Transsexual talent finds the freedom to accept herself

yomiuri.co.jp – Masanori Tonegawa / Yomiuri Shimbun Staff Writer

The following is the second part of a two-part story of how Japanese transsexual TV personality Ai Haruna, 39, suffered from and overcame gender identity disorder.

After the operation, Haruna continued to work at the “newhalfs” (transsexuals and male transvestites) club. When she turned 20, opportunities to appear on impersonation TV programs suddenly increased. One day, she was scouted by a Tokyo entertainment agency. She then left her hometown in Osaka Prefecture for Tokyo.