During a sheltered upbringing in a Buddhist temple in Tokyo, gay Japanese monk Kodo Nishimura kept his sexuality a closely guarded secret, while also concealing his burgeoning love of makeup.
Nowadays, Nishimura blends religious duties with work as a makeup artist, making him an unusual figure in socially conservative Japan, where same-sex marriage remains illegal and being openly gay is largely taboo.
The 31-year-old said his eventual decision to come out had been the ¡°best weapon¡± to challenge homophobia, and he now hopes his autobiography will inspire more LGBTQ people in his country to openly embrace their sexual identity.
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