Profile: Kanako Otsuji
Born in 1974 in Nara. Kanako Otsuji was elected to the Osaka Prefectural Assembly on April 13, 2003 and served until the end of her term in April 2007. She gained widespread recognition for becoming both the youngest person ever elected to the Assembly and being one of its few women members. The publication of her autobiography, Coming Out: A Journey to Find My True Self, in August 2005 made her the first politician in Japan to publicly come out as a lesbian.
Kanako Otsuji Homepage: www.otsuji-k.com
TW Article: Interview with Kanako Otsuji
TW Article: Otsuji on the Diet elections

On May 15th, the Democratic Party of Japan officially recognized Kanako Otsuji, a former member of the Osaka Assembly, as its representational candidate for the July Upper House election. Incidentally, Otsuji is the first openly gay politician to be selected by a national party in Japan to run in a national election. She held a press conference to formally announce her run for office on May 17th, IDAHO Day. (※IDAHO: On May 17 1990, the World Health Organization (WHO), an agency of the UN, removed homosexuality from its list of mental disorders. In commemoration of that day, people in over 50 countries celebrate International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO) every year. See: Act against homophobia）

In 1971, an openly gay man named Ken Togo made an attempt at getting elected to the national Diet by running as an independent candidate. However, as Fukushima, the president of the Nichome Association recalled, "Though it may have been merely a symptom of the times, he quite radically referred to himself using the derogatory term 'queen' and sadly failed to even gain the support of gay voters." Suggesting the historical allure of the moment, he adds, "It's exhilarating that 35 years later a political party has officially recognized a gay candidate to take on the challenge of the next election."

Otsuji began the press conference assuring attendees of her determination to win in the upcoming election, yet before long the focus of the gathering shifted when - in response to appeals from the press corps - Otsuji's partner, Maki Kimura, made a quick entry and the couple discussed their plans for a wedding. The fact that the pair did so is quite impressive for the fact that - as yet - it is still unusual for a lesbian couple in Japan to step into public view.

At the opening of the news conference, Otsuji took her time as she explained, "The fact that I was chosen to run appears to me as a first step for great change in Japanese society. At this time, it is fair to say that human rights may now be visibly maturing in Japan as well." "In Japan today, there are no legal guarantees protecting same-sex partners. For that reason, we feel greater pangs of uncertainty when wondering how we can protect ourselves and our partnerships in the case that anything ever happened. For example, if one was hospitalized due to a serious condition and general visitors were not allowed, would one's partner be recognized as family by the hospital? If rights to inheritance are not established by law, then unless the contract for one's residence is in your name, the death of a partner would also mean forcible eviction. When gay and lesbian couples consider our options for living - just as anyone else would within Japan, we can't help but hitting these political and social walls. As legal guarantees - assuring changes for the better - are being secured for same-sex partners in numerous countries around the world, similar topics have hardly made a dent in the political fabric of Japan. Because of this, I believe that it is highly important that we become visible in Japan. Moreover, we ought to press for what we truly believe to be necessary."

Surveys have shown that 6 out of 10 LGBT teenage youth have considered suicide, while 15% of those youth have acted on those thoughts. Otsuji emphatically spoke to persons facing such distress when she said, "You are not alone! You can live life as who you are!" before highlighting her stance that, "I want to show sexual minorities and all people who feel it is difficult to live in this society of widening disparity that there is hope - we can change society!"

After speaking, Otsuji stood before 40 journalists and 4 television cameras to answer questions. Regarding the fact that she was hand-picked by the Democratic Party of Japan after being active in Osaka as an non-party-affiliated politician, Otsuji said, "The system is structured such that in order to run for the national government, one must stand with a national party in order to become a district candidate. I chose the Democratic Party of Japan because they have tremendous strength in settling issues, and they are the close to fomenting a shift in political power. The DPJ President, Ichiro Ozawa, has told me that the DPJ thinks it's a good idea to have a gay candidate running in the party. This shows that we, as sexual minorities, are included within the DPJ's vision, described as '[Creating] a society and a world where living together is living together harmoniously'. Thus, LGBT people would also, by that definition, be sharing our communities and lives. For that reason as well, I thought it was most appropriate that I chose the Democratic Party of Japan."

When asked about her opinion of Abe's "Beautiful Country," Otsuji commented, "When Prime Minister Abe was Secretary-General of the LDP there was a deliberate movement to 'stop providing extreme education in sex education.' One question of the time had to do with whether children in Domestic Science courses were being taught about non-traditional families formed outside of the boundaries of legal marriage - and there, right next to where legal marriage was denoted, was 'gay marriage' in parentheses. Now in that respect, I can't help but feel that this 'beautiful country' and 'beautiful family' that Abe is talking about is one where we, LGBT people, have been absolutely dropped from. However, in today's society there are many people with diverse ways of living. I believe that government in its truest form would rest securely on a base of such diversity by making systems and governments that respect and honor its presence. In that sense, the ideological direction of Prime Minister Abe highly contrasts mine. I think we should carefully reconsider whether it is right to suggest that one value system be upheld as beautiful - or whether we would be better off as recognizing a diverse society - one that allows for a multitude of value systems to be simultaneously held - as a true thing of beauty."

With regard to specific policy, Otsuji explained that she would like to get involved in providing legal protection for same-sex partners should she be elected, yet she emphasized that her principle concern would be in undertaking duties in the Diet as guided by the DPJ manifesto - while also providing input for the party as to her own policy angles.

Otsuji explained her decision to wed her partner of four years this coming June in Nagoya's Ikeda Park by saying, "Our wedding will of course not be legally recognized. But we will hold this ceremony in order to contribute to creating a shift towards making ourselves [i.e. lesbians] more visible. In Japanese society, it is considered contrary to good morals for same-sex partners to show signs of affection or love in public. For that reason, countless persons can't hold hands with their beloved, and it's difficult to rent a hotel room with a double bed. Straight couples don't face any such barriers, but for same-sex couples these things have long seemed impossible. I think it's important that the public see and celebrate the joy and happiness that same-sex partners also share together, and that their love is also a beautiful thing." Both women's parents are expected to be present at the ceremony.

Next, the focus of the press corps turned to the couple, and Otsuji's partner, Kimura, was asked to take part. The couple was asked how they met and what outfits would be worn at the ceremony. The press conference soon came to resemble more of a celebrity spectacle. The previously serious Otsuji herself remarked, "Amazing! It's hard to believe that the day has come where things like this would be talked about at a news conference!" Kimura, when posed with the question, "How do you see Otsuji?" replied cheerfully, "She's a very serious-minded personality - the kind of person that once she sets her sights on a goal will go nowhere but sharply straight ahead. Sometimes I have to check with her where she's off to (laughs)." The press conference closed with a partly-relaxed, partly-comical air but left all present with the feeling that a new era for Japan has just begun.

translated by rayna rusenko