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Mayuka Thaïs

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Mayuka Thaïs
Tusks & Horns Tour 2015 Image
Tusks & Horns Tour 2015 Image
Background information
Born (1979-09-25) September 25, 1979 (age 45)
San Francisco, United States
OriginSan Francisco, United States
Genres
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter
musician
artist
art educator
voice over artist
edutainer
InstrumentsGuitar
Vocals
Harmonica
Years active1985–present
Websitemayukathais.com

Mayuka Thaïs (born September 25, 1979) is an American singer-songwriter, artist, voice over artist, art educator, and edutainer.[1][2][3] She is known for her role as a bilingual singer and actress on the popular children's program Shimajiro.[3][4][5][1]

Early life and career beginnings

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Thaïs was born in San Francisco to an American mother, Teri Suzanne, from Monrovia[1] and a Japanese father. Her parents met while her mother was studying abroad in Japan.[1][6][7] She worked in the edutainment industry in Japan, as a studio singer, actress, and voice over artist, for bilingual multi-media edutainment products from the age of 5 for Nippon Columbia.[8][5] For 13 years she honed her acting skills while studying at Aoyama Theatre in the round, bilingual Performing Arts Group,[1] at the National Children's Castle's Aoyama Theatre. At the age of 10, Thaïs won the Tokyo Metropolitan Government art award.[3][9] Her notable role came when she became the main singer, actress on a popular children's program Shimajiro[1][3][4] [10] In 2007, Thaïs graduated and received her BFA from Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles with HONORS majoring in Fine Arts Painting and A.C.T. (Artists, Community, & Teaching).[3][11] Thaïs is currently a senior lecturer at Otis College of Art and Design.[12][2][1][13][14][15]

Music

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At the age of 5, Thaïs recorded a Christmas album Minna De Merry Christmas with multiracial children for Nippon Columbia.[16] To date, Thais has worked on 14 albums and countless singles. In 2004 Thaïs recorded Genki Genki Utaou Nontan's bilingual Christmas album for Nippon Columbia along with her sister Kunimi Andrea,[1] and her mother Teri Suzanne.[1][17] With the help of contributors on her Pledge Music campaign, her album Tusks & Horns was produced by Geoff Levin of People! in May 2014.[18][2] Thaïs has shared the stage with artists such as Mayu Wakisaka, The Watanabes, Nesian Mystik, and Geoff Levin.[19][20][21][22][23] Thaïs's song "Song Without You" is featured in the film "Half Way to Hell" directed by Richard Friedman.[24]

Art

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At the age of 10, Thaïs won the Tokyo Metropolitan Government art award.[3] In 2007, Thaïs's painting of a life-size Asian Elephant was exhibited at the Palos Verdes Art Center as part of a group show The Circus Comes to Town curated by Scott Canty.[25][26][27]

Activism

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On December 13, 2006, when Thaïs was an art student at Otis College of Art and Design, she took her painting of an elephant in captivity to a town hall meeting to lend her voice to discuss conditions of elephants in captivity.[28] In 2007, Thaïs released her first independent single When Elephants Cry on YouTube to help raise awareness of the plight of Elephants in captivity.[29][30] She was asked to perform this song at the Comedy Store for a recognition dinner of high-profile celebrities including Jorja Fox, comedian Lily Tomlin and former Los Angeles City Councilman Tony Cardenas and current Congressman.[2] In 2014, she was asked to march for the Global March for Elephants & Rhinos in San Francisco and to sing her song Tusks & Horns at the United Nations Plaza with her producer Geoff Levin on guitar.[31][32][33][34] In 2015, she went on her Tusks & Horns tour and toured Hiroshima, Fukuoka, Kagawa, and Tokyo, Japan. She gave hanga artworkshops for children, art students, and families in hopes of raising and spreading awareness of the plight of endangered Elephants & Rhinos. She also joined in the march for the Global March for Elephants & Rhinos in Tokyo.[35][36]

Peace song for Hiroshima

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In August 2015, Thaïs performed her song Yamayuri no Kimochi for the 70th war memorial in Hiroshima at the Akioota International Music festival.[37] The song was a collaboration between Thaïs for melody, lyrics by the children of Hiroshima, lyrics made into poetry by poet Arthur Binard, piano by Scott Nagatani.[38] The song has become the official song to commemorate the annual war memorial for the Akioota International Music Festival.

Art and music non-profit collaborations

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Music

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To help disadvantaged youth find their own voices, Thaïs worked with the non-profit program Youth Speak Collective students in the San Fernando Valley to cultivate their songwriting skills for Rockband 101. Drummer and percussionist Billy Hawn joined in to help teach, inspire, and arrange music for the students.[39]

Art

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To help raise awareness of the plight of Asian elephants, Thaïs collaborated with a non-profit organization Elemotion, to paint a life-size baby Asian elephant with the students from International School of the Sacred Heart. [40]

Television

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In 2016, Thaïs was one of the two finalists on Skin Wars: Fresh Paint episode 2, hosted by RuPaul. A spin-off of the popular TV series Skin Wars specifically for artists who have never body painted before.[41]

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
2016 Skin Wars: Fresh Paint Contestant GSNTV

Children's television and programs personality

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Children's television and programs

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Year Title Role Notes
2011 Kids Station Utabako Herself SKY PerfecTV!
2003–2005 Shimajiro Mayuka Benesse
2002 Action 8 Herself NHK Software
1998 Mrs. Santa's Doki Doki Family Reindeer SKY PerfecTV!

