No, Mizuki is NOT A Crossdresser (Mizu5, Project Sekai)

in this description, here are some important notes after uploading…

after reading a lot of the comments, i want to address that...
crossdressers CAN be trans!!!
gender is varied and complex, so to say they NEVER are would be incorrect. i should have framed that more accurately in the video and for anyone this lack of care has hurt, i am incredibly sorry. in the real world, this distinction is VERY different to how it is in fiction. this video is moreso meant to highlight 2 things about the differences between crossdressing and transness in media

1. mizuki’s identity doesn’t link up with what we commonly see in crossdresser character writing. think about kuranosuke in comparison to her—crossdressers are usually cis in fiction. that doesn’t mean crossdressers are always cis, ESPECIALLY not in real life (gender is, again, INSANELY complex). but anime simplifies this reality a lot, especially because otokonoko culture is common in japan and is, more typically, cis. i bring this up to show the distinction between a character like mizuki and a character like kuranosuke. because crossdressers are almost always cis in fiction, this is where the differences mizuki shows in her character come into play. if you are a trans crossdresser, and you feel like you were overlooked in this video, i am so sorry.

2. trans characters, like mizuki, are often labeled as crossdressers. this isn’t harmful because crossdressers are bad or because the things i mentioned in point 1 are inaccurate, but because of the stereotypes i mentioned towards the end of this video. trans people REALLY need their rep, and it should NOT be overwritten by making a character cis, which is what people with this headcanon imply most of the time. if you don’t think mizuki could never be a crossdresser, but see the complexities in their gender/how they aren’t cis, great! but i’m not referring to you in this video—just to the people who use the headcanon to be transphobic, since it’s a huge issue in the fandom. and again, i apologize for not being clearer in this aspect. i know that it can hurt to not feel seen or understood by this kind of video and i am very, very sorry for that misstep. i hope addressing this can clear up some of the waters

adding more important info here if it comes up!

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[ShoujoISMs]

before reading comments and replies, please be aware that there may be transphobic views below. prioritize your own peace, and be careful to not burn yourself out if you decide to read them. also, i have added some more info in the description based on some comments i have received on this video. please check them out if you have any concerns about points related to crossdressing

[ktshinonome]

as a crossdresser i proudly say that i am cis. I do not want to be seen as the gender I dress up as. I do not care to dress more like my assigned gender at birth. It's the exact opposite of what mizuki feels!! Shes obviously trans!! your video said it perfectly!!

[darkmodeenjoyer]

Everytime this happen i remember that one tweet
"An anime charater will say "i am transgender" to the camera and some otaku f***boy will say they are cross dresser"
This qoute live rent free in my head
Edit: this doing numbers

[Exhausted]

Here’s some more evidence I wanna add!!

1. Pre-transition Mizuki is so much more miserable then post transition Mizuki. She literally could not look at herself in the mirror pre-transition as seen in flashbacks where Mizuki presented as a boy and her mirror is covered. Pre-transition Mizuki was reclusive and depressed. While post transition Mizuki is noticeably happier despite the isolation that comes with it. I feel like if she was a cross dresser, would she rlly be that miserable in middle school??

2. Additionally, while not explicitly proven, it’s likely that Mizuki presented as a girl to Niigo in middle school. Cuz I mean, Mizuki’s been in Niigo for atleast 2 yrs before the main story. So like, the topic of gender is likely to come up atleast once. Hell, in the main story, it shows Mizuki and Mafuyu having a talk abt presumedly trans or at the very least, GNC ppl, so it isn’t a stretch that gender would pop up. It’s not like Niigo ever planned to meet up irl so if Mizuki was a cross dresser, Mizuki could’ve presented as a dude without Niigo judging becuz they wouldn’t see Mizuki irl anyways.

3. Rui’s honorifics for Mizuki. Rui calls everyone “-kun” a typically masculine honorific. But Mizuki and Nene are the only 2 chars who aren’t called that. But most notably Rui used “-kun” for Mizuki in middleschool but stops doing so in high school. So it’s kinda like how guys called everyone “bro” until it triggers his trans woman’s dysphoria. Obv this is not a 1 to 1 comparison but it’s the best I can come up with

4. Ppl use that fact that Mizuki uses “Boku”(a typically masculine pronoun) as evidence. But by seeing boku as this purely masculine pronoun it would beg the question on why use a typically masculine pronoun whilst also hiding that you’re a man?? The reality is that boku isn’t purely a masc pronoun. Sure, Boku can be used to indicate masculinity, but it can also be used in a cutesy way. Mizuki is a girl who uses the Boku pronoun in a feminine, cutesy way. And even if she didn’t, trans ppl can still have traits that are associated with their sex. Ik a trans dude who kept his birth name and dresses up femininely and that will never erase that he’s a boy

