A random collection of over 1910 books and audiobooks authored by or about my transgender, intersex sisters, and gender-nonconforming persons all over the world. I read some of them, and I was inspired by some of them. I met some of the authors and heroines, some of them are my best friends, and I had the pleasure and honor of interviewing some of them. If you know of any transgender biography that I have not covered yet, please let me know.
Original title: "Haruna ai no raburabusōru" - はるな愛のラブラブソウル (Ai Haruna's Love Soul) by Ai Haruna (はるな 愛).
This is the sixth book of Ai Haruna, mainly related to her Seoul travel. Born Kenji Onishi in 1972, she is a Japanese TV celebrity and actress, singer, businesswoman, beauty pageant queen, and transgender activist. Her childhood was a happy time but her family was poor. She has a younger brother.
At school, she was known for her musical talent, performing at different school and cultural events. When she was in junior high school, she was bullied because of her feminine manners, so she could hardly study and her grades were poor.
2010,
Ai Haruna,
Japanese,
"Kunō: aru seitenkansha no kokuhaku = Conundrum" (Agony: Confession of a Transsexual = Conundrum) is the Japanese language edition of "Conundrum" by Jan Morris.
I found this nice intro on Goodreads: "The great travel writer Jan Morris was born James Morris. James Morris distinguished himself in the British military, became a successful and physically daring reporter, climbed mountains, crossed deserts, and established a reputation as a historian of the British empire. He was happily married, with several children. To all appearances, he was not only a man, but a man’s man."
And here is an excerpt from a fantastic review from Transascity: "Conundrum is an autobiography, a tale about the life and transsexual journey of Jan Morris, noted British journalist and author. Born Humphrey Morris, Jan led an idyllic if somewhat lonely childhood, feeling since age 3 or 4 that she was born into the wrong body."
1976,
Georges Burou,
Jan Morris,
Japanese,
Original title: "Arinomama no watashi" ありのままの私 (Who I am) by Ayumu Yasutomi 安冨 歩..
Known for her many books, including "The Nuclear Power Plant Crisis and the University of Tokyo Talk," "Who Killed the Little Prince: The Trap of Moral Harassment," and "The Art of Living," Ayumu Yasutomi has become a hot topic for appearing on TV as a professor at the University of Tokyo dressed as a woman.
Professor Yasutomi started wearing women's clothes after successfully dieting and losing weight. And she realized that wearing women's clothes gives her an extraordinary sense of security.
This is a book that describes the history of the process of dressing as a woman, and what she felt and thought about the process.
What she learned from that experience was the discovery that "pretending to be not yourself" is the "root of all violence"!
2015,
Ayumu Yasutomi,
Japanese,
Original title: "IVANTITY: kore ga watashi no ikiru RUNWAY" - IVANTITY: これが私の生きるRUNWAY (This is my runway) by IVAN.
This is the first biography book of IVAN, a Japanese fashion model, musician, and actress. She was born Liera Manuel Ivan in Mexico in 1987. Her father is half Japanese and half Spanish, and her mother is Mexican. She was bright up in Japan.
In 1998, she was selected as the only male contestant in the 1st Okinawa Actors School National Audition Grand Prix, and took singing and dancing lessons for about a year. After that, she moved to the United States and went to high school in California. After graduating, she returned to Japan and started modeling.
In 2004, she was selected as a male model for the Paris Collection. In 2007, she began her musical career. In 2013, she came out as a transgender woman and became a TV celebrity.
Original title: "Tsubaki izen" - 椿姫以前 (Before Tsubaki) by Ayana Tsubaki (椿姫彩菜).
Born on July 15, 1984, in a male body, from an early age, she felt uncomfortable with her male gender. In 2002, she entered Aoyama Gakuin University and she felt that the gap between her mind and body was real, so she took a leave of absence in the summer of her second year. Around that time, she learned about the "Gender Identity Disorder Special Cases Law," which allows changing the gender description in the family register if you meet certain conditions, and she decided to undergo gender reassignment surgery.
