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Honest snapshot of life as a gay man in 2000s and 2010s Japan
I found this to be a breezy, enjoyable read chronicling Nanasaki's struggles in life as he came to terms with his sexual identity in a heteronormative society. Despite the hardships, there's at times great joy in the writing, and one gets the feeling that Nanasaki, who remains a renowned activist for LGBTQ+ rights, has found his own place in life and the world precisely because of who and what he is. The world may tell you that you're "wrong", "out of place" or "sick", but it's important to keep going, to keep searching for your true self.
I also enjoyed that there was a reconnection between him and a transgender character from his childhood, acknowledging that they had hurt each other in the past but were moving on together now. It reminded me again of the fact that social justice can only be achieved if we hold together.
If you enjoy slightly fictionalized autobiographies with an emphasis on the emotions and sympathy instead of the prose you'll enjoy this book and maybe even find kinship with Nanasaki. Heavy warnings for homophobia and general bigotry aimed at the main characters.