When Haihīru Kakumei (High Heels Revolution) hit Japanese bookstores, it wasn’t just another celebrity memoir, it was a declaration of identity, resilience, and unapologetic visibility. Written by Natsuki Majikina, the actress and activist who first captured national attention through the 2016 film of the same name, the book extends the story that made her famous, digging deeper into the emotional, social, and spiritual layers of her journey toward womanhood. It is not only the story of one person’s transformation but also a mirror reflecting the changing face of Japan’s understanding of gender and self-expression.
Natsuki’s path to becoming one of Japan’s most recognizable transgender figures began in the hallways of a junior high school, where she fought for something as simple yet radical as the right to wear a girls’ uniform. For most students, choosing what to wear might seem like a trivial issue. For Natsuki, it was the first public act of resistance, a deeply personal declaration that she would no longer live a life dictated by others’ expectations. The media caught wind of her story, and soon this young student in Tokyo became a national topic of conversation. What started as a battle over clothing became a symbol of something much larger: a challenge to Japan’s rigid gender norms and the quiet courage of a girl who dared to live as herself.