While working in Shinjuku and Kabukicho, she saved money and counted the days until her surgery. In 2006, she underwent the surgery in Phuket, Thailand and changed her family register to female. Finally, she was a woman and she returned to Aoyama Gakuin University. In 2008, she wrote an essay titled "I am from an all-boys school." (Poplar Publishing). It received a great response and became a bestseller with over 100,000 copies. She appeared in many TV programs. She produces various brands and products such as sweets, legwear, and kimonos based on the concept of "producing women's happiness". She plays the piano and speaks French.
2009,
Ayana Tsubaki,
Japanese,
Original title: "Rabupawā Haruna ai no koi bana" - Love Power はるな愛の恋バナ (Love Power: Haruna's love) by Ai Haruna (はるな 愛).
This is the third book of Ai Haruna, mainly related to her love life. Born Kenji Onishi in 1972, she is a Japanese TV celebrity and actress, singer, businesswoman, beauty pageant queen, and transgender activist. Her childhood was a happy time but her family was poor. She has a younger brother.
At school, she was known for her musical talent, performing at different school and cultural events. When she was in junior high school, she was bullied because of her feminine manners, so she could hardly study and her grades were poor.
2009,
Ai Haruna,
Japanese,
"Gender Outlaw is the work of a woman who has been through some changes--a former heterosexual male, a one-time Scientologist, and IBM salesperson, now a lesbian woman writer and actress who makes regular rounds on the TV (so to speak) talk shows.
In her book, Bornstein covers the "mechanics" of her surgery, everything you've always wanted to know about gender (but were too confused to ask) addresses the place and politics of the transgendered and interrogates the questions of those who give the subject little thought, creating questions of her own."
2007,
Interview,
Japanese,
Kate Bornstein,
USA,
"Toransujendā tte nani?" - トランスジェンダーってなに? (What is Transgender?) is the Japanese language edition of "Being Transgender: Living Proud! Growing Up LGBTQ" by Robert Rodi.
"What is gender? What are gender stereotypes? What's the difference between being a tomboy or an effeminate man and being transgender? What are your options when you feel like your physical sex is out of sync with who you are?
Explore the answers to these questions and more with an in-depth look at what it means to be transgender.
Learn from the personal experiences of people who have taken steps to transition from the sex they were assigned at birth and transgender young people who have made the difficult choice to live openly as their authentic gender while still in high school. Understand better the realities of this often-misunderstood group and how it fits into the gay community. Each title in this series contains a foreword from the founder of the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network (GLSEN), color photos throughout, and back matter including an index and further reading lists for books and internet resources."
2017,
Japanese,
Robert Rodi,
Original title: "Ten kara sen e toransujendā no "ima" o koete eiga" - 点から線へ トランスジェンダーの〝いま〟を越えて 映画 (From Dots to Lines, Transcending the “Now” of Transgender People) by the “Katasode no sakana” film producers (映画『片袖の魚』製作委員会)
A transgender woman who believes herself to be an imperfect existence and lives a social life without self-confidence tries to take a new step.
The short movie "Katasode no sakana" (One-sleeve fish) depicts such a small story.
What is important in order to create a society in which transgender people, who face various restrictions and worries about gender identity and gender identity in their daily lives, can live in their own way?
2021,
Japanese,
Katasode no sakana,
Yuu Ishizuka,
Original title: "Search kimi ga ita" - Search きみがいた (Search - you were there) by Yūki Heianna (平安名祐生) and Megumi Heianna (平安名恵)
This book presents the story of a transgender couple. Megumi
was born a boy in 1972 in Osaka Prefecture, and Yūki was born a woman in 1971 also in Osaka Prefecture.
Both of them have gender dysphoria, so they change their gender and decide to live together. A man who used to be a girl and a woman who used to be a boy. Bullied, grumpy, full of suicidal thoughts ... Two people who had given up on being alone forever, they met, got married, and registered as a couple. Wishes do come true...
2000,
Japanese,
Megumi Heianna,
Yūki Heianna,
Original title: "Haruna ai no on'nanoko seibun wa 40 no essensu de dekite iru. Kagayaki joshi ni naru himitsu no rūru" - はるな愛の女の子成分は40のエッセンスでできている。 輝き女子になるひみつのルール (Haruna Ai's girl component is made up of 40 essences. Secret rules for becoming a shining girl) by Ai Haruna (はるな 愛).
