This profile is part of Queerty’s 2023 Out For Good series, recognizing public figures who’ve had the courage to come out and make a difference in the past year.Name: Shinjiro Atae, 34Bio: This Japanese singer-songwriter, actor, dancer, and model was born to perform.
A love for movement at a young age led to his 2005 debut as a member of J-pop group AAA. Atae may have been the co-ed band’s junior member, but he quickly became a fan favorite with his beaming smile and precise moves.As the crew’s profile began to rise, so did Atae’s.
AAA (pronounced Triple A) nabbed eight top-10 hits on the Billboard Japan Hot 100, and Shinjiro became a mainstay with roles in Japanese film and television shows.
Still, a competitive spirit within the group took a toll on Atae, who had gotten “stuck in a marsh of negative thinking,” according to his memoir.Cue the trip that began to change everything.