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Monkey Majik

Tuesday, Feb 10, 2009 7:48PM / Standard Entry

Lemme introduce you a great band.

Monkey Majik

They're originally from Canada but been pursuing their music career in Japan.
Both of these frontmen, Maynard and Blaise (the Plant brothers), are fluent in Japanese and their hit songs are in Japanese.
Check em out.

My personal favorite is "Together (night falls mix)".

-at a gathering after their awesome live in Tokyo

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4th time in Malaysia

Thursday, Jan 29, 2009 7:48PM / Standard Entry

will be out in Malaysia this weekend

anyone out there?

can't wait to fly out to a warmer country! Tokyo is freezing!
had a minor flu for a couple of weeks already....

no fever what so ever and I feel terrific.
Tho anyone who's heard my internet radio program last couple of weeks, would prob know my voice sounded terrible!!
As of today, I kinda love my husky voice. My staffs like it too, haha.

hope you all are fine!!
take care of yourselves!!

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30!!!!

Tuesday, Jan 13, 2009 7:30PM / Standard Entry

Thank you for all the sweet b-day messages!!!!
love you all!

I had a wonderful party on my birthday!
I'll make sure to upload albums ASAP!

Baby Jane flew in from HK! meant the world to me, thank you sweet girl...

Thx Mio, for coming!!

KB mo arigatou!

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Merry Christmas to you all from Jaky

Thursday, Dec 25, 2008 7:15PM / Standard Entry

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Bonenkai season

Tuesday, Dec 23, 2008 8:12PM / Standard Entry

It's the Bonenkai season in Japan.

"A bōnenkai (Japanese language: 忘年会, lit. "forget the year gathering") is a Japanese drinking party that takes place at the end of the year, and is generally held among groups of co-workers or friends. The purpose of the party, as its name implies, is to forget the woes and troubles of the past year, usually by consumption of large amounts of alcohol. A bōnenkai does not take place on any specific day, but they are usually held in December. -wiki"

I attented the "Roppongi Hills Arena family" bonenkai.
Roppongi Hills Arena is where numerous events are held, mainly concerts, but from Hollywood film Red Carpets to comedy shows to fashion shows to even flower markets. And I am basically their exclusive MC.

The parties concerned was gathered for this night.
I was reassured that when you have professional soundmen, lighting pros, performers, and MC, as the attendants, you can probably imagine that it can make a real professional bonenkai, or so to say, a real entertaining show.

started with a stand up comedian:

pro tap dancers:

do't really know how to explain this, but these guys sampled scary story teller's voices and made it into a rap song on pro tools: it was awesome

singer from Okinawa:

Bingo time: (unexpectedly, I did the MC)

also unexpected, but I was asked to do chorus for some Christmas songs:

pretty cool year end party, yah?

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100

2/20

Mai Shoji

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Whether it’s J-WAVE, Lawson or Roppongi Hills, the next voice you hear may belong to Mai Shoji...
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Whether it’s J-WAVE, Lawson or Roppongi Hills, the next voice you hear may belong to Mai Shoji

When you meet Mai Shoji, the first thing you notice, besides her down-to-earth charm, is that her voice sounds familiar. Anyone who tunes in regularly to radio station J-WAVE’s Entertainment Express segment each weeknight from 8:30pm will certainly recognize the cultured voice that has endeared Shoji to listeners, including the occasional taxi driver.

The bilingual Shoji has an impressive list of career achievements. Ask her for a business card and you’re likely to get half a dozen. Having studied at TV Asahi Announcer’s School and Tokyo Announcer’s Academy, she serves as the exclusive MC at Roppongi Hills Arena events; she is the voice for Lawson CS Hot Station and does Nagoya Radio-I Road to Tomorrow each week. She has been in demand at numerous events over the past few years, including as stadium announcer at the 2002 World Cup. On top of all that, the stylish Shoji has modeled in ads for Max Factor and Sony Dream World; she sings with R&B group Prince Squad and Diva Rose (she’s Diva Rose), and is a licensed beauty consultant for Shiseido. She even finds time to do admin work at her mother’s drugstore in the Asakusa View Hotel.

Born in Tokyo, Shoji received an international education at Aoba, Nishimachi and the American School in Japan. She recalls being attracted to show business early on. “I started singing seriously when I was 13,” she says. After high school, her interest shifted to mass communications; she studied it at Temple University in Philadelphia. Her year there was an “eye-opening experience,” she recalls. Entertainment Express, which Shoji has been doing since April, occupies most of her time. “I report on Hollywood gossip, concerts and movie info. I interview lots of artists, both Japanese and Hollywood stars. It’s a real challenge because I only get about 10 minutes with them,” she says. Of the celebrities she has interviewed so far, Shoji has no hesitation in nominating Johnny Depp as her favorite. “Meeting him was like a dream come true. Morgan Freeman was great, too. He has an aura and such confidence in himself that you can feel as soon as he walks into the room. Cameron Diaz was a ball. Her eyes were so transparent and captivating.”

Each week is different for Shoji, with requests coming in for MC and narration work (she jokes that some months “I eat well, others it’s fast food”). Her music is on the move, too. “We’re working with a record label at the moment.” Her next goal is to be a professional interpreter (she is studying at Simul) and perhaps start her own business. “I read magazines and translate in my head and whenever I watch news on TV, I try to retain whatever I hear,” she says of her training.

Shoji’s beauty counseling, which she does at her mother’s store, is another passion. “The cosmetic industry is always changing its ‘in’ products, so I have to keep pace with what is cutting edge,” she says. “I advise girls on skin care, make-up and how to be stress-free, which is directly related to skin problems. Sleeping habits, work hours, how often they go outside, how much they drink, whether they eat sweets—these are all important.” Sho ji credits her parents (her father is a well-known lyricist and her mother a pharmacist) for much of her success. “I am very proud of them,” she says. “They invested quite a lot in me and I want to return something to them.”

By Chris Betros
http://metropolis.co.jp/tokyo/617/faces.asp

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5歳より都内のインターナショナルスクールに通う。
大学時代に渡米し、ブロードキャスト・マルチメディアを専攻する。
帰国後、MC、アナウンサー、レポーターとして活動中。
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Occupation: Singer , DJ
Age: 30
Gender: Female
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