Daughter of Anna Umemiya debuts as child model

Wednesday 10th September, 11:06 AM JST

TOKYO —

Momoka Umemiya, the 6-year-old daughter of celebrity Anna Umemiya, 36, on Tuesday debuted as a model, appearing in a promotional event at Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi department store for a new children’s fashion brand by designer Yumi Katsura.

Momoka, her mother and grandmother turned up 15 minutes late for the event. As expected, guests started calling out “So cute” when Momoka appeared. She told reporters that she enjoyed her debut fashion show, while her mother said she was pleased with the way the event went.

Latest 15 of 24 Total Comments Show All

northlondon at 07:01 PM JST - 10th September

You owe your children their childhood before the time comes for them to study hard for university and work etc. Shoving your kid on the stage or sending them to after school from the age of 6 is out of order, but the Japanese don't think about those things. I guess that Umemiya didn't have a real childhood herself so she wouldn't know about things like freedom, parks, playgrounds and mates.
cracaphat at 11:31 PM JST - 10th September

Anna's just pimping out her daughter to earn so dough on the basis of being a half.Might work too.
lipscombe at 12:27 AM JST - 11th September

I agree
Betting at 12:54 AM JST - 11th September

Well, Anna has well and truly lost it anyway as she is packing quite a few extra kilos these days, not model material at all. And if you've seen the two of them in interviews together on tv, you'd know her little tike is going to be a monster.
Itabashiku at 11:58 AM JST - 11th September

Not what you know, but who you know. Sad, sad, sad.
aintgottimetobl at 02:22 PM JST - 11th September

whats the problem with children modelling clothes for goodness sake..is modelling such a terrible profession,we all want to give our kids a leg up and Annas got a name and knows how to use it...boo hoo to you whingers..
aintgottimetobl at 03:00 PM JST - 11th September

more tissues please
Wottock_Hunt at 04:47 PM JST - 11th September

"As expected, guests started calling out “So cute” when Momoka appeared"

Yep - SOP when anything small/cuddly/pink crosses line of vision. Bunch of automata.

Her Mother, however - zzzzip!
illsayit at 09:04 PM JST - 11th September

So Japan Today, and why dont you have pics?
KissMint at 12:03 PM JST - 12th September

Pictures here:

http://mainichi.jp/life/fashion/graph/20080909_2/
Tatanka at 12:55 PM JST - 12th September

All "zashuu" kids are cute until about 10 or 12, so what's so special about this one?
stanoue at 09:43 PM JST - 12th September

hoving your kid on the stage or sending them to after school from the age of 6 is out of order, but the Japanese don't think about those things.

I thought this sort of thing started in the USA? Anyway, I don't necessarily disapprove - hell if my kid could make money/be successful at 6 why not - its not like a 6 year old has a busy life. What are you depriving them of, exactly? Less time in front of the TV becoming a fat blob, anyway.

I looked at the little girl's photos on that link, she is gonna have a massive eyebrow problem soon those things are like giant caterpillars! Also don't approve of colouring a 6 year old's hair, who needs regrowth at that age...
beavis at 10:25 AM JST - 13th September

This is gonna sound mean, but that kid is NOT cute.
dopeye at 04:37 PM JST - 15th September

Am I the only one who thinks Momoka isn't that cute? The kid seems a bit "busu" to me ...(not that there's anything wrong with that).

Ah, I see beavis' post now, whew! I thought I was losing it there for a minute!
cleo at 06:13 PM JST - 15th September

She's an ordinary little girl, not particularly outstanding, certainly not "busu".

its not like a 6 year old has a busy life. What are you depriving them of, exactly?

My daughter was scouted by a talent agency when she was five. We told the agent No Thank You when it was pointed out that she would be expected to miss huge chunks of school for photo shoots and the like.