Masaki Seto (he/him)
A queer essayist and public speaker in Japan. He writes and speaks on the issues of gender and sexuality in conjunction with other social issues like poverty and ethnocentrism. Formerly known as Masaki C. Matsumoto. A UChicago graduate school dropout (Sociology).
Masaki’s primary expertise is in gender and sexuality, but he’s touched upon various intersectional topics such as: nation-states, homonationalism, and pinkwashing; corporate co-optation of queerness; the U.S. LGBTQ+ activism; second language acquisition (esp. English as a Second Language); organizing minority-friendly spaces; social movement theories and the history of social movements; media representation of LGBTQ+ people; and kayokyoku and gender.
Contact me via chicomasak@gmail.com for business inquiries.
About this blog
I primarily use my Medium as a space for me to post essays and video essays documenting my life as a queer person living in Japan. Click here to see the full archive.
You can support me by making a one-off donation here.
Where to find my writings etc.
My writings in Japanese have appeared in Gendaishiso (Seidosha), Wezzy, Wotopi, Synodos, Et Cetera Magazine, the Journal of the Women’s Studies Society of Japan, and the Journal of the Human Rights Association for Korean Residents in Japan, as well as in several issues of the Center for Gender Studies Newsletter at International Christian University.
I have been invited to speak at Aoyama Gakuin University, Waseda University, Otemae University, Hyper Japan Conference, SIETAR Japan (Kansai), Meiji University, Montana State University, International Christian University, Takasaki City University of Economics, the Human Rights Association for Korean Residents in Japan, as well as some high schools, educators’ associations, queer activist groups, even a local Lions Club, and other various events like book review talks, student-run events, talk sessions, and professional associations.
I have also appeared in the movie Queer Japan (dir. Graham Kolbeins), the Anime Feminist website, a PinkNews’ SnapChat story series, Japanese gay magazine Badi, the Chatty AF podcast (ep.72, “BL Manga”), Forum Tsushin by Yokohama City Gender Equality Association, Global Voices, and Anime News Network (#1 / #2). Other contributions include English translation of queer Sci-Fi anime Lost Stars Planet.
