Transsexual celebrity Ai Haruna, 37, and comedians Asako Ito, 39, Tsubaki Oniyakko, 37, Kazuko Kurosawa, 31 and Haruna Konto, 27, who are all very good friends, got together in wedding dresses recently to promote the animated movie “Crayon Shinchan – The Bride who Brings the Storm,” in which they are all members of the voice cast.
The movie, which opens April 17, is the story of Shinchan and his future bride. The five female comedians play members of the “Bride Legions” who want to break up the relationship between Shinchan and his bride-to-be.
“I am very popular in my personal life now, so I think I will be the first bride for real among these five girls," said Haruna.
© Japan Today
13 Comments
Login to comment
goddog
Why do they have to say transsexual? It would be better just to use her name.
Azrael
Goddog: They have to say transsexual because that is an inextricable part of Haruna's marketing value. Being just "Haruna" is not enough - trans-sexuality is the most important feature of Haruna; it is the part of her show-persona that sells.
some14some
Look alike contest find your Haruna ?!
Ninjazilla
Is Tranny marriage legal in Japan?
NeoJamal
Why does the show never get sick of tranny jokes?
PearlsGrace
probably to honor the late Yoshito Usui
J1pureJPOP
As a transgender who is involved with Japanese entertainment, I can understand why some may feel that her gender identity is a part of her success. Every transgender has a story to tell. Haruna's story is not much different than many of us. I do not feel that it is appropriate for JT to highlight the fact that she is a transsexual unless the story is directly related to her transsexuality.
In previous stories where she spoke on the rights of GLBT persons in Japan and her participation in transgender beauty contests, it was appropriate to mention her gender identity. In a story where she has a role and it does directly relate to her gender identity, it would not be appropriate to mention it.
JT, please do not use sexuality to add shock to a common story.
J1pureJPOP
I meant to say it "does not relate to her gender identity".
ptolemy
If you lived in Japan you would know Haruna markets "its" self as a half and makes a fortune off doing so.
No offense to real gender identity people, but the real story is that Haruna did not actually have the surgery, and just markets "its" self as such. Yet the J-media laps up "its" appearances when they know Haruna didn't have the winkie wacked. But "it" says, "Well at least I am famous."
Uh-huh, and real gender identity sufferers can do what Haruna?
IvanCoughalot
Not in this country, she won't.
Ninjazilla
Watch Japanese TV for about a week and you realize alot of it is just a freak show.
Blue_Tiger
'Scuse me while I go throw up again.....
Rugbyfan
JT, why is it that you continue to use tiny photographs that we can't see anything. Get it right and use good sized photos!!!