Masaki Seto — a queer critic in Japan. A UChicago Sociology MA dropout. Formerly known as Masaki C. Matsumoto. Owner of FAT CATS. He/him.
I studied Sociology of Gender and Sexuality in college (International Christian University) and graduate school (the University of Chicago), researching mostly straight women’s fight against sexism, misogyny, homophobia, and transphobia.
My gender pronouns are he/him, although I was nonbinary for too long to feel cisgender. Watching tutorial videos on how to speak like a man etc., I feel like I'm in the process of transitioning to a man.
Newsletter in Japanese: theLetter.jp Twitter: English / Japanese YouTube: LINK
Support me via: PayPal / Amazon Wishlist
My mother and I used to run a minority-inclusive bar/diner FAT CATS in Gunma for 9 years between 2012 and 2023. It is now permanently closed.
I’ve been freelancing since 2015 as a writer and speaker on various topics pertaining to but not limited to gender and sexuality.
If you’re considering to invite me to speak at your event or class, or write for your publication, please reach me at chicomasak@gmail.com.
Appearances
Past publishers include Seidosha, Wezzy, Wotopi, Synodos, the Women’s Studies Society of Japan, and the Human Rights Association for Korean Residents in Japan. All my published writings so far are in Japanese, but here’s some of the topics I often write about: ethnocentrism/nationalism and queer politics, the construction of sexual orientations, writers’ ethics, sex work, the gay marriage movement, the anti-trafficking movement, trans-exclusionary radical feminism, queer poverty, and coming out.
I’ve been invited to speak (either online or offline) 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. E.g. “When Death Do Us Part” (Otemae University, 2021), “Being Queer in a Suburb in Japan” (Montana State University, 2021), “LGBTQ+: Outside the Framework of Freedom and Choice” (Otemae University, 2020), “You Speak Good (Bigoted) English!” (Otemae University, 2019), “Bad Like A Native: Learning English as a Minority (Especially Queer) Person” (Aoyama Gakuin University, 2018), “Queer Theory as a Critique of Society: the Closet and Gay Marriage” (Aoyama Gakuin University, 2017), “Normativity, Marginalization, Strategies of Social Movements, and Same-sex Marriage” (Aoyama Gakuin University, 2017), “Child Pornography and Law: Nationalism in Anti-regulation Discourses” (British Association for Japanese Studies, 2010).
I have also appeared in the movie Queer Japan (dir. Graham Kolbeins), the Anime Feminist website, PinkNews’ SnapChat story series, Japanese gay magazine Badi, podcast by Anime Feminist Chatty AF (ep.72, “BL Manga”), Forum Tsushin by Yokohama City Gender Equality Association, Global Voices, Anime News Network, and several issues of the Center for Gender Studies Newsletter at International Christian University.
External Links
Queer Japan http://www.queerjapanmovie.com/
Anime News Network #1 https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2018-08-02/speak-out-japan-lgbtq-community-responds-to-politician-sugita-discriminatory-statements/.134642
Hyper Japan Conference https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FqFTLVGoN8s
SIETAR Kansai event https://www.sietar-kansai.com/en/20220409100351.html (contact them to get access to the recorded video)
