Building Co-Existence Towards an Inclusive Japan

After Buddhist monk, LGBTQ+ advocate and makeup artist Kodo Nishimura met photographer and publicist Juan Pablo Reyes Diaz in a Spanish tapas bar, a romance bloomed. They soon visited each other’s vastly different countries to meet family and friends. It was the start of a long, fun but challenging journey to discover each other’s culture and language.

A Cross-Cultural Love Story: From Colombia to Japan

Kodo visited Juan’s home country of Colombia three times over the next few years, where he was warmly welcomed. As editor-in-chief of Trumo Talks, Juan was raising awareness of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). “Trumo Talks created a community of more than 80,000 young people, organized live events and collaborated with international brands such as Dr. Martens and the Estéreo Picnic Festival,” Juan explained.        

Juan endured culture shock when he came to Japan to see Kodo, who had been raised there in a Buddhist temple where his father was a priest. Kodo later spent several years in the United States, graduating from the Parsons School of Design in New York and working behind the scenes of Miss Universe and New York Fashion Week. He now works as a makeup artist for the LGBTQ+ community in Tokyo. 

Kodo describes himself as “gender gifted,” neither male nor female, and says only his body is male. He trained as a Buddhist monk—“wearing makeup and heels while spreading Buddhist beliefs about living in happiness and harmony with others.” Ordained in 2015, he started to talk about Buddhism and sexuality at places such as the United Nations Population Fund, Yale University and Stanford University.

Kodo has published his 2020 autobiography in several languages: This Monk Wears Heels: Be Who You Are is largely about his “struggles growing up as gay in Japan and the difficult transition of being a foreigner in the United States.”

The couple openly discussed the importance of overcoming differences in culture, language and personality, and “fostering a future where we embrace co-existence” at the United Nations University (UNU) in Tokyo on June 26. 

A Turning Point for LGBTQ+ Rights in Japan

In an event moderated by UNU Rector Prof. Tshilidzi Marwala, guests heard that the Osaka High Court ruled in March 2025 the denial of legal recognition for same-sex marriage is unconstitutional, making it the fifth high court in Japan to hand down such a decision, noting that existing provisions “undermine the dignity of individuals seriously and are unreasonable”. 

In the same week, the Japan Immigration Services Agency released figures indicating that the country’s foreign population had reached 3.8 million, a 10.5% annual increase and third consecutive record high. “Both developments point towards fundamental changes in 21st-century Japan towards a more open and inclusive society,” said the UNU. 

Juan and Kodo revealed the challenges same-sex couples face in Japan and how we can overcome prejudices to foster a more caring society. How can the next generation shape a more respectful and compassionate future? “Art and music helps people understand and imagine,” said Juan. 

“My father was not so welcoming to Juan at first, which annoyed us. But later he told me that he was not anti-gay but instead he just wanted to protect me as he was afraid I would experience danger and fear because of the ignorance and discrimination against gays.” 

“Juan and I now openly hold hands in Japan,” said Kodo. “It helps that many successful people in the world are openly gay, like Tim Cooke and Elton John.”

Why the fear of gays in Japan? “For many years, I didn’t know why gays were discriminated against. But I later learned that religious leaders years ago wanted their supporters to have as many children as possible to add to their fan base, so they discouraged homosexuality,” Kodo explained. 

Replying to an audience question, Kodo said that “more and more districts in Japan are celebrating diversity. But most important is that Japan legalises same sex marriage; it would make us feel valuable and equal. Making LGBTQ+ normal will change minds and reduce fear and ignorance.”

Juan said that soon after same sex marriage was legalised in Colombia in 2016 “famous people soon started coming out, like politician Claudia López, who was the first woman and first openly LGBT person elected mayor of Bogotá, in 2019. I finally felt comfortable telling my parents when I was aged 22 and they totally and immediately accepted it. My advice is to come out when you feel ready; after age 25 it gets easier to do!”

Kodo added: “Buddhist monks are respected in Japan, but gays aren’t so I have made it my mission to change mindsets. We need good role models. We enjoy overwhelming public support, but not from the government.”

LGBTQ+ Rights in Japan: Frequently Asked Questions