Fumino Sugiyama
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 Sugiyama in 2023 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 10, 1981 Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan |
| Alma mater | Waseda University (B.A., M.A.) |
| Height | 163 cm (5 ft 4 in) |
| Children | 2 |
| Sport | |
| Country | Japan |
| Sport | Fencing |
Fumino Sugiyama (杉山文野, Sugiyama Fumino; born August 10, 1981) is a Japanese transgender activist and former fencer. He is a co-representative director of Tokyo Rainbow Pride, an annual festival that celebrates Tokyo's LGBT community and has served as a member of the Shibuya Ward Gender Equality and Diversity Society Promotion Council, a director of the Japan Fencing Association, and the Japanese Olympic Committee.[1] He has also authored several books, including Double Happiness in 2006.
Sugiyama was born on August 10, 1981, in Shinjuku, Tokyo, the second son of Motoshige Sugiyama, the manager of the tonkatsu restaurant Suzuya in Kabukichō.[2] He attended schools attached to Japan Women's University, graduating from high school in 2000 and entering Waseda University's School of Education.[3] After graduating with a bachelor's degree, he entered the university's Graduate School of Education and graduated from there with a master's degree.
Athletic career
Previously practicing swimming and kendo, Sugiyama went into fencing at the age of 10 as he "saw no difference between female and male uniforms," but stated that he did not feel comfortable in the sport due to him being in the female team and it being a male-dominated sport.[4][5] He joined the Women's fencing team in 2004, but left the team in 2006.[6] In 2012, he retired from fencing, later stating that he did so after he decided to come out as transgender and did not know if he would be accepted by his team.[7]
