Reni – Mixes Japanese pop culture and Japanese Animation
Reni specializes in Akihabara style performances, a genre that emphasizes the cute look of Japanese pop-culture with the hip appeal of Japanese animation. Through her singing and dancing, she creates an adorable, peaceful, yet exciting mood.
Reni was born and raised in Japan and began training in the art of dance and theater at a very young age. Her big break came after she entered and won a talent search competition from among 1,000 singers. She then released her first Japanese CD in 2006 produced by Takahiro Yamautsuri, who composed the music for one of the Pokemon movies.
In 2008, Reni relocated to New York City and hopes to bring this unique style to the United States. As interest in Japanese entertainment grows among the American youth, Reni offers her audiences the most fun and authentic Japanese pop experience, without ever having to travel to Tokyo. In 2009, she began her regular monthly Japanese ‘Maid’ Show events, and has been invited as a guest performer to Japan Society, Otakon and NY Anime Festival this year. Reni is quickly winning over the hearts of many new local fans, thanks to her pretty stage costumes, upbeat personality, and her outstanding singing talent.
ASIANCE: Please tell me about Cosplay. (Costume Play)
RENI: Cosplay is like a Halloween Party. First, you put your ordinary life aside, and then you put on your favorite character’s costume and have a lot of fun.
ASIANCE: And where did Cosplay start?
RENI: Cosplay started in the Anime culture of Japan.
People enjoyed dressing up as their favorite Anime characters and that was how Cosplay started.
Now, people are wearing Anime characters’, school-girl uniforms, maids, nurses and several other types of uniforms.
I’m sure Halloween had something to do with this.
ASIANCE: At what age did you start to sing & when did you get involved in Cosplay?
RENI: I was 5 years old when I started my career in singing and I started Cosplay about 5 years ago. Prior to that, I pursued my career in dance and theatre (play), and always wanted to change my costumes to surprise my audience.
ASIANCE: What does Cosplay mean for you?
RENI: It’s become my lifestyle. The reason being: I have been impressed by what I wear and the personality that it encompasses.
ASIANCE: Is Cospaly a game? A celebration? A business?
RENI: Though it can be all of these things, it’s more like “MAGIC”. For example, a shy person can suddenly become a social butterfly by dressing up & doing Cosplay.
Like myself, I am actually a very shy girl in my normal life, but onstage I put all that aside and become a very outgoing personality. And when I am wearing a cute costume, I become cute. Haha
I’m sure it’s the same when a person wants to make an effective business pitch, he/ she will put on a business suit,.. maybe?
ASIANCE: Where do people Cosplay?
RENI: People Cosplay on Halloween, at Anime events, Anime conventions, public and private parties etc…
Cosplay always has the essence of having fun, and many people are looking for places and any reason to Cosplay.
That is one of the main reasons I created “Reni’s Japanese Maid Show”, so we have a monthly event to look forward to.
ASIANCE: That sounds like a lot of fun, where can we find more information on your Monthly Maid show?
RENI: Please visit the following:
http://groups.google.com/group/Reni
http://www.ReniReni.com
Reni Mimura’s profile
ASIANCE: Is this a game of role play?
RENI: mmm in a way, it’s like a role playing game. Many Cosplayers have fun as they imagine in their heads.
ASIANCE: Where do you get your Cosplay costumes? And where can our readers find costumes?
RENI: Many Cosplayers both in Japan and the U.S. make their own costumes, or you can find professionally made costumes in Anime stores, on the internet, and at Anime conventions.
I am very fortunate to be supported by a couple stores in Japan, and they send me my costumes as I request.
http://www.candyfruit.com
http://makosuta.okoshi-yasu.com/item/meishi.html
ASIANCE: What is the message you bring to your audience in America?
RENI:The Japanese word “Iyashi” means to heal. I came to the U.S. hoping to provide Iyashi entertainment through my dancing, singing and through the positive message in my songs.
ASIANCE: Why did you choose the maid’s costume with bunny ears?
RENI: I chose the Maid’s costume, thinking it would be easy for my American audience to understand my style. The bunny ears make it even easier to remember, and that’s why I wear it.
ASIANCE: Do you have any other character you play?
RENI: Yes, I have many costumes that I love. But at this early stage of my US career, I want people to remember who I am, and establish my credibility with my current character.
Soon, I will surprise my audience with different costumes and styles. At this time, I do wear a slightly different style when I perform my song called “Song of Devastation.”
ASIANCE: You are also a trained professional singer. Is music a part of Cosplay or is that unique to you?
RENI: I’m proud to say, in 2006, I won a singing contest in Japan and released my first CD. Cosplay and singing is the way I express myself & share my art with the world.
My main focus is to see people happy and have a moment to relax and heal. As a performer, I achieve that through my music, dance, theater and costumes.
ASIANCE: Do you write your own Lyrics & music?
RENI: Yes. I write all my own lyrics and music. I just started writing in English.
I am so grateful for all my “Angels” on Facebook & Chat Forum who help with my English skills:
ASIANCE: What is the message you want to bring to the world?
RENI: “Friends everywhere in the world. Happy World!”
ASIANCE: Who is your audience?
RENI: Anyone who is interested in Japanese culture, Anime, Cosplay, people who are looking for something new, and those who want to relax and be healed by innocence.
ASIANCE: Your music is very positive & healing. What inspires YOU?
RENI: I get my inspiration in everyday life, and by interacting with people. That’s why people are most important for me.
ASIANCE: Were you brought up with strong religious beliefs?
