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It's an article that factually reports an aspect of Japanese history, it's not "pushing" anything. The only point it makes is about LGBTQ+:

"Multifaceted gender expressions and LGBTQ+ rights are constantly negotiated and contested. While in recent decades, gender definitions and LGBTQ+ rights have expanded in many parts of the world, Wakashu illustrate how quickly more open and fluid understandings of gender and sex can be repressed and erased."

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Classical antiquity also had different gender roles. I think the clash of cultures narration in the sense of nations is not helpful and could be an easy quick conclusion from the article. It must be made clear that it is part of a nationalistic narration that things are 'naturally' one way in 'our' culture. Ethics and moral need to be always be renegotiated and adjusted. Going back to the past is often not a good idea. Understanding that things can change is a good thing and should be motivating. However, examples of societies that moved towards multifaceted gender would be more encouraging.

I think (one of) the article purpose(s) is psychological desensitisation to the horror of what pedophilia is by having a different main narrative - number of genders, gender fluidity and introducing it as extra.

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