Discography

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Songs for films

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Year Film Role Directed by Song
2013 Half Way to Hell Songwriter, performer, writer Richard Friedman Song Without You
2014 Liberation Songwriter, performer, writer Siglia Diniz Let the Wind Blow
2014 On Georgia's Mind Songwriter, performer, writer Montana Mann Don't Say Forever

Albums

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Independently released:
Title Artist Year Role Producer Labels
Tusks & Horns Mayuka Thaïs 2014 Singer-songwriter, guitarist Geoff Levin Independent
Studio released:
Title Year Role Labels
Minna De Merry Christmas 1988 Singer Nippon Columbia
The Adventures of Shiny & Sparkle 1989 Singer ALC
Ninjin Cha Cha Cha 1993 Singer Nippon Columbia
Ahiru No Samba 1994 Singer Nippon Columbia
Mrs. Santa's Series: Thanks Santa! 1995 Singer Nippon Columbia
All We Need 1998 Singer-songwriter, performer Nippon Columbia
Doki Doki Family 1999 Singer Meito
Teri's Happy Animals 2000 Singer Nippon Columbia, Meito
Mama to Asobou: Eigo no Asobi uta 2000 Singer Nippon Columbia, Akachan Honpo
Bring Santa To Me 2001 Singer Dream Illumination
Action 8 2002 Singer NHK software
Genki Genki Nontan Utaou! Christmas 2004 Singer Nippon Columbia
Play Time for Toddlers 2005 Singer Benesse
Let's Play with Alphabets 2009 Singer Nippon Columbia
Let's Sing English Songs Together 2012 Singer Nippon Columbia
Toku Toku Eigo no Uta 50 songs 2013 Singer Nippon Columbia
Maniatta! Series (6) Christmas & New Years 2013 Singer Nippon Columbia
Columbia Kids! Hop! Step! Jump! Eigo no Uta Tsume Awase 2015 Singer Nippon Columbia
Santa to Utaou Christmas 2016 Singer Nippon Columbia
Eigo no Uta 2017 Singer Nippon Columbia
Christmas Song 2018 Singer Nippon Columbia
Christmas Songs Best of Best 2019 Singer Nippon Columbia
Let's Enjoy Christmas 2020 Singer Nippon Columbia
ABC Utatte Minitsuku Eigo 2022 Singer Nippon Columbia

Singles

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Singles released independently:
  • Thanks Santa (1995)
  • The Divine (2004)
  • When Elephants Cry (2010)
  • Hope Is My Friend (2011)
  • All We Gotta Give (2011)
  • The Great Serengeti (2011)
  • Tohorā He Waiata (The Whale Song) (2012)
  • Hearts Don't Lie (2013)
  • Let the Wind Blow (2014)
  • Yamayuri no Kimochi (2015)
  • I Will Sing For You (2020)
  • The Yamayuri Song (2020)
  • Just One More Time (2020)
Released Nippon Columbia:
  • Let's Play with Alphabets (2009)
  • Sounds of Animals (2009)
  • Kaze no Youni (1993)

Music videos

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  • Just One More Time (2020)
  • I Will Sing For You (2020)
  • Yamayuri No Kimochi (2016)
  • Let the Wind Blow (2015)
  • I Needed You ((ft.Connor Sullivan)) (2014)
  • Tusks & Horns (2014)
  • Hearts Don't Lie ((ft. Ambient Chameleon)) (2013)
  • Hope is My Friend (2012)
  • The Great Serengeti (2011)
  • All We Gotta Give (2011)
  • All Alone at Christmas (2011)
  • When Elephants Cry (2007)

Awards

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Art

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Year Award Category Work Result
1989 Tokyo Metropolitan Government Art Award Artwork The Garbage Truck Won

Music

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Year Award Category Work Result
2012 Eco Arts Awards Music Video All We Gotta Give Nominated
2013 Eco Arts Awards Song Tohorā He Waiata Nominated

Video interviews and appearances

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  • "We all Japan No. 10 – Mayuka Thaïs "[42] 2011
  • "Mayuka Thaïs Summer Songwriting Workshop for Youth Speak Collective 2011 with Billy Hawn "[43] 2011
  • "GLOBAL MARCH FOR ELEPHANTS & RHINOS SF – Musical Medicine with Soleil Dakota "[44] 2014

