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Rock Violinist Debuts in Japan This Fall Jun. 15
If you have seen KATEI playing rock violin at live houses and bars around Tokyo, you may have been witness to a future Asian rock violin virtuoso. KATEI was born in Japan to a Taiwanese mother and Chinese father before moving to Australia when he was 9. His parents had interesting reasons for making the move. “In Japan, everything is so structured. ...
Internationally Recognized Play to be Performed in Japan with Sign Language
A play called “The Vagina Monologues” will be performed in Tokyo next month. Some people may feel embarrassed by its title, but its theme is quite serious. Written by American playwright Eve ENSLER, the play features funny and poignant episodes about such things as sex and birth. ...
A Day in the Life of a Lower-Division Sumotori
Weighing 140 kilograms, wrapped in a yukata, and with his jet-black hair tied into a samurai-style topknot (mage), KANAYA Shigeki is hardly a typical 24-year-old. Under the ring name of Kihakuriki (‘Strong Willful Force’), he is one of 730 determined, powerful and generally very large wrestlers (sumotori) who make up the Japan Sumo Association (JSA). ...
Canadian Debuts as an “Anison” Singer in Japan
Nowadays Japanese animation is watched around the world. Most of it is dubbed into local languages, but when people overseas find it is produced in Japan, many of them take an interest in the country. One such person is Canadian singer Catherine ST-ONGE. She will release her debut CD with Sony Music Japan International in Japan with the stage name HIMEKA ...
Japanese Star Dedicated to Welfare
Not a few people who have succeeded in the world of business and entertainment, such as Bill GATES of Microsoft and Bono of U2, are involved with social welfare and charity. Although there are also some in Japan who have become famous and then contributed to society, not many are as enthusiastic as actor and singer SUGI Ryotaro. ...
Film Director Builds Cultural Bridge
Aaron Woolfolk has been interested in building bridges between cultures ever since he was a teenager. His dream of being a film maker has provided the perfect outlet for him to do just that. “I’ve always wanted to be an international film maker,” he says. “Even as a teenager in Oakland I’d take the bus into Berkley to see all the foreign films. I’ve always looked at film making as a global thing.” ...
JERO American Singing Enka from the Heart
An American enka singer is currently in the limelight in Japan. His name is JERO (real name Jerome WHITE Jr.) and he was born in Pittsburgh, U.S.A. Since his debut in February 2008, his popularity has rocketed and he now makes frequent appearances on TV and radio, and in magazines. Recently JERO is also appearing in TV commercials. ...
Australian Magician who Made his Passion into a Living
If you love magic and you love the Japanese language, then Simon PAXTON might be doing your dream job. You see, Simon is a bilingual Australian magician who has made his home in Japan. ...
MATSUI Makoto Dancing Brilliantly, the Life of an Actor who Plays Female Roles
As the beautiful woman comes on to the stage, clapping and shouting rise from the audience as they are drawn to the woman’s elegance. But things are not what they seem as this beautiful woman is actually a man – MATSUI Makoto, a leading actor in commercial theater who plays female roles. ...
A Japanese Woman Who Became a Muay Thai Fighter
Do you know what Muay Thai is? Muay Thai is Thai style boxing, and is said to be the origin of Japanese kick boxing. Kick-boxing and Muay Thai have different judging standards, although both have the same basic rules. Furthermore, the big difference is that people are allowed to make bets on Muay Thai matches. In kick-boxing matches boxers do their best to beat the opponent as quickly as possible. ...
British DJ Rocks in Japan!
It’s Saturday night in Shibuya, Tokyo. As the elevator rises, the roaring sound of a base guitar hits you in the stomach. “Tonight will be a blast!” shouts DJ Mike McKENNA, welcoming us into the restaurant that has been turned into a nightclub for one night only. ...
Welsh-born Director Makes Films in Japan
It’s difficult enough for most movie directors to stake their claim in their own country’s film industries, let alone stamp their mark on a foreign country’s movie-making industry using a totally different language. ...
Foreign Student Pop Singer who Loves MISORA Hibari
KYO-I, 24, came from Qing Dao in Shangdong province in China, and attends a university in Japan. She majors in Theater at Meiji University. On one hand, Kyo is a regular college student, going out to Shibuya to shop with her friends while studying. But on the other hand, she has produced a debut CD as a pop singer after being in Japan just 3~4 years. ...
Crossing the Entertainment World, Equipped with Japanese and English Languages
“It is so nice to meet you!” says a young woman as she enters the room. Her greeting is in such beautiful Japanese that there is no trace her mother tongue is English. Wearing a marine blue sweater that shows up her white face and blonde hair vividly, her large round eyes tell of her bright personality. ...
She has even acted as a dead body. but her steadiness has another side to it
Actress, KURODA Yoshiko, 27, performs in the movie, “Oninaki-no-machi,” (directed by MIYASAKA Takeshi) that comes out this spring. Her acting work ranges from movies and TV dramas to theatre and modeling. Her principle, she says, is “I will do anything!” Kuroda is a sound actress with a down-to-earth approach in the seemingly flashy and volatile Japanese entertainment business. ...
Costume Design Crossing Borders
In August 2006 at the Umewaka Noh-gaku Gakuin Kaikan in Tokyo's Nakano ward, four musicians in fancy costumes appeared on the quiet and simple Noh stage and began to play drums that echoed around the hall. It was very difficult to recognize exactly which play was being performed from this opening scene, but once the dialogue started, you realized that it was SHAKESPEARE's "Othello." ...