5. The way the bullies talk abt her. Firstly one of the lines the bullies say to Ena is “Oh so you’re a normal girl” which does imply that Mizuki is a girl, not just the “normal kind.” Secondly, when Mizuki is remembering how ppl would treat her after she came out, there’s multiple lines that ppl say to Mizuki that just don’t make sense in a non trans lense. For example:
Evidence A. “Maybe it’s just a misunderstanding” if Mizuki was a crossdresser tf would there be to misunderstand?? This implies that the misunderstanding is “oh Mizuki claims to be a girl. Maybe this is just a misunderstanding and Mizuki just likes cross-dressing”
Evidence B. “When you’re young you might think that but it’s just a phase” said by an adult man. Such response is very commonly said to lgbt+ folks. This line implies that it isn’t a phase, that this isn’t something that she’ll grow out of. Would such line be added if Mizuki was a crossdresser?? Which is something that could be a phase since it’s a way of expression
Evidence C. “Aren’t you just roleplaying?” The most damning evidence imo. This another thing that implies that this person has no problem with cross-dressing. But the fact that Mizuki identifies as a girl!!

And that includes my tedtalk

[condal_]

regarding one of the points about her classmates, mizuki actually came out to her class starting high school "to avoid misunderstandings" which makes everything so much more tragic, because it implies that after joining nightcord mizuki managed to gather the confidence to be open about her identity. Only to be treated like that. Only for her fears to come back tenfold.

[ella_cupcake]

I think that Ena’s reaction is important here too. I’m cis (well, my gender’s complicated, but I’m happily AFAB) and my closest friends are trans.

I relate so much to her desperation to talk to Mizuki. How much she wants to say the right thing in that moment. To say the perfect thing, the exact thing that will make her understand that you really don’t care, that you know she’s a girl, that you understand why she didn’t tell you earlier, and that you love her so, so much. But Ena chokes and can’t say anything at all. Because that perfect thing doesn’t exist. Because there’s no way to destroy all those fears with just a few words.

That sort of desperation and heartbreak isn’t something that happens when you find out your friend is a crossdresser.

[_AnonFanAndKinnie]

That is so true like the creators wouldn't have made her sing a song about being trans for nothing (Villain even tho Mafuyu sung that song since she want to find her identity).The characters in the game would have called her a "he" if she was a crossdresser but no she is a trans girl.
Even for the category whenever they choose her for one of the payable costumes she is in the female sections.
If the "mizuki is a crossdresser" believer want a crossdresser thats fine but they should create one or talk about an actual crossdresser not about an actual trans character.
Edit: the argument with the cover of the song Villain isn't really one anymore but we can clearly see the lyrics to her commissioned songs

[SmittyWarbenjagermanjenson]

Beautiful explanation, it fills me with rage when people who say she’s a cross dresser, like, do you not want trans kids to feel excepted???

[Vileplume]

I'm a she/they Mizuki truther and seeing people say "my son" or "my boy" when referring to them sucks, espec on the limc vid on Mizu5 (which I still can't believe exists lol)

[Quack.]

As a trans person, im so fucking happy to have a good representation in one of my favourite games. Mizuki is a well-written transfem character and it fucking annoying me the lack of media literacy in this fandom

Seeing people saying that mizuki is a boy/crossdresser is making me crazy like, Aside of the alarmingly transphobia, a crossdresser wouldn't feel the same horror of being outed as transgender person would.

Mizu5 represented well the horror of being outed. No matter how you are confident, people (ex : the bullies) will still see you as the gender assign at birth. Coming out is fucking scary, you don't really know how the person will react and if their view abt the person will change.
For me, i don't say that im trans when i talk with people that i don't really know or just met, i don't want to be seeing as a "weird girl", "just confused girl" or a "tomboy" i want to be seen as a boy because i'm one. And by knowing the person more i will tell them but with my own words and my own way! that's why being outed is horrible because someone random took you the chance of explaining yourself and maybe the person didn't do well or is spreading misinformation.

If the whole character arc of mizuki is their gender identity, how can they be a crossdresser ? A crossdresser will be about how they dressed and how they present themselves, not about their gender identity because they are cis. They will be mock by people saying that it's a girl (in a neg way) if they are a boy because crossdresser generaly are cis and confident with their gender so it dosen't fit with mizuki's story.

It disgusting me when i see people saying that it's a boy or a crossdresser, i emotionaly got attached with mizuki because i can relate to her ! and they don't even tries to hide their transphobia, it's like you don't want to see a trans character in a fucking rhythm game ?? it says a lot about you.

Your video is well explaned thank you for making it !! it's so damn important to have representation especially when trans rights are being destroyed in a lot of countries and trans people (especially transwomen) are being killed for who they are.
Thank you for speaking facts !!
(ps : english is not my first language so sorry if i made some mistakes!!)

