Cocona, a popular member of the Japanese girl group XG, marked their 20th birthday with a deeply personal revelation, announcing that they identify as transmasculine and nonbinary.
They also revealed that they underwent top surgery earlier this year, successfully removing their breasts. Cocona did not specify any updated pronouns.
The announcement was shared with the group’s 3.2 million followers on Instagram, alongside photos showing Cocona wearing an unbuttoned black blazer that offered a glimpse of their top surgery scar. In the translated message, they said this was something that had been in their heart “for a long time.”
Cocona wrote:
“I was born and perceived as female, but that label never represented who I truly am. I live in a way that feels more masculine and true to who I am. The hardest thing I’ve ever faced was accepting and embracing myself. But as I slowly began to do that, I was able to open a new door.”
They expressed gratitude toward their bandmates, their parents, and XG’s global fandom, adding:
“This message turned out a bit long, but I just want to say thank you, for walking beside me and for supporting me all this way. I’m so excited for the future we’ll continue to create together.”
Cocona is one of seven members of XG, a hip-hop and R&B focused group that debuted in 2022 alongside Jurin, Chisa, Hinata, Harvey, Juria, and Maya.
Since debuting, XG has launched a world tour, performed at Coachella, and is preparing to release their first full-length album, “THE CORE,” scheduled for January 2026.
