For more than thirty years Hirano’s artwork graced the pages of hard-to-find Japanese gay magazines, in a country where homosexuality is still frowned on and gay marriage not recognised. His realistic and believable gay couplings showed a generation of gay men that their passion was not an impossible dream, and his drawings offer tenderness and shared joy as well as physical passion and relief.

Though most of his work was in monochrome pen and ink, be sure to scroll down to see some of his later colour illustrations.