Today would mark the second and final day of JPOP Summit, regardless, the fun never ended! With extended hours on both days, it gave fans the opportunity to feel relaxed and no pressure to squeeze in as much fun into as little time as possible. To start the morning, KKS was given the great delight of interviewing May’n! Read the EXCLUSIVE interview below:
KKS: You have a beautiful high pitched voice! Please tell us what you do to maintain your voice.
May’n: I don’t do anything in particular but right before the concert I try not to drink anything cold, I usually drink a hot ginger drink. I hear that the core muscle plays an important role in maintaining a high pitched voice so I do kickboxing.
KKS: You perform live around the world, what country do you find you have the most enthusiastic fans?
May’n: China is a country I have visited a lot so I am getting used to there and see that there isn’t that much of a difference between Japanese and Chinese fans. When it comes to US fans, they’re really passionate! Regardless of time or place, they’ll shout out their feelings towards me which I find very interesting.
KKS: How many times have you performed in the US?
May’n: This is going to be my 7th time!
KKS: Which was your favorite city?
May’n: I have been to Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Chicago but speaking of San Francisco, they have a lot of great seafood! That is something I really like about San Francisco. The turning point in my career was anime and in anime there are a lot of scenes which are inspired by streets in San Francisco.
KKS: What are you looking forward to most about JPOP Summit?
May’n: I performed last night which was something that I really looked forward to! It was a really enthusiastic concert. Unlike the usual concerts that I do, I was able to interact and talk with fans directly at JPOP Summit which is something I really enjoyed.
KKS: What do you do when you aren’t performing?
May’n: Walking around the streets and eating!
KKS: You are the ambassador for Taiyaki! Please tell us which Taiyaki is most delicious.
May’n: The Taiyaki I like located in Tokyo, the place is called Hiiragi. The Taiyaki is crispy on the outside but really creamy on the inside.
KKS: What is your favorite anime?
May’n: I really like Idol Master! It focuses on girls who are trying to pursue their dream which is something I can relate to.
KKS: Anime, anisong, and Japanese culture are very popular all over the world now. What do you think about this?
May’n: I feel myself getting more recognized and popular in other countries which was unexpected. Japanese culture, unlike US pop culture it is not as know so I am really happy about it getting recognition.
KKS: If you could say anything to your fans, what would it be?
May’n: My anime activities as an anisong artist and doing concerts, getting energy from the audience, I want to use the energy to create better songs and enjoy it together with the fans.
KKS: Kawaii Kakkoii Sugoi introduces cute, cool, and amazing Japanese things to the world! Could you tell us what is cute, cool, and amazing to you?
May’n: Kawaii…Harajuku! Kakkoi is May’n! And Sugoi is the audience who sings and dances along with me at a synchronized beat, that is really amazing.
Shortly after the awesome interview with the very lively May’n, KKS went and explored some of the cool performances taking places at JPOP Summit! We headed to the main stage to see two teams, Aqua VS. Pink, battle in out in the Karoke Face Off. BAND-MAID appeared as guest judges on stage and critiqued the amazing, fun, and energetic performances as well as chose the winning team. Both teams had done exceptionally well but the Pink team was the ultimate winner in the end! The Pink team received a gift from BAND-MAID along with being presented the award by Japanese Consulate member, Akira Ichioka, in traditional fashion.
After the Karoke Face Off came to a conclusion, KKS headed outside to where the food trucks and ramen festival was located and watched as performers in colorful, traditional Japanese outfits performed a traditional dance known as Awa Odori. Located in San Francisco, SFAwakkoRen aims to teach the Bay Area the traditional dance and performs at various events from JPOP Summit to the San Francisco Cherry Blossom Parade. After watching the colorful performance and learning some of the Awa Odori moves, KKS was able to meet and interview the one and only Mitz Mangrove! Read all about Mitz Mangrove in our EXCLUSIVE interview below!:
KKS: You are very beautiful! Please tell us what you do to say so gorgeous and in shape!
Mitz Mangrove: Excersize and do everything to look good!
KKS: Please tell us what you most enjoyed about JPOP Summit!
Mitz Mangrove: This is my second time visiting here! I get to see local drag queens and thats something I am looking forward to later on today.
KKS: Have you explored San Francisco? If so, what is your favorite place?
Mitz Mangrove: Just a little bit, I only had a small amount of time last night but I went to a club, Oasis, which I really enjoyed! It had a lovely, great atmosphere, it’s been a while since I had a lot of fun. It reminded me of younger times!
KKS: You have graduated from the political department Keio University law school. Have you ever thought about becoming a politician or diplomat?
Mitz Mangrove: In Japan, there aren’t really any people who will become a politician after graduating from a political university, it’s not a very regular thing. It’s not very common in Japan that someone specializes to learn a specific field, it’s more about having a general education like economics.
KKS: You grew up in the UK when you were in elementary school, Junior High School, and went to University in the UK. Do you think of the UK as second home to you?
Mitz Mangrove: Yes! But I wouldn’t want to live there. There isn’t any problem with living there but I am more comfortable living in Tokyo.
KKS: Is there any other country or city you would like to live in?
Mitz Mangrove: Nope!
KKS: What do you find yourself doing when you’re not working?
Mitz Mangrove: Nothing, just staying home all day!
KKS: The RuPaul’s Drag Queen Convention was held in April in Los Angeles, will you attend next time?
Mitz Mangrove: No, but I love RuPaul and would love to see her someday!
KKS: Anime, JPOP, voice actors, and Japanese culture are popular all over the world! What do you think about that?
Mitz Mangrove: It’s unbelievable! Through the internet it was able to become very popular. Now I am accepting the reality of the popularity of Japanese pop culture, but I am part of an older generation so its amazing to see.
KKS: You have a lot of fans in the US! Do you have anything you would like to say to them?
Mitz Mangrove: Where are you? I have been singing for so long so if it’s possible, I might have a concert here, maybe even in JPOP Summit!
KKS: Kawaii Kakkoii Sugoi introduces cute, cool, and amazing Japanese things to the world! Could you tell us what is cute, cool, and amazing to you?
Mitz Mangrove: These words—Kawaii, Kakkoii, Sugoi—I don’t really say these words. Regardless, a lot of people use these words to me, but they are words from the younger generation. I rarely use these words because I am older, I wish I could have the sense of accepting these words as well as saying these words.
To conclude the day with the interview with Mitz Mangrove was a great way to wrap up this great 2 day experience known as JPOP Summit. JPOP Summit brings to life the colors of Japanese pop culture and showcases it here in the Bay Area. From food, to anime, and Japanese culture, JPOP Summit has an array of fun things to do here! We look forward to attending next year~
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