This is the seventh book of Ai Haruna, mainly related to beauty tips, sharing the secret of Ai Haruna, who is "more feminine than a woman". Born Kenji Onishi in 1972, she is a Japanese TV celebrity and actress, singer, businesswoman, beauty pageant queen, and transgender activist. Her childhood was a happy time but her family was poor. She has a younger brother.
At school, she was known for her musical talent, performing at different school and cultural events. When she was in junior high school, she was bullied because of her feminine manners, so she could hardly study and her grades were poor.
2012,
Ai Haruna,
Japanese,
Original title: "C'est ma vie" (It's my life) by Ayana Tsubaki (椿姫彩菜).
Born on July 15, 1984, in a male body, from an early age, she felt uncomfortable with her male gender. In 2002, she entered Aoyama Gakuin University and she felt that the gap between her mind and body was real, so she took a leave of absence in the summer of her second year. Around that time, she learned about the "Gender Identity Disorder Special Cases Law," which allows changing the gender description in the family register if you meet certain conditions, and she decided to undergo gender reassignment surgery.
While working in Shinjuku and Kabukicho, she saved money and counted the days until her surgery. In 2006, she underwent the surgery in Phuket, Thailand and changed her family register to female. Finally, she was a woman and she returned to Aoyama Gakuin University. In 2008, she wrote an essay titled "I am from an all-boys school." (Poplar Publishing). It received a great response and became a bestseller with over 100,000 copies. She appeared in many TV programs. She produces various brands and products such as sweets, legwear, and kimonos based on the concept of "producing women's happiness". She plays the piano and speaks French.
2008,
Ayana Tsubaki,
Japanese,
Original title: "Sekaiichi no Haruna ai ni naru daietto" - 世界一のはるな愛になるダイエット (Diet to become the world's best Haruna Ai) by Ai Haruna (はるな 愛).
This is the fifth book of Ai Haruna, mainly related to health and diet. Born Kenji Onishi in 1972, she is a Japanese TV celebrity and actress, singer, businesswoman, beauty pageant queen, and transgender activist. Her childhood was a happy time but her family was poor. She has a younger brother.
At school, she was known for her musical talent, performing at different school and cultural events. When she was in junior high school, she was bullied because of her feminine manners, so she could hardly study and her grades were poor.
2010,
Ai Haruna,
Japanese,
Original title: "Watashi wa toransujendā ― futatsu no sei no hazama de… aru gen'eki kōkō kyōshi no ikikata" - 私はトランスジェンダー―二つの性の狭間で…ある現役高校教師の生き方 (I'm Transgender - Between Two Sexes... A High School Teacher's Way of Life) by Rumiko Miyazaki (宮崎留美子著)
Rumiko Miyazaki is a Japanese blogger and the author of "I'm Transgender - Between Two Sexes... A High School Teacher's Way of Life" (2000).
'Transvestites, transgenders, people with gender dysphoria, transsexuals... Whatever form of change it takes, there are many ways to describe people who want to live with a different gender. It seems that each word has its own meaning and definition, but it is difficult to draw a clear line, and many people do not want to be delineated and categorized.
It's good. There are many ways of self-identification.'
2000,
Japanese,
Rumiko Miyazaki,
Original title: "Kaete yuku yūki - `seidōitsuseishōgai' no watashi kara" - 変えてゆく勇気－「性同一性障害」の私から (The Courage to Change: From Me with Gender Identity Disorder) by Aya Kamikawa 上川あや.
According to Wikipedia, Aya Kamikawa, born in 1968, is a Japanese politician and transgender activist, and member of the Setagaya Ward Assembly in Tokyo (5th term). She is the most successful transgender politician in Japan.
She was born in Taito-ku, Tokyo, as the second son of three brothers. She liked to play with girls from childhood, and unlike her brothers, she was attracted to playing with girls and dolls. During puberty, she felt a great sense of discomfort and disgust with her masculine body. She could not confide her worries to anyone and fell into self-loathing for herself. At Hosei University Second High School, a private boys' school, she enjoyed a free school atmosphere and an environment where feminine aspects were accepted as a matter of course.
