APD | First private university in Japan to accept transgender students

By APD writer Alice

The Miyagi Gakuin Women's University in Sendai, Miyagi prefecture will become the first private educational institution in Japan to admit transgender students as it plans to accept those who were born male but identify themselves as female from April 2021.

The university said it will not require students to submit medical certification to prove their gender identity to avoid forced outing.

"The notion of gender or gender identity has become flexible. It is our mission as a women's university to protect all women and give them a supportive push," Arata Hirakawa, president of the university, said at a press conference.

The Ochanomizu University and the Nara Women's University, both public institutions, had already decided to accept transgender students but no private university in Japan had done so, according to the education ministry.

The university in Sendai has previously approved the admission of several students who were born female but identify as male.

The university had been considering measures to support sexual minority students since August, 2017.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)