Chii and her husband are like any other happily married couple, except for one thing: Chii was assigned male at birth. Chii details her autobiographical account of growing up with gender dysphoria and ultimately deciding to transition in her early adult years. Shortly after Chii starts transitioning, she meets a man who is instantly enamoured by her, and although he is surprised when Chii eventually tells him she used to live as a guy, he still wants to go out with her. As Chii continues to transition, her boyfriend supports her through the process, culminating in their marriage once her transition is complete.
Same sex marriage is illegal in Japan, and being recognised as transgender requires the person to be at least 22 years old and childless, and undergo forced sterilisation. The author Chii is a transgender woman who was able to change her gender on legal documents only after adhering to these requirements. Although the book initially seems to be a graphic memoir, Chii sets out to educate and inform readers who want to know more about LGBTQ issues, particularly pertaining to the transgender community in Japan. The Bride Was A Boy is her personal story, and although it was published, it is under limited distribution in Japan.
Chii. (2018). The Bride Was A Boy. (B. A. Conrad, Trans.). Seven Seas Entertainment. (Original work published 2016),