We have always admired Japanese reggae music artists, especially artists who have managed to expand to other genres.
In the past we have interviewed and covered the works of RANKIN TAXI, MEGARYU, PANG, Double Famous, lecca, Safarii, Rickie-G, RYO the SKYWALKER and BOY-KEN, and now we feature one of the successful singer/songwriter MINMI.
From reggae, soca to R&B/pop music, MINMI does it all!
MINMI grew up writing and composing songs at a young age and would later go on to singing at reggae and hip-hop clubs in Osaka.
In 2002, MINMI made her debut with “The Perfect Vision” which was extremely popular and heavily rotated on 20 FM radio station and the single would sell over 500,000 copies and debuted at no. 4 on the Oricon Charts.
While in 2003, her debut album “Miracle” would debut at no. 2 on the Oricon Album Weekly Charts and sold over 476,000 copies.
In 2005, MINMI’s sixth single “Summer Time!!” would feature a Soca style (a genre music from Trinidad and Tobago) and she was nominated for a rookie award at the SOCA AWARD 2006 held in New York. The first time a Japanese music artist was nominated.
Meanwhile, overseas, many people would know MINMI for her song “Shinki no Uta” featured as the ending theme for the anime series “Samurai Champloo”.
By 2007, MINMI participated in the Trinidad and Tobago festival in which she performed in front of a 100,000 people and collaborated with Machel Montano and HD for her single “Sha na na ~Japanese Wine~” and won 8th place overall and third place for the women’s category at the International Soca Monarch Tournament.
In 2017, MINMI’s best albums “ALL TIME BEST: ADAM” and “ALL TIME BEST: EVE” were released.
Most recently, she has collaborated with numerous artists and still performs in front of large audiences especially at Yokohama F. Marinos games. But MINMI also shares her positive thoughts not just as a music artist but also as a mother on SNS and also has a voicy (like a podcast) channel, “MINMI no LA Natural Life”.
MINMI is an activist when it comes to environmental issues who represents mother earth, a group that proposes for a lifestyle that is friendly to people and the planet.
MINMI recently performed at Otakon and recently released a digital single “Shinki no Uta (Tribute to Samurai Champloo)”:
Neo-Tokyo 2099’s Dennis A. Amith recently interviewed MINMI about her performance at Otakon, her music, voicy and more!
NEO-TOKYO 2099: Before we begin, let me first wish you a Happy 17th Anniversary!!! So, first let’s get to know more about you. You’re known for singing reggae/hip-hop, but I’m curious how you got interested in reggae? Was from family or friends?
MINMI: Thank you! I mix the elements of R&B and reggae but after “Summertime!!”, I started to include the element of soca frequently. As for how I got into reggae, I went to Jamaica and came across reggae from there.
NEO-TOKYO 2099: You started a Voicy titled “Minmi no LA Natural Life” about your life moving from Japan to Los Angeles. There are numerous entertainers from Japan who are living in Los Angeles, such as YOSHIKI, MIYAVI, ROLA. But what I like about your Voicy and your Instagram is sharing your adventures not just as a performer but also a mother.
MINMI: I guess showcasing my life not just as an artist but also as a mother may receive a lot of sympathy. But I also do a lot work related that relates to the environment called “mother earth” which I am an ambassador.
NEO-TOKYO 2099: Was it difficult transitioning from life in Japan to Los Angeles and getting used to American life and LA traffic?
MINMI: I am not yet used to life in America but I am excited on trying new challenges with my family.
NEO-TOKYO 2099: Many people outside of Japan discovered you through your song “Shinki no Uta” (ending theme for “Samurai Champloo”). This was before SNS became very popular but were you aware that you had many fans who loved your music overseas?
MINMI: I definitely noticed. I realize how anime has a huge popularity abroad and it gave me the opportunity to appear at Otakon.
NEO-TOKYO 2099: Recently “Shinki no Uta” tribute to Samurai Champloo was released on Apple Music, Spotify and Amazon. It was also a wonderful tribute to the late record producer Nujabes (Seba Jun). What memories do you have on working with Seba for the recording of “Shinki no Uta” back in 2004?
MINMI: I fell in love with the song which I originally sang by ad libbing and it became a song that I sung so many times in my career. I was attracted to the tracks that Nujabes was releasing and I wanted to make the same songs. So, I asked him but he refused because he said never likes to do the same track twice. He convinced me to do “Shinki no Uta” and had strong confidence that I wouldn’t regret it. So, I agreed to do it.
NEO-TOKYO 2099:There was a lot of love and support to see at your performance at Otakon. How was the experience for you to perform at this type of venue, compared other venues you have performed at before?
MINMI: To hear people sing my Japanese songs, I am so thankful and really enjoyed it so very much. When I appeared at Otakon, I realized how much people loved “Shinki no Uta”.
NEO-TOKYO 2099: I’m curious, if I was to look in your phone, what song or artists would I catch you listening to a lot right now?
MINMI: Chanmina, awitch and youngcoco
NEO-TOKYO 2099: Great choices! I am not famiilar with awitch but I really dig the musical and lyrical flow of Chanmina and youngcoco!
For these last few questions, let’s have a little fun.
In every interview I do, I do a word play. I will ask you five questions and you fill in the blank:
a. The one American dish that I absolute crave is _______________.
MINMI: Bagel, Eggs Benedict
b. When I’m in Los Angeles, for baseball I root for the (LA Dodgers or LA Angeles) ________________.
MINMI: LA Dodgers
c. The last movie I watched in theater was _______________.
MINMI: “Aladdin”
d. A Japanese food or ingredient that I can not eat is _______________________.
MINMI: Parsley
e. Of all the songs I have performed, the song that I still love singing to this day is _________________.
MINMI: “If I ain’t got you” by Alicia Keys
NEO-TOKYO 2099: What final words do you have for your fans worldwide?
MINMI: I will be performing more outside of Japan, so I look forward to seeing you all!
For more on MINMI, please visit her official website, her official blog and also her Voicy
and on SNS via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
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