The monk in heels: LGBTQ+ advocate Kodo Nishimura on sexuality, self-acceptance and Sailor Moon

In this week’s Crazy Smart Asia podcast episode by Gen.T, the Japanese author, Buddhist monk, make-up artist and LGBTQ+ activist opens up about growing up queer in a temple and fortifying himself to empower others

Scroll through Instagram and you’ll find Kodo Nishimura in a series of fierce poses with even fiercer make-up and outfits. With snatched eyeliner, he can be seen posing next to celebrities like American actress Yara Shahidi and British model Cara Delevingne. As a make-up artist, he has helped to doll up high-profile clients, including TV personality Jennie Mai and singer Christina Milian, and worked at New York Fashion Week.

Under all that glam, the self-proclaimed “gender-gifted” Nishimura is an ordained Buddhist monk trained in Pure Land Buddhism. As a child who loved Sailor Moon, it wasn’t easy growing up at his family’s temple in Japan. In the latest episode of our Crazy Smart Asia podcast, Nishimura reflects on growing up feeling like the odd one out, the encouraging words from his mother that drove him to find his voice and how he found the sweet spot between his religion and queerness.

Here are a few excerpts from the conversation. Click the audio player below to listen to the full episode or subscribe via Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

On growing up in a temple

“I was expected to be the heir, which was very, very uncomfortable. I wanted to grow my hair, but shaving my head was [expected] if I were to become a Buddhist monk.”

On standing up for what you believe in

“If I were to follow the lifestyles that society tells us to live and lead, I would never be able to change the injustice I can’t stand. Society may find me unusual or absurd, but there is nothing wrong if you think about it. And I wanted to spark this curiosity in other people that what they are trying to do, what they want to do or what they want to say might not be a huge problem.”

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On how to build your personal brand

“My advice is to use what you are born with. In my case, I grew up in a temple and I’m homosexual. So I didn’t create something from scratch. Utilising what’s unique or special about me was a way for me to create my brand.”

On the idea that making money is a sin

“I’m a Buddhist monk, so I felt it was sinful to want to make money, and I didn’t want to sell products or think about earning money because I felt that was a tainted desire.”