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Baku Idegami: Fashion as Self-Expression that Effortlessly Crosses Gender Boundaries
Genderless model Baku Idegami is a prominent figure who embodies a new sense of "beauty" and an authentic self that transcends gender boundaries, inspiring countless people. For Idegami, fashion and makeup are not just about enhancing appearances—they are vital forms of self-expression and a way to communicate with others.
So, why is Idegami now able to enjoy fashion and makeup with pride? Let’s take a closer look at the background behind this confidence.
PROFILE
Baku Idegami
Born in 2003. Received the DD Self-Produce Award at the 31st Junon Superboy Contest. Appeared in 2019 on "行列のできる法律相談所," as well as in Sakanaction’s music video "Moth." In the same year, won the "第36回ベストジーニスト2019" Next Generation Division Award and walked consecutive shows at the "Mynavi Tokyo Girls Collection" in 2020 and 2021. In April 2021, released the photo essay "normal?." From October of the same year, became a regular on NTV’s "Super Invincible Class" and launched the radio show "Idegami Baku Bergamot Night" on Nippon Cultural Broadcasting. In 2022, announced BAAKU, their own genderless fashion brand. Not limited to apparel, Idegami also earned the highest level international makeup artist certification, and shares makeup tips and beauty information on their YouTube channel. In 2024, received the THE BEAUTY WEEK AWARD 2024 “THE BEST OF BEAUTY,” and in 2025, published the beauty book "Beauty that builds confidence, confidence built through beauty."
Photo: ©EISUKE
Experiencing the World Expanded Their Horizons of Self-expression
According to Idegami, fashion was always present growing up.“My mother had a passion for clothing—she loved coordinating colors and patterns, and as a family, we enjoyed matching our looks. When I was young, I often just wore whatever was suggested to me. The first time I said, ‘I want to wear this,’ was in fourth grade.”
What caught Idegami’s eye back then was a skirt. Inspired by TV anime characters in frilly skirts in "Pretty Cure," and dressing up dolls in skirts during pretend play, Idegami became intrigued and wanted to try wearing one too.
However, initially, it wasn’t easy to embrace these interests. At school, on TV, and in clothing stores—everywhere, it was the norm that "skirts = for girls."
“At that time, these stereotypes were deeply ingrained in me,” Idegami recalls. Things began to shift in junior high, after starting to explore the world of fashion independently.
"Once I reached junior high, I was exposed to global fashion online. I saw that in some countries, men wore skirts too—and realized that Japanese standards aren’t universal.
"The biggest shock came when I saw a model on the runway with such androgynous energy that their gender was indistinguishable. At first, it unsettled me, but at the same time, I found it incredibly cool. That was the moment I thought, ‘This is the life I want for myself.’”
Effortlessly surpassing the old conventions imprinted in their mind—meeting that kind of beauty became the foundation of Idegami’s self-expression.
The Love Received from Their Mother Gave Me Strength to Believe in Themself
The path to pursue this ideal wasn’t simple. Idegami’s hometown is a small, isolated island surrounded by nature, where dressing up could make you stand out. Overcoming the anxiety about how others saw them was a constant battle before they could freely enjoy their favorite fashion.“When I was in eighth grade, I had a deep conversation with my mother. Until then, I lived believing that everything about me—my fashion, hairstyle, gender, even my personality—was something to be denied. During that talk, my mother told me, ‘Baku, you’re perfect just the way you are.’ Those words still bring me comfort today.”
After that conversation, Idegami started facing themselves more authentically. Not just into fashion, but also throwing themselves into beauty, something they’d always been interested in. From there, they learned to unapologetically enjoy what they love.
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Idegami shared, "My mother was a strict person, but her strictness was rooted in love—a person I could trust completely." They said their mother taught them the importance of daily routines and gifted them thoughtful words every month, expressing their love in countless small ways. That unwavering love, Idegami reflects, nurtured the "strength to believe in myself" within them.
Confidence Born from Fashion & Beauty
For Idegami, fashion is one way to express themselves. They used to wear whatever they personally liked, but now they say, "I decide what to wear each day according to whom I'm meeting.""Fashion, to me, is also a means of communication. I think my strength is the ability to choose outfits to suit the preferences of others."
What adds even greater depth to this self-expression is beauty. This year, Idegami published the beauty book "Beauty that builds confidence, confidence built through beauty." When asked about their motivation, they passionately shared, "Beauty has given me confidence in my life, and that confidence has fueled my approach to beauty."
"I believe that through the power of beauty, by making our appearance beautiful, our minds become richer and more beautiful, too.
"Even though I've loved beauty ever since I was a child, there was a time when I held back out of fear of how others saw me. When I felt unattractive, I ended up building walls around myself and harboring negative feelings toward others.
"But as I delved deeper into beauty, those feelings gradually melted away. Beauty truly saved me."
Their words show that beauty holds greater value than simply "adornment." For Idegami, makeup is the ultimate form of self-expression.
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While they tailor their fashion to others, they do makeup exactly the way they want. Their makeup reflects their emotions and inspirations—whether it's a movie they watched the day before or someone they met. They draw hints from others' beautiful makeup or facial expressions and always asks themselves, "How can I reproduce that with my own features?"
"When my makeup and outfit are put-together, it gives me a real sense of focus. It naturally shows in how I sit or speak: I find myself sitting up straight, paying attention to my movements."
Beauty and fashion are deeply connected to our inner selves—that is the message running through "Beauty that builds confidence, confidence built through beauty," where readers can fully understand Idegami's perspective.
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Idegami declares, "There's no downside to beauty." In a world where first impressions matter, something as small as the shape of your brows or a touch of eye makeup can dramatically change the impression you leave on others.
"Beauty is a powerful tool to express how you want to present yourself. Some may think it's hard or intimidating, but it is actually simple and accessible. I want more people to know that.
"If you're thinking, 'I want to change my life' or 'I want to try a different path,' I hope you'll consider beauty as one way to make that change."
Looking ahead, they are eager "to challenge themself by creating their own beauty products."
To know yourself and express it—perhaps that is a "power to transform" that everyone holds. Idegami's words and way of living will surely continue to inspire us to have the courage to live authentically.
Text by Rika Okuyama
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