On May 17th, Ayumi Hamasaki, one of the most popular gay icons, expressed her support and love toward her beloved LGBT town, Ni-chome and her sentiments on the issues facing sexual minority in Japan.

I’ve loved Ni-chome ever since my debut. I’ve spent so much time, good and sad, with my friends there. My youth wouldn’t be the same without Ni-chome.

After my debut, I became really busy and I started going to Ni-chome. After work, I had dinner with my friends there. I went to Ni-chome, again and again, for girls night outs. My Ni-chome friends were always there for me when I got messed

up and needed a shoulder to cry on. I went to Ni-chome when something good happened,too. It’s always been Ni-chome.

And again, I went to Ni-chome the other day. My friend runs a bar and I got some time before my live tour started. Well, Ni-chome was really small, old and very smoky like always.(It’s a compliment lol.)

When I saw the posters and fliers on the wall, I felt like home and that made me nostalgic at the same time.

And today, I talked with a friend of mine, who is one of the most important people in my life. Her story got me speechless. I was thinking about what she said and it’s getting bigger and bigger inside me. I need to get this thing out of my chest.

That is discrimination against my friends, sexual minority in Japan. Why is it so hard to end this discrimination?

Some people cannot stand minority groups like LGBTs and women expressing their feelings and opinions. They call us names and say “It’s a minority opinion and no one cares!”

If our voices were what they say, then I would keep priding myself as a minority and trying to make myself heard.

Being a minority does not make you weak and wrong. Being a majority does not make you strong and right.

We gotta enjoy our lives and show the world that that’s how we win. Let’s keep a smile on our face!

Her instagram post became a hot topic especially in the LGBT community. More than 40,000 people liked her post.

“I’m gay and her words deeply impressed me when she said that. She’s right. Being a minority doesn’t mean we are weak.”

“I want to say thank you for posting this beautiful message to us. As a gay man myself, I want to be strong like you!”
A lot of gay guys replied and showed her their support and love.

Her comment became a hot topic on Twitter, too.

“I’m so happy to know you care about us! I’m crying with joy!”
“I always hear your songs everywhere in Ni-chome!”
“You and we are always connected in our community! We love you.”

Ayumi Hamasaki has always been one of the most gay-friendly singers in Japan. When she highly evaluated “Hedwig and the Angry Inch,” a lot of high school girls rushed to movie theaters. She has performed with many drag queens and gogoboys in her music videos, such as “How Beautiful You Are” and “Lady Dynamite,” and gay events in Ni-chome for years. Actually, she was in “Like Grains of Sand,” an LGBT movie directed by Ryosuke Hashiguchi in 1995. It was before her debut and maybe that’s why she’s been so LGBT- friendly.

I was really happy to know that she thinks about our community this much. I hope she will come to Tokyo Rainbow Pride next year! We want to see her fantastic performance!

 

05/18/2017