Days after Rui Takahashi publicly came out as gay, fellow Japanese volleyball player Reon Arao has opened up about his own sexuality and gender, saying Takahashi’s courage gave him the push to speak in his own words.
In another day of absolutely heart-warming LGBTQIA+ news, Japanese professional volleyball player Reon Arao has publicly opened up about his sexuality and gender identity.
Arao, who plays for Voreas Hokkaido in Japan’s SV.League, shared a deeply personal message on Instagram, directly crediting Takahashi — who plays for Suntory Sunbirds Osaka — with giving him the courage to do it.
“The word ‘coming out’ itself felt heavy to me, like a thick wall,” Arao wrote.
“Even so, I was encouraged by the courage of Rui Takahashi, who is active at the forefront of the same sport, and decided to convey this in my own words.”
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‘I am who I am’
(Editor note: we have translated the original statement from Japanese using Google Translate)
Arao said that growing up, he spent time with friends of all genders and sometimes played in groups made up entirely of girls.
Through those experiences, he said feelings of “cute”, “cool” and “beautiful” all became important to him.
Arao shared that these feelings grew beyond only admiration and a desire to be like them himself.
“Before I knew it, they also became connected to feelings of ‘liking’ someone,” he wrote.
“That is why, when it came to my own gender identity and the genders of the people I am attracted to, I have tried not to place too many boundaries on them.
“I am who I am.”
“If I had to choose from LGBTQ+ to describe my sexuality, I think I am closest to ‘Q (Questioning)’.”
He described feeling uncomfortable with phrases such as “because I’m a man” or “because I’m a woman”, and said he often chooses women’s clothing.
While he feels more comfortable around women, he also said he enjoys spending time with men.
“There have also been times when I felt confused and struggled with the many different emotions within myself,” he shared.
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Following Takahashi’s lead
Arao’s announcement comes just days after Takahashi, 26, publicly came out as gay.
Takahashi wrote that he had struggled to accept his sexuality since childhood, but that conversations with his younger brother eventually helped him acknowledge himself.
He said he hoped his words might help other people who were struggling to accept themselves.
Arao appears to have found some of that same encouragement in Takahashi’s decision to speak publicly.
“I myself am one of the people who was encouraged by someone’s courage,” Arao wrote.
“So next, I hope that my words and actions can become even a small trigger for someone.”
For anyone what’s ever questions queer visibility: what a beautiful, tangible reminder
This is a soul-hugging example of exactly what queer visibility can do.
One person speaking honestly about who they are can make it a little easier for the next person to imagine doing the same.
Takahashi’s coming out gave Arao the push he needed, and flowing on from that Arao is hoping his own words might do the same for somebody else.
This is building collective strength, safety and joy.
Two professional Japanese volleyball players have now publicly opened up about their LGBTQIA+ identities within days of one another, with one explicitly saying the other’s visibility helped him find the courage to speak.
Pride is powerful because it reminds people that they are a beautiful part of something bigger than themselves.
And sometimes, seeing someone else be themselves openly is enough to make you realise you can be yourself, too.
For the latest LGBTIQA+ Sister Girl and Brother Boy news, entertainment, and community stories in Australia, visit qnews.com.au. Find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