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Johnston, George. "INTO THE NEXT STAGE: Learning Japanese and the Shimajiro Connection". Rafu Shimpo. Retrieved July 8, 2017.
  2. ^ a b c d Mina Patel, Saya Hatton. "Beyond the Zoo Gates: Mayuka Thais advocates for animal rights through art and music". bestofsno.com. Retrieved April 30, 2017.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Samuels, Elliott (November 12, 2016), "Life: Mayuka Thais: Artist Mayuka Thais: 'Remember to look at everything with wonder'", The Japan Times
  4. ^ a b "Mayuka Thaïs IMDB". IMDB. Retrieved January 6, 2017.
  5. ^ a b "Ehonya Mayuka Thais Voice Over Artist". Ehonya.com. Japan: Ehonya. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  6. ^ Mina Patel, Saya Hatton. "Beyond the Zoo Gates: Mayuka Thais advocates for animal rights through art and music". Retrieved April 30, 2017.
  7. ^ Wakabayashi, Liane (November 23, 2001), "Pioneer still speaking up and acting out: Mayuka Thais:'ENGLISH IN ACTION'", The Japan Times
  8. ^ "Mayuka Thais". Tower Records Japan. Retrieved April 25, 2017.
  9. ^ Samuels, Elliot (April 23, 2017). "Cut paper artist Teri Suzanne: 'a pair of scissors is the superhero of utensils'". Retrieved April 22, 2017.
  10. ^ "Mayuka Thaïs Debut Album Quest". Pledge Music. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
  11. ^ "Mayuka Thais About". Mayuka Thais. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
  12. ^ "Faculty bios". Otis College of Art and Design. Retrieved April 19, 2017.
  13. ^ "20 Questions: the best answers of 2016". The Japan Times. Retrieved July 11, 2019.
  14. ^ "Mayuka Thais, Otis College Alum and Instructor, on Drawing Outside the Lines". www.Otis.edu. Otis College of Art and Design. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
  15. ^ "Habitat Umbrellas". davisart.com. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
  16. ^ "Nippon Columbia Christmas Albums". Nippon Columbia. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
  17. ^ "Genki Genki Nontan". Nippon Columbia Japan. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
  18. ^ "About". Mayuka Thaïs. Retrieved January 6, 2017.
  19. ^ "1/10 Japan Music Week, NZ Night/KIWIアーティストを応援しよう!". Retrieved March 14, 2017.
  20. ^ "Animal Refuge Kansai ARK Fundraiser in Tokyo". Retrieved March 14, 2017.
  21. ^ "LIVE". Retrieved March 14, 2017.
  22. ^ "Mayuka Thais About". mayukathais.com. Retrieved March 14, 2017.
  23. ^ "Mayuka Thais". iTunes US. Retrieved April 25, 2017.
  24. ^ "Halfway to Hell Soundtrack (2013)". Banda Sonara. Retrieved July 16, 2023.
  25. ^ "The Circus Comes to Town". ARTSLANT. Retrieved January 8, 2017.
  26. ^ "The Circus Comes to Town". UNDO. June 12, 2007. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
  27. ^ Samuels, Elliott (November 12, 2016). "Artist Mayuka Thais: 'Remember to look at everything with wonder'". The Japan Times. Retrieved March 11, 2017.
  28. ^ "Animal Activists Try To Remove Elephant From Los Angeles Zoo". Getty Images. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
  29. ^ Louise, Katia. "My Elephant, An Artist's Journey". Endangered Stream Live. Wild For Life Foundation.
  30. ^ Umano, Georja. "'We Animals' National Museum of Animals and Society Exhibit – Important Photography and a New National Treasure". Retrieved February 22, 2017.
  31. ^ "Global March For Elephants & Rhinos 2014". Band in Town. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
  32. ^ Morris, Joan (September 22, 2014). "Marching for elephants and rhinos". Retrieved January 8, 2017.
  33. ^ "Mayuka Thaïs "Tusks & Horns" [Official Video] (song to save Elephants & Rhinoceros)". The Dodo. July 31, 2014. Retrieved January 8, 2017.
  34. ^ Wright, Rosemary (October 5, 2014). "And So We Marched". abeatingheart. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  35. ^ In Town, Bands. "Tusks & Horns Tour 2015 Art Workshop + Music with Mayuka Thais". Bands in Town. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
  36. ^ "Global March for Elephants, Rhinos, & Lions 2015!". Bands in Town. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
  37. ^ "Akioota International Music Festival 2015". Bands in Town. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
  38. ^ Bunka, Hiroshima. "2015あきおおた国際音楽祭 with Bechstein". Hiroshima Culture. Retrieved June 15, 2015.
  39. ^ "Mayuka Thais About". Mayuka Thais. Retrieved March 14, 2017.
  40. ^ "Mayuka Thais, 'Life Size Baby Asian Elephant' painting 2013". elemotion.org. Retrieved March 14, 2017.
  41. ^ Samuels, Elliott (November 12, 2016). "Artist Mayuka Thais: 'Remember to look at everything with wonder'". The Japan Times. Retrieved November 12, 2016.
  42. ^ luixsilva (January 18, 2011). "We all Japan #10 - Mayuka Thaïs" – via YouTube.
  43. ^ Mayuka Thais (September 16, 2011). "Mayuka Thaïs Summer Songwriting Workshop for Youth Speak Collective 2011" – via YouTube.
  44. ^ Soleil Dakota (January 19, 2015). "GLOBAL MARCH FOR ELEPHANTS & RHINOS SF - Musical Medicine with Soleil Dakota" – via YouTube.
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