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Multi-talented Maya Murofushi shows her soul power

25 Comments
By Chris Betros

When you first meet Maya Murofushi, it’s hard not to feel overwhelmed by her vibrant personality and impressive list of achievements and interests. Maya – as she is known professionally – is an actress, model, ballet dancer, stage performer and pop, chanson and opera singer-songwriter; is fluent in English, Italian and French; won this year’s Miss World Supermodel contest; does TV commercials; campaigns for animal rights. Oh, and lest we forget, she has a keen interest in the metaphysical and is happy to chat about astrophysics and quantum theory.

Born in Tokyo, Maya, 25, moved to Saitama with her family when she was 2. “My mother is an opera singer and my father is an orchestra conductor, so I grew up around music,” she says. “I wanted to become a ballerina, and joined the Matsuyama Ballet Academy when I was 4. After that, I wanted to become a surgeon. Then came my delinquent phase in junior high school…I guess I just wanted to do the opposite of what my parents were doing.”

Feeling the urge to travel, Maya went to Italy for three years after high school and studied Italian and philosophy at the University of Siena. “I was having too good a time,” she recalls. “I was more into dancing on the table and drinking than study. I thought I better go back to Japan. I found it really hard to adjust and was depressed for the first six months. I had done a little bit of modeling in Italy and decided to look for an agency in Tokyo, but was hired by an acting agency instead.”

Since 2008, she has performed in the theater, in films and on TV ("Testimone Italian MTV," "Club 104"), she can currently be seen in a TV commercial for Scratch Kuji (Lucky Lottery) and is the main model for hair care brand Amatora. As a singer, she is at home with either pop or opera and on Dec 18, she will be singing at Astrance in Nishi-Azabu. “I never feel tired because these jobs are my joy in life. If I am not being creative, I would be depressed,” she explains. “I want to continue as an actress and model and work as an activist for animal rights and be a spokesperson.”

Winning the Miss World Supermodel contest in Australia this year has certainly helped. The choreographed pageant gives each model a chance to promote her country’s culture and lifestyle. “I thought it would be a wonderful experience, but never expected to win. Now I have the opportunity to speak up in front of people on issues I care deeply about, such as animal rights,” says Maya who is a vegan.

Whenever she travels abroad, she is keenly aware that she represents Japanese society. “I am really honored to be Japanese,” she says. “Whatever the state of the Japanese government or politics is, I respect our society because no Japanese soldier has killed anyone abroad in more than 60 years. I don’t think you can say that about any other country.”

Despite her bubbly nature, Maya says she can get emotional. “I cry when I think how animals are treated,” she admits, “and I had a good cry when I saw the movies 'Life Is Beautiful' and 'Titanic.'” So does that mean that her favorite type of guy had better be emotional, too? “I like guys to be intellectual, someone who ponders, but at the same time be capable of a little bit of craziness. Maturity is important but he should also have the heart of a child.”

When she is not working, Maya goes to the gym, does ballet and enjoys reading. “I’ve got a great passion for astrophysics and quantum theory. I think it must be my philosophy background.” If she could meet anyone in the world, who would she pick? “Among living persons, it would be Paul McCartney because of his Meat Free Monday campaign. If I could go back in time … Charlie Chaplin and Albert Einstein.”

Maya is not sure where her endeavors will take her, whether she will remain in Japan or try her lick in LA. Whatever she does, she says she will live her life according a simple credo: “Try to make the people around you smile.”

© Japan Today

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.


25 Comments
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I’ve got a great passion for astrophysics and quantum theory.

Wow, coincidence? My real full name is (Last Name, First) Astrophysics, Quantum Theory. I think she was talking aabout me!...

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"I am really honored to be Japanese.”

Japanese people often tell me that their compatriots are not patriotic or nationalistic in any way. However, when I see these kinds of comments - and I see them often - I often feel the Japanese are among the most patriotic and nationalistic people on earth.

It's also an odd attitude for someone who who was depressed for a prolonged period after returning to their home country. I guess she aquiesced to be the nail that got hammered in.

She sure is purdy, though....

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I respect our society because no Japanese soldier has killed anyone abroad in more than 60 years. I don’t think you can say that any other country.”