2007,
Aya Kamikawa,
Japanese,
Original title: "Watashi ga watashidearu tame ni…" - 私が私であるために… (For Me to Be Me...) by Ai Haruna (はるな 愛).
This is the first book of Ai Haruna. Born Kenji Onishi in 1972, she is a Japanese TV celebrity and actress, singer, businesswoman, beauty pageant queen, and transgender activist. Her childhood was a happy time but her family was poor. She has a younger brother.
At school, she was known for her musical talent, performing at different school and cultural events. When she was in junior high school, she was bullied because of her feminine manners, so she could hardly study and her grades were poor.
2000,
Ai Haruna,
Japanese,
Original title: "Aiban no issho joshi sengen" - IVANの一生女子宣言! (IVAN's Lifelong Woman's Declaration!) by IVAN.
This is the second biography book of IVAN, a Japanese fashion model, musician, and actress. She was born Liera Manuel Ivan in Mexico in 1987. Her father is half Japanese and half Spanish, and her mother is Mexican. She was bright up in Japan.
In 1998, she was selected as the only male contestant in the 1st Okinawa Actors School National Audition Grand Prix, and took singing and dancing lessons for about a year. After that, she moved to the United States and went to high school in California. After graduating, she returned to Japan and started modeling.
In 2004, she was selected as a male model for the Paris Collection. In 2007, she began her musical career. In 2013, she came out as a transgender woman and became a TV celebrity.
Original title: "On'na wa tsuitachi ni shite narazu" - 女は一日にしてならず (A woman was not made in a day) by Maki Carrousel (カルーセル 麻紀, Karūseru Maki).
This is the second biography of Maki Carrousel, a Japanese actress, singer, and legend of the Japanese transgender community. She was born Maki Hirahara in 1942, in Kushiro, Hokkaido, Japan. She is said to have been the first person to undergo gender reassignment surgery in Japan and a pioneer in changing the family register from male to female.
After dropping out of school, she ran away from home at the age of 15 and started working at gay bars first in Sapporo, and later in Tokyo and Osaka. Ever since she was a teenager, she wanted to be a woman, but gender reassignment surgery was still prohibited in Japan at the time. So when she was 19 years old, she underwent surgical castration i.e. bilateral orchiectomy (excision of both testicles) at a hospital in Osaka.
2005,
Georges Burou,
Japanese,
Maki Carrousel,
Original title: "Haruna ai no raburabusōru" -『素晴らしき、この人生』 (What a Wonderful Life!)) by Ai Haruna (はるな 愛).
This is the second book of Ai Haruna, mainly related to her life aspects that she has never talked about in public. Born Kenji Onishi in 1972, she is a Japanese TV celebrity and actress, singer, businesswoman, beauty pageant queen, and transgender activist. Her childhood was a happy time but her family was poor. She has a younger brother.
At school, she was known for her musical talent, performing at different school and cultural events. When she was in junior high school, she was bullied because of her feminine manners, so she could hardly study and her grades were poor.
2009,
Ai Haruna,
Japanese,
Original title: "Watashi, danshikō shusshin desu" - わたし、男子校出身です (I Went to a Boys' School) by Ayana Tsubaki (椿姫彩菜).
Born on July 15, 1984, in a male body, from an early age, she felt uncomfortable with her male gender. In 2002, she entered Aoyama Gakuin University and she felt that the gap between her mind and body was real, so she took a leave of absence in the summer of her second year. Around that time, she learned about the "Gender Identity Disorder Special Cases Law," which allows changing the gender description in the family register if you meet certain conditions, and she decided to undergo gender reassignment surgery.
While working in Shinjuku and Kabukicho, she saved money and counted the days until her surgery. In 2006, she underwent the surgery in Phuket, Thailand and changed her family register to female. Finally, she was a woman and she returned to Aoyama Gakuin University. In 2008, she wrote an essay titled "I am from an all-boys school." (Poplar Publishing). It received a great response and became a bestseller with over 100,000 copies. She appeared in many TV programs. She produces various brands and products such as sweets, legwear, and kimonos based on the concept of "producing women's happiness". She plays the piano and speaks French.
2008,
Ayana Tsubaki,
Japanese,
