Rui Takahashi had been struggling with his sexuality when he told his younger brother, Ran Takahashi, that he was gay.
He did not expect such a casual response.
“That’s interesting,” Ran said, according to Rui’s account in a new Asahi Shimbun interview, translated and reported by Outsports.
The reaction surprised Rui, who had approached the conversation with very different expectations.
But his brother’s calmness helped him feel relieved and begin seeing his sexuality as something he could accept.
A Brother in His Corner
Ran is a star of Japan’s national volleyball team, making Rui’s later decision to come out publicly feel complicated in another way.
Rui worried that the announcement could have consequences for his famous younger brother.
Ran’s response, as Rui recalled it, was reassuring: “It’s your life, so I’ll support it.”
For someone who had spent years wrestling with self-acceptance, that support mattered.
The brothers’ conversations gave Rui space to speak honestly, rather than carrying his worries alone.
For many gay readers, the emotional weight of that first conversation will feel familiar: deciding what to say, wondering what might change, and hoping the person listening will still see the same person.
Coming Out on His Own Terms
Rui, 26, publicly came out on September 29.
The fresh development is his October interview about that journey and his brother’s reaction, rather than a new coming-out announcement.
In his original statement, covered by GMA News, Rui described years of denying his feelings and credited conversations with Ran with helping him acknowledge himself.
The Suntory Sunbirds Osaka player also thanked the family members, teammates and staff who had supported him.
He hoped that sharing his experience might help someone else struggling to accept themselves.
His fears before going public were substantial: he had considered the possibility that the reaction could force him to leave volleyball.
Instead, he has described receiving widespread encouragement from the people around him.
Making Room for Someone Else
His decision has already resonated with another player.
Reon Arao subsequently spoke publicly about their LGBTQ identity, citing Rui’s example as an inspiration.
Rui’s story is a reminder of how support can travel: from one brother to another, and then beyond their family.
Coming out remains a personal decision, with different circumstances for every individual.
What makes this account so touching is the acceptance Rui found when he finally began putting his feelings into words.
His brother was ready to listen, keep talking and stand beside him.
📷 @rui_takahashi_
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