This is Kodo Nishimura. He is 26 years old, and in 2015 he officially became a Buddhist monk in Tokyo, Japan.
When he’s not studying the teachings of Buddhism, Kodo is a crazy talented makeup artist, even working with clients from the Miss Universe pageant. In a statement to BuzzFeed News, he explained that he got his start by helping a friend apply makeup, and realized how happy it made her. After struggling for a while with doubts on whether to pursue his newfound talent, he received advice from a mentor who told him, “It isn’t wrong if it helps you deliver your message to people.” And straight to work he went.
Since then, he came out as LGBTQ+ in a photo series for Out in Japan and has become an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community in Tokyo.
After meeting several transgender people on set, he realized many of them were unfamiliar with makeup, so he began hosting free makeup seminars for Japan’s LGBTQ+ community. “As a Buddhist monk, I want everyone to live in harmony,” Kodo says. “I believe makeup is one of those tools to make yourself happy, and if you’re happy, it becomes easier to be kind to others. In that sense, I think it’s a good link.”
I couldn’t have said it better.