Maya Sakura
Maya Sakura | |
---|---|
Birth name |
è‰é‡Žã€€çœŸè€¶ (Maya Kusano) |
Born | 26 July 1998 |
Origin | Obihiro, HokkaidÅ, Japan |
Genres | Enka |
Occupation(s) | Singer, Actress |
Years active | 2008-present |
Labels | Nippon Crown |
Website | Public website |
Maya Sakura (ã•ãら ã¾ã‚„ Sakura Maya, born Maya Kusano (è‰é‡ŽçœŸè€¶) on 26 July 1998 in Obihiro, HokkaidÅ, Japan) is an enka singer and child actress. In 2008, she made her debut with the single "TairyÅ Matsuri" (大æ¼ã¾ã¤ã‚Š) at the age of 10. In 2009, she received a "New Artist"[1][2] award at the 51st Annual Japan Record Awards, becoming the youngest person to do so.[3]
She also appeared as a special guest on the 60th KÅhaku Uta Gassen in the "children's' KÅhaku" section of the program.[4]
Biography
Maya Sakura is the child of two successful restaurant owners. Her hobbies include reading.[5] She began to learn to play the violin aged two and a half, and the piano aged three. She is also trained in ballet and solfège. In 2004, she was awarded the gold medal in the Nationwide Children's Singing Competition (全国童謡æŒå”±ã‚³ãƒ³ã‚¯ãƒ¼ãƒ«), after which she began to pursue a career in enka.[6]
On December 3, 2008, she made her Nippon Crown debut with the song "TairyÅ Matsuri", as the youngest enka singer in history. Three days later on December 6, she sang at the Asakusa public gardens.
Due to her increasing popularity and busy work schedule, she transferred to a Tokyo school in 2009.
External links
- Official website (Japanese)
References
- ↑ http://www.tokyograph.com/news/51st-japan-record-awards-announced
- ↑ http://www.tokyograph.com/news/51st-japan-record-awards-exile-big-bang
- ↑ http://www.tokachi.co.jp/news/200912/20091202-0003507.php
- ↑ http://www9.nhk.or.jp/kouhaku/artists/index.html
- ↑ HokkaidŠShinbun, 2009-3-10
- ↑ HokkaidŠShinbun, 2009-3-10