Washington Spirit & Japan forward Kumi Yokoyama on Sunday appeared as a transgender person in a video posted to Yuki Nagasato's YouTube channel.
Yokoyama said he was encouraged to tell his story after living in the United States & Germany.
The 28-year-old, who played for Japan in the 2019 World Cup, said he had top surgery when he was 20 & added that he will have more surgeries when he retires from the sport.
"I've dated a lot of women over the years, but I had to stay locked up in Japan," Yokoyama said in the 18 Minutes interview. "In Japan I was always asked if I had a boyfriend, but here [in the United States] I was asked if I had a boyfriend or girlfriend.
"When my girlfriend said I had no reason to hold off, it really hit me. Coming out wasn't something I was excited about, but if I was about to move on with my life. I think it will be difficult to stay closed, I found the courage to come out."
He said telling his story to Canada & OL Reign midfielder Quinn & wearing a "Protect Trans Kids" sweatshirt before a game also encouraged him to speak up.
Yokoyama said, "[Quinn] wore a [sweatshirt] that said 'Protect Trans Kids' before the game, & I realized that's what taking action looked like." "To be able to accept people with whom you have no connection, I want to be that kind of person & I hope we can create that society."
Quinn announced in September that she was transgender in an Instagram post & elaborated on her experience in a post on OL Reign's website.
We support and are so proud of you Kumi💙🏳️⚧️Thank you for showing the world it's ok to embrace who you are! https://t.co/Gi7btIAT7l
— Washington Spirit (@WashSpirit) June 19, 2021
"I don't think there's a right time to do something like this," Quinn wrote. "I understood there was going to be backlash. It took me a while to be a trans identity, to be able to deal with the amount of backlash I receive in my daily life. To see the subtle aggression & the signals & messages .
"Whether it's going to the toilet & being approached or being yelled at, or whatever, it's taken me a while to develop a shell of being able to handle it. I've wanted to speak for a long time & I want to be the voice & use my platform, but at the same time I was afraid of what the potential reaction would be & how big a loss it would be for me."