KPP on her stunning Betty Boop transformation
It's no secret that flamboyant Japanese pop star Kyary Pamyu Pamyu (KPP) is a huge fan of cosplay.
Among many of the famous figures - fictional and real - the 23-year-old has dressed up as over the years 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 US 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," she said.
"Although the result was faithful to the original, it was very tough work."
KPP, known for her electrodance tunes such as PonPonPon, Ninjya Re Bang Bang, and Candy Candy, will perform in Singapore next month 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, and brought my family to the big 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 set design.
Having done countless live concerts in Japan, as well as overseas cities including London, Paris, Cologne and San Francisco, 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 use all their might to memorise Japanese before coming to my shows and they try so hard to tell me something in Japanese. I find that lovely and wonderful and it makes me happy. 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 Theatre
WHEN: May 13, 8pm
TICKETS: $88 to $118 from Sistic (www.sistic.com.sg or 6348-5555)
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