Shinjiro Atae comes out as gay at Tokyo fan meet, stuns 2,000 fans
J-Pop idol Shinjiro Atae shocked fans by publicly coming out as gay during a fan meet at Line Cube Shibuya in Tokyo. The 36-year-old AAA member and soloist told the crowd, “I am a gay man,” breaking his silence on his personal life for the first time.
Fans responded with loud applause, showing support for the singer as he choked up during the announcement. To mark the occasion, Atae also released a new song titled “Into the Light.”
In an Instagram post after the event, he thanked fans for the “overwhelming amount of positive feedback” and revealed he will donate part of the song’s proceeds to Pride House Tokyo and ReBit, two leading LGBTQ+ organizations in Japan.
Shinjiro’s announcement is groundbreaking in Japan’s entertainment scene and political climate, as the country lacks legal protections for same-sex unions. He expressed his struggles with self-acceptance and fear of rejection:
“It has taken me a long time to be able to say I am gay. 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. I hope people who are struggling with the same feeling will find courage and know they are not alone.”
— Shinjiro Atae
Atae has been active for 20 years, with multiple No.1 albums and singles in Japan. He previously spoke out on social issues, releasing a bestselling book in 2022 about mental health in Japan.
His bold move cements him as a leading figure for LGBTQ+ visibility in Asia. He also made an appearance at NYC Pride earlier this year during a city visit. Fans are now watching closely as Shinjiro lives openly and supports the community.
