Why I Became a Massage Therapist/Men's Relaxation Salon by Japanese Transgender
- MITSUGETSU
- 4月15日
- 読了時間: 2分
Why I Became a Massage Therapist/Men's Relaxation Salon by Japanese Transgender
It’s been over ten years since I earned my massage license in Bali, Indonesia.
One of the reasons I decided to pursue this path was because, at the time, I had undergone throat surgery that left my voice weak. I couldn’t project it well anymore, and speaking loudly became difficult. I started thinking that maybe I could work in a quiet, small space where I didn’t have to speak much or strain my voice.
The surgery was done to reduce the appearance of my Adam’s apple so that I wouldn’t be recognized as male by how I looked.
Before the surgery, the doctor explained that I might have trouble speaking for six months to as long as two or three years. I accepted that risk and went through with the operation.
Until then, I loved singing and talking with people. There was even a time when I dreamed of becoming a model or working in TV or entertainment.
After the surgery, my appearance improved, but as with many things in life, gaining something often means losing something too. Because speaking became so difficult, I tried working at transgender show clubs and bars, but even casual conversation was painful. I couldn’t sing like I used to, and even basic talking felt exhausting. I was constantly pushing myself, and that made every day emotionally and physically draining.
Over time, my voice has improved quite a bit, but back then it was truly tough. I went through treatments like direct throat injections to help my voice come back, and I visited hospitals far from home for testing. Eventually, I was told that even with another surgery, my voice might not fully recover. I felt devastated.
In the middle of all that, I began to wonder—what could I do from here?
That’s when I remembered how, when I was little, my mother and grandmother used to ask me for massages, and they always told me I was good at it.
I thought, “If I become a massage therapist and work independently, maybe I could build a career that’s both sustainable and gentle on my voice.” That’s how my journey as a transgender massage therapist began.
There are many types of massage like Japanese shiatsu, Thai massage, and Hawaiian lomi lomi, but I wanted to learn something I personally enjoyed—something that felt good to receive. When I visited Bali and experienced a Balinese massage, it left a strong impression on me.
That’s when I decided to go back to Bali and study massage there.
To be continued...
