Mutant Wave.

Change "I have to know!" into "I want to know!". Pop Genderist

Mutant Wave.Yuuki Oshima(Oshima Yu: O-chan)Asahi Yamamoto(Yamamoto Asahi: Asahi)Masami Okawa(Masami Okawa: Masa)

■ Profile

Change "I have to know!" to "I want to know!"
Pop Genderist
Not bound by the framework of masculinity and femininity that is rooted in society,
We value expressing your individuality and aim to create a world where everyone can love themselves!

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8AuY5zhH76XT2KWoug3xsA

"Mutant Wave" is a transgender icon who promotes diverse values, including LGBT, through the media and entertainment. We spoke to three former women who play in the Nadeshiko League but now live as men about their thoughts as transgender people and their activities to promote LGBT issues.

About Mutant Wave : Interview with leader Yuuki Oshima

■ Decided to spread awareness of LGBT issues as a celebrity

While conducting LGBT training for companies, I realized that rather than talking according to a textbook or manual, it would be better to share more real-life experiences as an LGBT person, which would generate interest. The truth is, there are no celebrities who can serve as role models for transgender men. That's why I was convinced that if we could become role models and spread the word, it would lead to solving social issues related to LGBT. That's why Asahi and Masashi started a YouTube channel.

■ Two activities: "Information dissemination" and "role model"

Their current activities include media appearances on YouTube, television, and radio, corporate lectures, gender education for kindergarteners to university students nationwide, and training for cities and teachers. They also appear on television news programs and educational and welfare programs. As they call themselves pop genderists, they are conscious of creating unique and exciting corporate training sessions. For example, during a training session on DAZN, participants were given the opportunity to learn by answering questions without any restrictions while being connected to an overseas broadcast! Furthermore, member Masa provides designs as an artist to a leather brand, and is also working to donate a portion of the sales to overseas LFBT organizations. They are conscious of not only disseminating information but also acting as role models, such as serving as ambassadors for LGBT and diversity-related projects and products.
Japan is still lagging behind in terms of awareness and efforts regarding gender equality, so it's an environment that is conducive to the creation of "LGBT x XX" synergy. I often receive work across a wide range of fields, but it would be great if the world were to become a place where this kind of activity no longer exists.
Going forward, I think the key point will be how much we can involve people who don't feel a sense of urgency or aren't interested.

■To become an icon recognized worldwide

Mutant Wave's ultimate goal is to be recognized by people all over the world as a pop, gender-neutral, diversity icon. By being known as a global icon, the information we share will be more easily reached and we will have a greater influence. In the future, we would like to create a society where being able to come out as LGBT is the norm, and where people can choose whether or not to come out. We will eliminate gender divisions and create a world where everyone can love themselves!
What we also want to convey uniquely is that "we shouldn't lump everyone together under the term LGBT, but that each person has their own individuality and gradations." We would like to spread this message to as many people as possible.

Interview with members of Mutant Wave.

■What made you start playing soccer?

Asahi Yamamoto

I started playing soccer when I was in the first grade of elementary school. At the time, my older sister was playing dodgeball, but I wasn't particularly interested. However, when I saw boys playing soccer, I thought they looked cool, so I started playing soccer.

Yuuki Oshima

It all started when I was in the last year of kindergarten and I started going along with my older brother who was playing soccer. As I continued to kick the ball around, I became as good as the boys around me and also learned how to enjoy it. Around that time, encouraged by those around me, I started playing soccer seriously.

Masami Okawa

I also started playing soccer in my last year of kindergarten. I remember seeing a close male friend of mine playing at a soccer school and telling my parents, "That looks fun! I want to play too!"
At the time, the coaches at soccer schools were mostly boyish women, so parents had no objections to girls playing soccer.

■What motivated you to become passionate about soccer and strive for greater heights?

Asahi Yamamoto

At the time, the team I was on didn't have many practice sessions. Later, I found out that a friend of mine was on a strong team, now known as Urawa Red Diamonds, and I was greatly inspired. From there, I developed a passion to work hard and improve at soccer.

Yuuki Oshima

When I was in elementary school, I just enjoyed playing soccer. I moved to Saitama Prefecture in the sixth grade, and was scouted by a girls' soccer team there. I was eventually selected for the Saitama Prefecture selection team. After that, my mother applied for selection to a super strong team without my permission, and by chance I was able to stay until the end.
That team had a strong focus on soccer, so I naturally acquired a passion for it. However, the team was very strict when I was in high school, and as soon as I graduated, I lost my enthusiasm and enjoyment of soccer and left it behind. Later, when I was thinking about going into welfare, I had the opportunity to pick up a ball again, and it reminded me of the fun of soccer, so I started playing again.

Masami Okawa

To be honest, I wasn't that enthusiastic. I played soccer until my first year at university, but my coach rejected my style of soccer, and I went through a period of frustration. However, I ended up joining the Nadeshiko League by chance, as I was approached by a team that had just been formed at the time, so I joined. I thought that since I had been approached, I enjoyed playing soccer for the entire three years.

■What do you find rewarding or important about your current activities with Mutant Wave?

Asahi Yamamoto

We value the desire to increase options regarding gender. In soccer, there are role models for players and coaches to aspire to, but there are still few gender role models. Therefore, we want to act as role models and express gender as one of the options.

Yuuki Oshima

It's rewarding to see people who are happy and sympathetic to our activities. As we continue our activities, we hear from people that through LGBT, their way of thinking and choices have broadened, and their values ​​have changed dramatically! It's really nice, isn't it? We hope to continue creating opportunities for many new realizations and learning.

Masami Okawa

Supportive comments from fans are what motivate me! I place importance on asking "why?" questions like "Why did the fan use this word?" and "Why do they support me?" I believe that pursuing "why" can also be an opportunity to learn about areas where I am lacking.

■What are your dreams and goals for the future?

Asahi Yamamoto

We would like to create a community with the people who interact with us, and a company and community that includes diverse values.

Yuuki Oshima

Our main goal is to make Mutant Wave known to many people in Japan and around the world as a transgender male group. We want to contribute to society by valuing the balance between our roles as entertainers and business owners.

Masami Okawa

My goal is to become an icon for the group as a transgender man. By becoming an icon, I believe I will be able to contribute more to social issues not only as a group, but also through my individual work. First of all, I want to firmly establish a foundation for the group.

■Please give us a message for university students.

Yuuki Oshima

Once you enter the workforce, there may be fewer things you want to do and can do due to time constraints and other factors. I hope that now will be the time for you to actively experience cultures and values ​​that are different from your own, and update your way of thinking rather than just sticking to the status quo. I hope that you will value expressing what you value in your own way, without being swayed by the opinions of adults.

Asahi Yamamoto

I don't think that all the words of our predecessors, such as "You have to stay at a company for three years," are correct. Rather than blindly accepting what others say, I hope that people will value their own choices and thoughts about what they want to do in the future, no matter what environment they find themselves in.

Masami Okawa

Based on my own experience, I believe that even the smallest words and actions have some kind of meaning or message. I hope that you will keep this in mind as you take on new challenges.

Student Newspaper Online January 9, 2023 Interview by Ryusei Nishiyama, 1rd year student at Musashino University