I think she'll find that you can.

But indeed, a talented and beautiful young woman.

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Whatever the state of the Japanese government or politics is, I respect our society because no Japanese soldier has killed anyone abroad in more than 60 years.

well, once you set a record it's ok to rest on your laurels for a while

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Wow, what a lucky girl. If more people had the same opportunities as her, they could be as accomplished, too.

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no Japanese soldier has killed anyone abroad in more than 60 years. I don’t think you can say that about any other country.

Excellent.

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I smell smoke coming off my screen. More of this, less of those AKB101dalmations.

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Wow if she can speak 4 languages the J-govt shud find out how she got there & use her as a role model for that!

She seems very smart & into a wide variety of things, rare for all of use & especially here in Jpn. I wonder if she has spent a lot more than 3yrs outside Jpn however.

The only nit pick is what a few others have already caught on to:

I respect our society because no Japanese soldier has killed anyone abroad in more than 60 years. I don’t think you can say that about any other country.”

I hope she is smart enough to realize thats because if Jpns past & the lovely constitution forced on Jpn to its huge benefit. And because over the years Japanese YEN has been paid to the UN etc so other countries put theirs in harms way & some made the ultimate sacrifices along with some killing, on Japans behalf not just those who put people on the ground in trouble/war zones!

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It is an interesting point she makes about Japanese soldiers. I wonder if there are other countries whose military personnel also have not killed abroad. The military of some of the smaller countries that did not take part in peacekeeping operations probably have not yet to kill anyone.

GW, I think you're being cynical. Japan's pacifist constitution is to its credit and has nothing to do with Japan paying huge sums of money to avoid being put in harm's way.

Anyway, having said all that, I would be quite happy to discuss quantum physics with Maya.

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smartacus.

There are other countries. My own as an example, to UN fought wars. Too small to supply a fighting force so our people usually are assigned to a neighbouring army as advisors, etc.

Said that we still took some losses.

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Well, whatever else she lacks, she has beautiful eyes.

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smartacus,

I see my view as simply being truthful nothing more, the fact is its been very easy for Jpn sit back & let others do the tough stuff, there are reasons for that which I briefly pointed out. Jpn had its constitution handed to them, Jpn can take credit for accepting it.

I only went on about it a bit as I dont see many Japanese who can see past the veneer of this stuff & dont look into it with much depth & realize how other countries have to do things Jpn cant/wont do

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I wonder what her attitude towards Japanese whaling is - being vegan, yet seeming kinda nationalistic?

What a beautiful face and alluring eyes and lips...

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Being Vegan don't mean much. I got vegan friends who don't mind me eating a steak in front of them, etc. For them it is their choice to be vegan and accept that it is not my choice and vice-versa.

Being fluent in 3 languages is not that tough, Italian and french are not that far apart. All the best to her.

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“Whatever the state of the Japanese government or politics is, I respect our society because no Japanese soldier has killed anyone abroad in more than 60 years. I don’t think you can say that about any other country.”

Easy when there japanese soldiers barely take part in foreign missions. and to nitpick, swiss, vatican and so on are not countries ?

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zenny11 picking up multiple languages if yr in Europe is one thing but quite rare in the UK NAmerica Oz or NZ & certainly here in Jpn, so she is doing well by the sounds out it in the lingo dept

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GW fully agree.

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"singing at Astrance in Nishi-Azabu" does not make you singer. I've been there, by the way. Just another fancy, expensive bar for geinojin.

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Good looking women :)

Why always the geinojin resume puffery? She's a model. The rest are hobbies.

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love her clavicle

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at the University of Siena. “I was having too good a time,” she recalls. “I was more into dancing on the table ......................

winning the hearts and minds of the Italians, no doubt. Damn, i am beginning to hate the italians !!

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I'd love to hear her debate quantum physics with Stephan Hawking.

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I'd love to hear her debate quantum physics with Stephan Hawking.

But in the interest of fairness, I'd love to see him ballet dance with her.

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She's hot, so who cares what she thinks?? Lol...

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Has there ever been an article involving a young J female that didn't want to pry into her type of man ?

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