Join us for a special programming of Okaeri Connects! where we will be joined by Kodo Nishimura. Hear his perspective on queerness, Buddhism, and how he became an LGBTQ+ activist.

After the speaking portion, we will break out into facilitated discussion groups for 30 minutes in typical Okaeri Connects! style.

ABOUT KODO NISHIMURA: Kodo Nishimura is an artist and Buddhist monk born in Tokyo in 1989. He graduated from the Parsons School of Design in New York. After graduating, he started to thrive as a makeup artist in the US, working behind the scenes of NY Fashion Week etc. In 2015, Kodo trained to be a monk and was certified by the Pure Land school. He rose to fame following his appearance in “Queer Eye: We're in Japan.” As an LGBTQ+ activist, he spoke at the United Nations Population Fund, Yale University, and Stanford University, which attracted wide coverage on the likes of CNN, BBC, ABC and Vogue. He recently appeared on “Planet Sex with Cara Delevingne” on BBC and Hulu. His book “This Monk Wears Heels” is available 8 languages. His mission is to empower all people sharing Buddhist wisdom with a touch of makeup.

This program is organized by Okaeri Connects! Okaeri Connects! is for LGBTQ+ Nikkei/Japanese folks to find each other and create affirming spaces by sharing our personal experiences and stories. We believe that building relationships, being seen, and connecting ourselves within our big Nikkei world can improve the quality of our lives.

Thank you to JACF for sponsoring this program. Okaeri is fiscally sponsored by LTSC.