J-Pop multi-hyphenate Shinjiro Atae just publicly came out as gay in a heartwarming speech to fans and accompanying new solo release “Into The Light.” Atae, mostly known as a solo artist and one-fifth of the co-ed group AAA, delivered the message directly to 2,000 attendees during a free fan meet held at Line Cube Shibuya in Tokyo, Japan, on July 26, 2023.
“It has taken me a long time to be able to say I am gay,” Atae shared in his speech. “I could not even say it to myself. I feared that even if I could accept the truth, the world would never accept me as an artist. However, I’ve come to realize it is better, both for me and for the people I care about, including my fans, to live life authentically than to live a life never accepting who I truly am.”
He rounded off the moment by comforting everyone grappling with the same feelings, encouraging them to “find courage” and reminding them that “they are not alone.” With his speech, Atae becomes one of the few API idols to come out publicly, and the timing could not have been more impeccable. Over the last few months, Japan has been put under a microscope for passing an LGBTQ+ understanding bill that many have deemed lacking and described as “watered-down” and “controversial.” (As noted by Reuters, the country is famously the only Group of Seven [G7] nation with no legal protection for same-sex unions.)
During the fan meeting, Atae also announced he is working on a documentary about his life and journey, which will be produced by Academy Award winners Peter Farrelly and Fisher Stevens. Details about the upcoming project are still being kept under wraps, but a press release did confirm direction will be at the hands of creative duo Carlie Mantilla-Jordan and John Eliot Jordan, who are long-time friends of Atae.
To accompany his coming out speech and documentary announcement, Atae also released a new all-English song titled “Into The Light,” with a video that aims to illustrate his self-discovery process. Aside from serving as the soundtrack to chronicle his story, the release will also actively support the underrepresented LGBTQ+ community in Japan. As confirmed by a press release, a portion of the proceeds from “Into The Light” will go towards Pride House Tokyo, Japan’s first permanent LGBTQ+ center, as well as ReBit, a Japanese non-profit organization that provides resources and support for LGBTQ+ youth.
Watch Shinjiro Atae’s “Into The Light” music video below:
