LGBTQ+ concerns. The service is available in multiple languages: English, Chinese, Korean, Thai, Tagalog, Spanish, Portuguese, Vietnamese, Nepali, and Indonesian. This service is operated by the Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare.
– TEL: 0120-279-338
(Ibaraki, Miyagi, and Fukushima Prefectures: TEL: 0120-279-226)
– Available in multiple languages and accessible to those with hearing impairments.
– Website: Yorisoi Hotline

Wraparound Support
Support services for LGBTQ+ youth (24 years and under) in Tokyo.
– Available in both Japanese and English, and accessible to those with hearing impairments.
– For more details: Pride House Tokyo

Tokyo LGBT Hotline
A specialized phone consultation service for those experiencing concerns about gender identity and sexual orientation, operated by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.
– TEL: 050-3647-1448
– Hours: Tuesdays and Fridays from 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM (excluding holidays)
– Website: Tokyo LGBT Hotline

There are additional services available, so be sure to check for the most up-to-date information and resources that may best suit your needs.