Photo/Illutration Masato Ima (Photo by Takashi Nakajima)

Masato Ima is on a mission to change how people in Japan see gender identity.

Growing up gender nonconforming meant Masato would face a difficult life ahead.

“I am neither female nor male,” Masato said in an interview.

Masato, 43, is now a contract worker for Sompo Japan Insurance Inc., which has about 26,000 employees.

Masato, who was born as a girl and grew up treated as such in Nara Prefecture, gives talks to educate employees about gender identity and sexual minorities, as part of the company’s in-house training programming.

Masato’s difficult journey through life, and struggles against gender conformity, started with a picture drawn at nursery school.

Masato used a lot of blue colors in the drawing, but the child caretaker said, “Girls should use pink colors.”

At that moment, Masato realized the big difference from others.

Masato agonized over being seen and treated as a girl, subject to cold stares and left out of friend groups.

A teacher even said, “You are an abnormal child.”

For a while, Masato behaved like a male, wearing loose menswear, slouching forward to hide the breasts and even adopting a men's gait. Masato also switched to a crew cut hairstyle.

Masato studied clinical psychology at university to try to understand the anguish caused by gender conformity.

Masato hated being treated as a woman and gave up on job hunting.

Depressed, Masato started drinking heavily, even from early morning.

At a support group meeting for people struggling against addiction, one member told Masato, “If you continue to drink alcohol like you do now, you will damage your liver and it will lead to an early death.”

After that interaction, Masato decided to quit drinking at the age of 37. Masato began working and giving lectures at support groups for sexual minorities and people with disabilities.

Last year, Masato was hired by the insurance company.

Masato is now on a quest to change the way people think about gender identity and treat sexual minorities, giving talks based on life experience.

“It is an adult’s responsibility to allow anybody to work as they are in society, and I will carry a part of that responsibility,” Masato said. “I really don’t want young people to go through the same experiences I had.”

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