Japan's cross-dressing salons catering to men increasing in popularity

Tokyo shop in Shinjuku district records its highest number of monthly customers

20250813 Kamei Nishito women

Nikkei reporters Keiichi Kamei, left, and Nobuaki Nishito after having makeup applied and changing clothes at the cross-dressing salon Raar in Tokyo. (Photo by Hideki Yoshikawa)

NOBUAKI NISHITO and KEIICHI KAMEI

TOKYO -- It may come as a surprise when a beautiful woman turns out to be a man. Such surprises could become more common in Japan, where cross-dressing salons for men are gaining traction. A growing number of men are visiting such salons where they can cross-dress, have makeup applied and hairstyles arranged professionally.

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