[keyontable]

As a trans guy, I have an unfortunate amount of experience pretending to be a girl. It completely baffles me that people think it is reasonable to argue that Mizuki is a crossdresser, because in what world would it ever make sense to live as a girl when you're a cis guy?

If Mizuki was a crossdresser, this would just be willingly putting herself through gender dysphoria. A lot of the people I see arguing for Mizuki being a crossdresser insist they arent transphobic, and yet they completely fail to consider for a second what it would be like to live as a gender you are not. They don't care about trans people and they never will, so I just avoid those types if I can.

[strawberry_orchiid]

This. The whole theory of Mizuki being a crossdresser is just horrible and gross. Invalidating Mizuki’s gender identity like that is just plain wrong and seeing her as a monster is just really sad. More importantly, WHY CALL MIZUKI A MAN IN THE FIRST PLACE WHEN SHE LITERALLY HAS SO MUCH EVIDENCE ON HER BEING

I am not trans myself. I am genderfluid and bigender, but I can relate to the feeling of having to be secretive about my sexuality and gender identity, and the thought of getting outed scares me. I can relate to Mizuki a whole lot. I may be the kindest and often most mature of my friends and classmates, but I often distance myself in fear of getting hurt. And if I ever get outed, I honestly don’t know what to do if that ever happens to me.

I can’t imagine how it feels to be a trans woman who loves Mizuki and sees all of the invalidating things said to her.

Edit: 0:00 also… IS THAT FUCKING TRIGGER FROM

[tivti._]

OH MY GOD??? FOR ONCE SOMEONE SAYING MIZUKI IS A GIRL?? FOR ONCE SOMEONE POINTING OUT THE TRANSPHOBIC COMMENTS?!?!?! I LOVE YOU. Bro as a trans person i felt so offended seeing everyone be transphobic towards mizuki finally someone pointing out shes a girl and trans

[Olivxrboo]

Mizuki could literally look at the camera and say in PERFECT english "i am a transgender woman. I am not a crossdresser and i identity as a female." And some people would still say "yep...just a cis man crossdressing!!!"

As a trans man, it angers me that some of the people who were begging for trans representation in media are now saying that they're a crossdresser.

[RabbitBeanieOSC]

Every person that says Mizu is a crossdresser needs to see this video., if Mizuki WAS a crossdresser, why does bake no hana exist?! The entire song's meaning is about trans people not being accepted (or something similar, i cant remember but def about trans ppl) . That's the entire point of the song... If she was a crossdresser, colopale/sega wouldn't work on this entire gender thing at the start of the game if they were. People really can't accept the fact that Mizuki IS trans, like please, read the n25 story and it's very obvious that she's transfem.

[weepingwillowp]

I really hate the assertion of Mizuki being a crossdresser, because it kind of refuses to dig deeper into any media one consumes.
Obviously, SEGA and ColoPale aren't going to outright make them say "Hi, I'm Mizuki Akiyama and I'm an MTF Transgirl!!" because...why the hell would they need to do that??

It's soooo sad how people (especially younger teens) tend to shut out anything that requires more than your first thought on a subject...

[flowerszz-]

I live in a very strict country yk and i always been “THE WEIRD KID “ growing up because i always liked fashion and i loved making my uniform as cute as possible to make me look super cute meanwhile everyone at my age were very mature i felt very lonely in elementary and middle school because of it and i hated myself so much for not being like the others but mizuki’s story changed everything in my life LIKE LITERALLY EVERYTHING i started wearing everything i liked without caring what others think even tho they would talk behind my back but it didnt matter to me anymore i feel like mizuki is so important to me so it kinda hurts me when people think mizuki is a crossdresser when its CLEARLY NOT THANK YOU FOR THIS VIDEOO :3

[yumeiko]

THANK YOU FOR THIS VIDEO!! I'm so SICK of people saying mizuki's a crossdresser..

[pastaisallineed]

Mizuki's opportunity to come out on her own terrms was irreparably taken away by those classmates, and her running away is an extremely understandable reaction for someone who had just been outed against their will. If she was just crossdressing, there would be no huge, absolutely gut-wrenching moment of pure shock and horror that precedes her literally fleeing out of fear of rejection. For it to be so close to when she intended to come out on her own terms just makes it even worse.

[Mxtsukii]

As a genderfluid person, I really need this. Even though I'm afab, I can still relate with Mizuki. I've never been outed, but I still understand how they feel and how scary it is, it's even worse that I live in a very transphobic and conservative country and I don't think I could ever come out. I just want to see a non cis representation and people that's calling Mizuki a crossdresser/femboy is taking away that representation for people and that's invalidating their identity. Trans women already have things hard enough like people calling them creeps that's invading women's spaces and those people are making it worse. Thanks so much for this video and you're a great ally to the community <3