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X-gender

'X-gender' (Japanese: エックスジェンダー, ekkusu jendā) is a Japanese umbrella label for persons who identify as neither man nor woman. The term emerged in the Japanese LGBTQ scene around Osaka and Kyoto in the 1990s and is roughly the Japanese counterpart to the Western non-binary.

What is meant by it?

X-gender is an umbrella term with several subcategories: 'chūsei' (between man and woman), 'ryōsei' (both at once), 'mussei' (no gender) and 'fuonteisei' (fluid). The term is mainly used in Japan in community organisations and in a limited legal context; in 2019 Japan cautiously began including X as an option on some forms, but full legal recognition is lacking.

Distinction and overlap

X-gender corresponds structurally to Western non-binary, but arose within its own cultural and linguistic context. In contemporary Japanese activism, English terms such as 'non-binary' and 'genderqueer' are also being adopted, so the concepts run into each other.

Social and practical context

Japanese society is predominantly conservative regarding gender variance; X-gender persons face practical problems in work, education and legal identity documents. Legal name change is possible but difficult; changing sex registration has until now required sterilisation (a contested requirement, partly challenged by the Supreme Court in 2023).

Critical perspectives

X-gender is an interesting case: the label is Japanese, with its own subcategories, but is increasingly influenced by the global English-language identity discourse. Whether there is a distinct Japanese tradition behind it, or whether the label is mainly a translation of Western concepts, is an open question.