-- What do you think about circumstances facing sexual minorities in Japan today?

Recently there's been more visibility. We now see sexual minorities represented on a lot of TV shows! But still, even if we've gained a place in the world of Japanese variety programming--I wonder how things stand in offices and workplaces across the country.

Things seem to have gotten better, but I don't know exactly what the reality is. Especially since I've never had an office job and I don't know how hard it is to be in that kind of environment. I can't even imagine how conservative it must be.

-- Right now most gay men appearing on Japanese TV use "Onee-kotoba", (literally, "elder sister's talk") meaning they speak quite effeminately, but you don't. Do you make a point not to?

When I'm talking on television I do avoid speaking with "Onee-kotoba", but at the same time I naturally speak as I do now anyway.

Part of this is I'd like to show that not all men who like men speak with "Onee-kotoba". I want to be visible as a gay man who isn’t "Onee" (effeminate).

And, you know, a lot of straight people think of gay couples in terms of, "So who acts as the guy and who acts as the girl?” By my presence I want to help more people understand that it's not necessarily like that. I want to show that I love men as a man, and that two men can like each other as men.

-- I think it's really important that we have gay men on TV who are not "Onee", just to show the diversity in the gay community. So, in that sense, I really think you are a groundbreaker. Now, you came out three years ago when there was not a single non-Onee-speaking, out gay man on television. Was it hard for you to be open about yourself when this was uncharted territory?

It wasn't hard to come out at all. My parents, my family, my friends, colleagues in the entertainment world and even my agency all knew I was gay long before I publicly came out to the media.

-- What was the reaction when you first came out to your agency?

They thought it was kind of funny. They were like, "There aren't a lot of people like that, are there?" People in comedy enjoy working with "differences" in life, which I think is just wonderful. So by the time I came out to the media, only TV viewers didn't already know.

Up till then I'd often have fun talking backstage with other entertainers about dates I'd been on and some naughty adventures I’ve had. They actually wanted to talk about these things on the radio, but since I hadn't come out, they couldn't. So since I've come out, it's like the walls that had boxed them in have vanished as well. My colleagues find it easier now that they don't have to make such an effort to keep "the secret" under check anymore.

-- Since comedy seems to be so dominated by men, I was wondering if there weren't any problems when you came out, like people pulling away?

Not at all. To the contrary, people tended to show a lot of interest and ask questions. Like, "So what's it like to be gay?" I'd answer, and since I'd be the only gay person there I really felt like "someone special" (laughs). It was fun for me too to stand there explaining, "Oh, it's like this." (laughs)

-- I can see how it would be fun to chat about it (laughs). So it seems like, from what you're saying, the straight comedians were quite considerate of your situation and made an effort to keep "the secret".

Exactly. I'm very thankful. You know, comedians pick up on things well!

-- So does that mean that from the time you started in the industry, you never really had a sense of being in the closet?

No, I never really felt like I was in the closet. However, there was a time where I was advised not to say anything to my agency. I remember one time I was standing with other comedians and I found myself forcing a reaction to a swimsuit model. I acted as if I’d fall over myself, saying like “WOW!!” (laughs)

-- (laughs) So what was your agency's reason for going along with your coming out?

They had basically promised me that they would be cool with me coming out once my reputation as an entertainer was already established--whether that be for doing impressions, comedy routines or theater performances. They told me to go ahead and come out once people were at a point where they wouldn't care whether I was gay or not. They said they didn’t want the news to take off on its own while I was still an unknown, before the public even knew of my talent. So I also felt that when the head of the agency gave me the go ahead, the timing was just right!

translated by rayna