What is Japan’s Bisexual Representation Like?
In Japan, there is still often a lack of understanding of what being bisexual is. In our article on bisexual life in Japan you can learn more about how bisexual people are viewed here, but in short, bisexuality is still seen as something to be hush-hush about.
But if most people in Japan don’t know what bisexuality is and are too secretive to talk about it, how can we make bisexual people feel more visible? When it comes to a sexuality outside of our own, I think most people don’t gain a better understanding unless they know someone who identifies as that. This is why representation from bisexual celebrities in Japan can be a great place to start to open up the conversation and say: Hey, we’re here!
Most Iconic Bisexual Celebrities in Japan
Japan has a surprisingly diverse bisexual representation amongst their celebrities, so let’s get to know more about them!
Moga Mogami
Moga Mogami is a Japanese celebrity famous for being a former member of Dempagumi.inc, a pop idol group that arose out of Japan’s otaku culture capital, Akihabara. She was with the group for 6 years and performed across Japan and abroad before announcing her departure in 2017 due to health issues.
That same year, Mogami made news in Japan when she revealed that she confessed to another female celebrity. In 2020, she clarified her being bisexual in a tweet, saying, “I have always liked both girls and boys as romantic partners, but I never questioned it or thought it was wrong. I just liked them because of who they are, regardless of gender. I have never hidden it nor used the expression ‘coming out’ myself.”
The bisexual star continues to be active in Japan as an actress and model, and has a huge following on Instagram and Twitter. Her continued popularity makes Mogami living proof that there shouldn’t be any shame in living as openly bisexual in Japan.
Kazlaser
Kazlaser (real name Kazunori Kaneko) is a Japanese comedian known for playing the air-headed character in the comedy double act, Maple Chogoukin. He frequently appears in variety shows in Japan in his signature gold hair and red outfit combo. He also has a very active online presence, with hundreds of thousands of social media followers and Youtube subscribers.
Kazlaser came out as bisexual in an episode of the variety show, Honnou Zi, that aired in Japan in 2015. Furthermore, in a later appearance at a different show, he stated that he “feels happy” when asked about how it feels to be bisexual. He also dispelled the stereotype brought up by another person on the show about bisexual people simply liking everyone, by saying “I’m not that easy of a guy.”
With his undefiant bisexual pride and joy, it’s safe to say that Kazlaser sets a great example for bisexual people in Japan!
Miyuki Torii
Miyuki Torii is a Japanese comedian and actress with a career that spans over two decades, appearing in dozens of comedy shows, films, music videos, fashion shows, and even video games throughout the years in Japan.
It became public in 2008 during the early years of her showbiz career that Torii was married to a man. However, in 2012, she made news when she revealed in a TV show that she was in a relationship with a woman up until she got married.
In an article she wrote in 2022, Torii talked about her bisexual identity and her views on LGBTQ+ issues. She states that although she thinks society says people of all sexualities should be accepted equally, not everyone is hoping for that. She also explains that despite being bisexual, she gets a guilty sense of pleasure at being a minority in Japan and thinks that being public about sexuality is not always the right thing to do.
Although we can’t say we fully agree with Torii’s views, it’s undeniable that she is one of Japan’s more publicly bisexual figures.
Mitsu Dan
Mitsu Dan (also known as Dan Mitsu) is a Japanese actress and model famously known for appearing in erotic films. In 2012, she debuted as the leading star in the erotic film, Be My Slave, and since then, has become one of Japan’s most famous gravure idols – models known for posing in provocative magazines. In fact, Mitsu Dan is such a pillar of Japan’s entertainment industry that she even has her own wax model in Madame Tussaud’s Tokyo!
Since the start of her career, Mitsu Dan has not been shy about her sexuality. In 2012, the same year she made her film debut, she addressed rumors of her being bisexual in an interview by saying, “It’s true. I’ve done something that looks like a relationship with a woman.” She also admits that she had her first kiss with another girl at age 15.
She also openly talks about her preferences. When asked to quantify it, she responded with, “It’s 60/40. Sometimes it’s 60% towards men, sometimes it’s 60% towards women, so it also makes me go, ‘So which is it?’” With her candor in the face of a conservative society like Japan’s, Mitsu Dan is a refreshing representation for bisexual people in Japan.
Rina Sawayama
Rina Sawayama is a Japanese singer and actress most popularly known outside of Japan for her music career. Although she has subsequently performed in Japan, she moved to the UK with her family from a young age and got her start in the music industry there. Her breakthrough came in 2020 when she released her debut album, Sawayama, to critical acclaim.
Since then, she has only seen more success and even collaborated with other iconic artists beloved by the LGBTQ+ community such as Lady Gaga, Charlie XCX, and Pabllo Vittar. In 2023, Sawayama made her acting debut in John Wick: Chapter 4, which received positive reviews and solidified the versatility of her talents.
Sawayama opened up about her bisexual/pansexual identity early on in her career with the release of her 2018 single, “Cherry”. In it, she sings about her insecurities and the shame she grew up with around her attraction to other women. Since then, Sawayama has talked publicly about her bisexual/pansexual identity in interviews and in concerts and is herself beloved by LGBTQ+ pop fans in Japan and the rest of the world.
Conclusion
With each of these celebrities coming from different backgrounds and industries, Japan’s bisexual celebrities are all great examples of showing how diverse the bisexual experience can be. Although Japan still has a long way to go in terms of representation, with this lineup of celebrities leading the way, we hope they help more bisexual people in Japan feel seen in their society.