Who is Rui Takahashi? Japanese volleyballer comes out as gay in emotional post and reveals how brother Ran helped accept himself

For years, Rui Takahashi was known mainly as a hardworking Japanese volleyball player and as the elder brother of star attacker Ran Takahashi. On September 29, the 26-year-old Suntory Sunbirds Osaka player shared something far more personal with his fans. He publicly revealed that he is gay, writing about the fear, confusion, and self-doubt he had carried since he was young. He also credited his younger brother Ran with helping him reach a point where he could finally accept himself.

On September 29, Rui posted a message titled “Report” on social media and spoke openly about something he had struggled with for much of his life. He said he had been afraid to confront that part of himself and had spent years denying it.

“I am gay and one of the sexual minorities,” Rui wrote, explaining that honest conversations with Ran became an important turning point. He said that putting his feelings into words helped him organise his thoughts and gradually reach the belief that it was okay to be himself.

The timing also carries extra meaning because Rui and Ran had spent two seasons as teammates at Suntory. Earlier this year, Rui described those two seasons with his brother as an incredibly meaningful period of his life. Ran has since moved on from Suntory, but their relationship clearly remains an important part of Rui’s story.

Born on January 14, 2000, in Kyoto, Rui is an outside hitter who wears number 21 for Suntory Sunbirds Osaka. He stands 185 cm tall, weighs 82 kg, and has a highest reach of 330 cm, according to his official team profile. He joined Suntory in 2022 after playing for Nihon University.

Rui’s volleyball story actually began with a television mistake. As a child, he saw former Japan women’s star Megumi Kurihara playing and became fascinated by the sport. He started playing in elementary school, and his younger brother Ran eventually followed him into volleyball. Their journey took them through the same schools and, years later, brought them together again at Suntory.

Rui attended Higashiyama High School in Kyoto before moving to Nihon University. He quickly became a regular and was part of the university team that finished third at the 2020 All Japan Intercollegiate Volleyball Championship, giving Nihon University its first podium finish in 45 years. He later became captain and dealt with an injury during his final university season.

After joining Suntory in 2022, Rui had to wait before making his V League debut because of injury issues. He finally appeared during the 2023 to 24 season and gradually established a role as a player who could change the momentum of matches, particularly with his serving.

The reaction online was quick and largely supportive. On Reddit, one volleyball fan described the announcement as something that must have required “so much courage” and said Rui did not owe anyone an explanation about his personal life. Another fan simply wrote that they were “so proud” of Rui for speaking openly about who he is. Other reactions focused less on the announcement itself and more on the fact that supporters would continue watching and cheering for him as a volleyball player.

That point is also close to the message Rui himself wanted to leave behind. He made it clear that his commitment to volleyball has not changed and said he hopes his decision to speak honestly might become a small trigger for other people who are still struggling to accept themselves.

For Rui, the biggest change may not be on the volleyball court at all. He remains the same outside hitter who started playing after watching Megumi Kurihara on television, worked his way through Higashiyama and Nihon University, and eventually earned his place at Suntory.

But now, a part of his life that he once kept private is no longer something he feels he has to hide. As the new season begins, Rui will continue playing volleyball, while also moving forward with a little more freedom and, as he put it, in a way that is true to Takahashi Rui.