RENI: In my generation, we do not see religious people in Japan like we do here in the U.S. I don’t know much about religion, but I am always thinking about following my philosophy, keeping life as simple and clean as possible.
ASIANCE: Where did you learn how to Motivate?
RENI: I love to give my audience the experience I hope to receive. The reason why my show includes people’s participation is also the same. I create a safe place in my show that is supportive and healing for everyone.
I want you to know, I am just like everybody else and when people shine, I shine it back.
In our present society, we all tend to have a feeling of isolation and loneliness, and this is one way of bringing a feeling of community & belonging.
ASIANCE: You told us the word “Angels” describes the love & support you get from people..Please tell me more about your Angels.
RENI: When I said, I shine love back, I am not exaggerating.
I call the people who support me, my “Angels” because they saved me. I had many challenges in Japan and when I decided to be an idol in the U.S. and relocate, I couldn’t speak English and had no idea about the culture. I knew nothing.
But people kept saying, “Thank you for coming to the U.S.” and encouraged me to “Keep going.” These words saved my life.
Sadly to say, when I was in Japan, I felt I was not needed. I was questioning my purpose in life, and that’s why I accept all the new comers, and encourage everyone to expand our friendships. I want to help my angels in ways that they need, just as so many have done for me.
I would like all of my angels to grow together by polishing our communication skills and increasing our potential.
By communicating and interacting with people, we will create new performance groups, new dreams and a new appreciation for the world we all live in.
ASIANCE: Please tell our readers more about the created, “The Monthly Japanese Maid Show” and why you decided to have this…
RENI: I created the monthly “MAID Show” to stay connected to my “Angels” and to support each other in our lives.
Once a month we get dressed-up, get together, entertain, hang out and feel the ease and tenderness for people who are just as excited & enthusiastic as we are.
ASIANCE: Your photo book “Maid In New York”, I like the title & I see a lot of really nice photos of you in New York City.
RENI: Thank you! In this book project, I wanted to show the contrast between the busy, harsh, cool NYC and the cute innocence of my character.
ASIANCE: Tell me about your CD.
RENI: For my CD, I have four songs on this new album “Sakura”. It took me 2 months to make it.
The first song is called “My Shy Maste.”
It’s about a cute girl whose boyfriend is always busy working.
The second song, “Otome” is to show appreciation for our parents, which is sometimes hard to feel when you are near.
The third song, “Shining Star”, is a song to show my appreciation to all my angels and a song we can all dance together to.
The last song, “DNA,” is to seek our happiness and an affluent life. We cannot avoid interacting and communicating with people.
More people ask me to autograph their CD. So after a concert, I write their names in Japanese to make the CD unique, like one in the world.
Those who cannot come to my concert and buy my CD through my website, I always write a special message and ship it myself.
ASIANCE: Who has had the biggest influence on your career?
RENI: My father. He worked as a white-collar worker until he was 40 years old, and then became a street performer.
My father taught me by his example, that we are supposed to live by doing what we love to do, and we can do that at anytime and at any age. My father is now 68 years old and is still a street entertainer.
THANK YOU Dad…
ASIANCE: You want to be an Idol. What does being an idol mean to you?
RENI: An idol is a person who can think and appreciate his/her supporters, and do it with all good intentions & without hesitation.
ASIANCE: How will you know you arrived at being an idol?
RENI: An idol is not something that you are asked to do. It’s your decision. I am very careful of my act even in my private life, in order to not disappoint my supporters.
ASIANCE: Do you think Cosplay will ever be accepted by mainstream? or is it already?
RENI: Yes, if people keep looking for something new it could. It would be fun if everyone were to accept it as fashionable.
ASIANCE: Where can your character take you professionally in the way of movies, cartoons, product, branding?
RENI:I am presently working on a film project. As for Anime, I am working with a cartoonist in Japan
for a documentary (based on true story) which you can see it at www.ReniReni.com.
I am also working with 2 costume companies in Japan and on a 3D animation project.
I look forward to doing more with animation, like voice-overs, story writing and writing songs for animations because I am interested in expressing my art work in both fantasy and the real world concurrently.
ASIANCE: Where would you like to be a year from now?
RENI: I’ll be releasing my new CD to reach a much wider audience, and supporting people’s dream here in the U.S.
ASIANCE: And where will you be 5 years from now?
RENI: l see myself surrounded by people from all around the world, and supporting people’s dream through my art.
ASIANCE: That is a beautiful ambition. I hope to be there with you. What is your advice to young people who want to get into Cosplay? Are there things they should look out for?
RENI: Like my “Angels” who come to my concert, many Cosplayers are peaceful and have tender hearts.
You will find why it’s so much fun when you actually do it. Think about Cosplay in this way. When you go to a Cosplay event, and all the people are in costume except you, your fashion is also Cosplay.
ASIANCE: Where can people find out more about you?
RENI: Please come visit me on my website: www.ReniReni.com. You can read more about me, my history, upcoming appearances and events and learn about Cosplay.
Yes, we can also chat.
I am now based in New York City, and have been to so many places, from Boston to Virginia, for my performances.
Hope to visit your city soon!
ASIANCE: Do you have a Fan Club?
RENI: There are about 200 Angels who support Reni in New York City. On the internet, I have more than 4,000 angels.
ASIANCE How can our readers get on your mailing list?
RENI: Very Simple, please go to http://groups.google.com/group/Reni sign up and I’ll send you special messages and my latest news.
Thank you for your support and I’m looking forward to seeing you soon!!!