This “Genderless” Japanese Celebrity Has Been Found Dead At Age 27
A TV personality, model and LGBTQ activist, Ryuchell helped to popularize the “genderless” fashion subculture in Japan.
![This “Genderless” Japanese Celebrity Has Been Found Dead At Age 27](/content/images/size/w1200/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/ryuchell-japan-genderless-celebrity-dead.jpg)
Ryuchell, a “genderless” Japanese celebrity, has been found dead at age 27.
![](https://almostmag.co/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/ryuchell-japan-genderless-lgbt-celebrity.jpg)
Ryuchell, whose full name is Ryuji Higa, was found unconscious by their manager at their agency office in Tokyo on Wednesday July 12.
![](https://almostmag.co/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/ryuchell-japan-genderless-lgbtq-celebrity-dead-1.jpg)
Local media reported that police said the cause of death appeared to be suicide.
![](https://almostmag.co/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/ryuchell-japan-genderless-dead-1.jpg)
A TV personality, model and LGBTQ activist, Ryuchell helped to popularize the “genderless” fashion subculture in Japan.
![](https://almostmag.co/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/ryuchell-japan-genderless-fashion-model.jpg)
In the subculture, people style themselves androgynously without trying to pass as another gender or declaring themselves transgender.
![](https://almostmag.co/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/ryuchell-japan-genderless-man-lgbt-dead-1.jpg)
In August 2022, Ryuchell announced they no longer identified as a man or a husband and divorced their wife, Peco, who is also an influencer.
![](https://almostmag.co/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/japan-ryuchell-genderless-selfie-1.jpg)
Following the divorce, Ryuchell began presenting as a woman but did not publicly identify as transgender.
![](https://almostmag.co/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/japan-ryuchell-woman-trans-dead-1.jpg)
Throughout their life, Ryuchell faced constant harassment and bullying for not conforming to gender stereotypes.
![](https://almostmag.co/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/ryuchell-japan-influencer-lgbt-genderless.jpg)
Ryuchell is survived by Peco and their five-year-old son.
![](https://almostmag.co/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/ryuchell-peco-link-family-photo-1.jpg)
If you need to speak to someone, international suicide helplines can be found at befrienders.org.
![](https://almostmag.co/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/japan-genderless-ryuchell-model-1.jpg)