【Creating Spaces for LGBTQ+ Individuals】NIKO HOUSE

CONNECT introduces institutions, communities, and services recommended by the Palettalk editorial team to our readers. This corner is not just about connections and input within your smartphone but also about providing various “places of connection” where you can directly communicate your thoughts, listen to others, and more.

The “CONNECT” we are introducing this time is “NIKO HOUSE.”

Nigo-san, the founder, participated in gender-free gatherings in Osaka and thought, “I want to create a similar place in my own area.”

With this desire, Nigo-san established NIKO HOUSE, based in Moriyama City, Shiga Prefecture, working to create a space for young LGBTQ+ individuals.

Who is it recommended for?

NIKO HOUSE is recommended for LGBTQ+ individuals from elementary to high school students who are:

• Living in Shiga Prefecture
• Wanting to connect with peers of the same age
• Looking for a place to talk freely about topics like romance

It is basically for students up to high school. Parents and teachers accompanying them are also welcome to join. University students and others can participate as support members.

What can you do there?

You can connect with LGBTQ+ peers of the same age living in Shiga Prefecture.

Also, other activities are coordinated if needed.

Currently, two students, a middle-schooler and a high-schooler, are participating. Despite being in different grades and school districts, they enjoy a lively and friendly atmosphere with the resident staff.

With a team of four staff members, they can adapt flexibly to meet the needs of newcomers.

You can contact them via official LINE or Instagram DM for detailed information on how to join.

Detailed Access

📍 Moriyama City, Shiga Prefecture (Offline)

• Meeting Frequency: Held every two months on Sundays.
• How to Join: Contact via official LINE or Instagram DM.

Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/niko25_house/

Message from the Founder

Hello, I’m Nigo, the founder of NIKO HOUSE. While participating in gender-free spaces in Osaka, I always wished there were similar places in each prefecture. This led me to reach out to people in my city (in Shiga Prefecture) who could join as staff, and that’s how NIKO HOUSE started.

NIKO HOUSE is valued as a “third space,” different from home or school, specifically for LGBTQ+ individuals. This makes it a place where people can feel more at ease, safe, and be themselves. Therefore, we do not require anyone to come out forcibly. With a staff of four, we create a space where young people of the same age can freely talk about what they want with whom they want.

It has been about two years since we started hosting these small gatherings. We hope that this will let more people know about LGBTQ+ gatherings in Shiga Prefecture.

(Translation: Jennifer Martin)

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Palettalk is always looking for organizations to feature in the CONNECT category. For more details, please see this article. 

We look forward to your applications.