64-Year-Old Finds Love and Self-Acceptance in Japan

Catherine Kuboyama spent decades hiding who she really was, but at 64, she's living a life she once only dreamed about. The retired IT engineer from Kawasaki City, Japan, now spends her days choosing princess dresses for dates, cooking dinner for her 86-year-old boyfriend, and finally feeling completely seen.

Kuboyama knew from childhood she was drawn to women's clothes and makeup, but decades ago, expressing that truth meant facing ridicule and suspicious stares. She dated one woman to fit in, but conventional romance never felt right.

In her 40s, she received a diagnosis of gender dysphoria that finally gave words to her experience. Seven years ago, at 57, she underwent gender reassignment surgery and embraced the Western princess aesthetic she'd always loved.

She decorated her home like a small palace with Disney touches, wore blonde wigs, and did glamorous photo shoots. But the external transformation was just the beginning of her journey.

For years, Kuboyama craved validation from others, wanting to be seen as "woman enough." Then something shifted. She realized the only approval she needed was her own.

"I am what I am," she now says simply.

Three years ago, love found her in an unexpected package. Kazunari Morimoto, an 86-year-old former agricultural worker, fell for Kuboyama at first sight.

Their dates follow a gentle rhythm. Kuboyama takes her time getting ready, choosing a dress and wig carefully. She shops for stylish clothes for Morimoto too.

At his home, she cooks dinner and they relax on the sofa watching television together. When it's time to leave, they kiss goodbye. Morimoto jokes that he's a "weird grandpa," and his humor always makes her laugh.

Sunny's Take

What makes their relationship special isn't the age gap or their unique story. It's something beautifully simple. "He is the kind of person who properly says thank you and I'm sorry," Kuboyama explains. "Being with him makes me truly happy."

Morimoto's everyday kindness makes her feel respected as a whole person. That kind of love, the kind that sees you completely, is what everyone deserves.

When their story went viral on Japanese social media, responses poured in. One person captured what many felt: "I admire Kuboyama's courage. She did not try to convince the world to understand her. She chose to build a life with someone who already does."

Friends have warned Kuboyama about the challenges of loving someone much older, but she's chosen to focus on the present. Being with Morimoto lets her live more slowly and gently, savoring each moment they have together.

At 64, Kuboyama is still dreaming. She hopes to slim down and wear miniskirts again. But more than anything, she's already achieved what matters most: living authentically and loving someone who loves her right back.