Launching Rosy Music Career from Roppongi
It's not often that a foreigner can rock the club scene in Japan, but that is what Canadian singer-songwriter Rose BEACH is doing. "I make lyrically raw, socially-conscious fusion-pop," Rose says about her unique musical style straight after the release of her debut CD "Family Love." "My music ranges from hot, sensual club tracks, to heartfelt acoustic sounds. ...
The Story Behind the Opening Bell of the Musical "The Little Prince"
The musical "The Little Prince" by theater company Ongakuza is scheduled to be performed starting this month in many locations around Japan. It is a musical based on "Le Petit Prince" written by Frenchman Antoine de Saint-EXUPERY, and its eventful story started long before it opened. ...
Dreaming of being a Vocalist Singing in English
Many young Japanese seem to have it all, which allows them to focus on improving their possibilities and satisfaction. One of these lucky people is Manami (26 years old, real name TAKAHASHI Manami), from Adachi-ku, Tokyo. However, she has almost come to realize the first step of her dream. ...
The World Should Know the Truth about the Kamikaze!
On September 11, 2001, two airliners crashed into the World Trade Center in Manhattan, New York. American newspapers reported this disaster as a "Kamikaze Attack." At the end of the Pacific War when Japan's defeat became certain, Japan's military headquarters created a new force in which young men would fly their bomb-laden planes into American warships ... this was the so-called "Kamikaze squad." ...
Japanese Spochan Expanding Worldwide
Through movies such as "THE LAST SAMURAI" starring Tom CRUISE and "SEVEN SAMURAI" directed by KUROSAWA Akira, "samurai" has been spreading worldwide along with geisha as an image of Japan. ...
New SILENT COMEDY Sensation
Audiences worldwide agree, GAMARJOBAT's performances are fascinating and unique. The duo are Ketch! and Hiropon, two street performers who have turned pantomimes into incredible silent comedies. ...
SUMO - not as Japanese as you think!
Despite its long history and many legends, the sport of sumo today is undergoing a change in its existence; a change that is increasingly taking this unique form of wrestling onto the global stage. Sumo, which has been around for almost two millennia, has long been under the almost exclusive control of the local Japanese rikishi (wrestlers). ...
Charismatic Tap Dancer who Takeshi Calls "Teacher"
The closing tap dance scene in which farmers dance with joy at a festival, shown in the re-make of the movie "ZATOICHI" by widely known director KITANO Takeshi (Best Director Award at Venice International Film Festival, 2003), must have left a vivid impression on the world of movie fans. ...
Blue-Eyed Kabuki Commentator & Entertainment Star Interviewer
Millions of people on the JR Higashi Nihon Nagano shinkansen lines, the Narita Express and the new Tsukuba Express have heard the English-language announcements on the trains, but very few know who the speaker is, let alone the fascinating life she is experiencing in Japan. ...
Ski Career Success Despite Bumpy Slopes
"Nana-korobi ya-oki" (seven failures then success) is a Japanese proverb meaning that a person continues to stand up even if they fail many times. The career of Aomori-native SATO Hisaya (33), a professional skier who won the All Japan Technical Ski Championship last March, has mirrored this proverb. ...
Odd Foreign Women Comedians Coming Up "Double"
Japan is now experiencing a comedy boom and an uncommon female comedy duo is on the way to stardom. Isabel, one of the manzai pair, was born to Japanese and French parents, while Bene was born to Slovakia and Senegalese parents. Many readers may already know them since they often appear on TV and radio. ...
A Young Man Who Enjoys the Full Trust of Jamiroquai
Jamiroquai, the British funk group mentioned in last month's Hiragana Times cover story is a world superstar known to millions of music fans. Last June he released a new album called "Dynamite" and visited Japan for the promotion via his own private jet. ...
Behind the Curtains - ALEGRIA 2
Since 1984, Cirque du Soleil has combined scintillating artistry, exciting acrobatics, dance and music to bring the world's best circus show to audiences all over the world. It began with a small group of people and a simple dream to amuse audiences and see the world while doing it. ...
Haaaai, Irasshai!
Meet Afropics, NoviGo and Eikaiwa Dave - all stars of the up and coming music group, Nice Guy Jin. Combining basic Japanese, catchy rap tunes and gaijin perspectives on traditional Japanese culture from onsens to natto, these Nice Guy Jins target many of the interesting aspects of Japan's culture that most gaijin are initially surprised with. ...
A Service Minded Magician of a Public Bath House
On the tall chimney in a quiet residential area of Nakano, Tokyo, the words "Magic Onsen" are written. At the entrance, the words "Showa Yokujo (Public bath house)" are displayed. When you step into the house, you will feel the nostalgia of an old-time sento (public bath.) ...
A Talented 'Tarento' on the Way Up in Tokyo
When American Jason HANCOCK first came to Japan at age 19, he had absolutely no idea that he would later be appearing on Japanese TV, building a career for himself in the 'gaikokujin' talent industry, or appearing on the cover of Hiragana Times! (Feb 2004) ...
Japanese Team Wins International Australian Football Tournament
Have you heard of Australian Football before? In Japan, Australian Football is a relatively unknown sport. However, Australian Football is immensely popular in every state of its native land. ...
Action Sports Feeding Language Learning Frenzy!
While Australian sports people have soared to incredible heights since the 2000 Sydney Olympics, few can say they have played tennis with a President. That is unless your name is Sam ARNOLD. ...
