Party booper
Turning into cartoon character Betty Boop is hard work, says J-pop star KPP
It's no secret that flamboyant Japanese pop star Kyary Pamyu Pamyu (KPP) is a huge fan of cosplay.
Over the years, the many famous figures that the 23-year-old has dressed up as include Tim Burton's movie character Corpse Bride, late English singer David Bowie and a member of J-pop girl group AKB48. However, nothing beats her stunning transformation into cartoon character Betty Boop last October at a Halloween event in Shibuya, Tokyo.
From her coiffured jet-black hair to the doe eyes and fluttering eyelashes, KPP's resemblance to the real Betty Boop was striking.
In an e-mail interview with The New Paper, the J-pop fashion icon said that the process was arduous.
''My make-up took about three hours... the result was faithful to the original, it was very tough work,'' she said.
KPP, known for her electrodance tunes such as PonPonPon, Tsukema Tsukeru, Candy Candy and Crazy Party Night, will perform in Singapore later this week as part of Esplanade's Super Japan — Japanese Festival of Arts.
You last performed here in 2014. What are your memories of Singapore?
I've been to Singapore many times. I went to Universal Studios Singapore which I like very much. I also took my family to the Singapore Botanic Gardens. We also watched a show at the Night Safari. My trips were very fulfilling and I had a lot of fun each time.
What can Singapore fans look forward to at your upcoming concert?
As this is the first show that kicks off my new world tour, Singapore fans can look forward to being the first in the world to see my costumes and stage design.
Having done countless live concerts in Japan and in cities such as London and Paris, what are some of your craziest fan encounters?
To me, no matter which country my fans are from, all of them have been very encouraging and supportive.
Many of them memorise Japanese words before coming to my shows and they try so hard to tell me something in Japanese. I (even) found someone on the Internet with a tattoo of my face. That made me both happy and surprised.
Recently, you posed for a Japanese magazine, showing off a chic, classy style that is very different from your trademark cutesy, colourful image. Are you starting to show audiences more of your elegant and mature side?
Although I do not have any particular plans of what and how I want to be like from now, doing the photoshoot was refreshing. As I get older, I would like to do things that I think are considered cool at that particular moment in my life.
FYI
WHAT Kyary Pamyu Pamyu KPP 5ive years monster World Tour 2016 in Singapore
WHERE Esplanade TheatreWHEN May 13, 8pm
TICKETS $88 to $118 from Sistic (www.sistic.com.sg or 6348-5555)
Get The New Paper on your phone with the free TNP app. Download from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store now
