Nozomi Ohashi sparkles at Takashimaya Nihonbashi Christmas event

By Yoko Kurose

Entertainment Nov. 18, 2011 - 06:01AM JST ( 11 )

Nozomi Ohashi sparkles at Takashimaya Nihonbashi Christmas event — Takashimaya Nihonbashi department store head Kazuto Taniguchi gives Nozomi Ohashi a present. Photo by Yoko Kurose

TOKYO —

Nozomi Ohashi, the 12-year-old singer, was the guest of honor this week at Takashimaya Nihonbashi department store to kick off their SWAROVSKI “Crystal Tree light-up” Christmas event.

Ohashi shot to fame in Japan in 2008 after singing the theme song for “Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea,” and made history as the youngest person to appear on NHK’s “Kohaku Uta Gassen” (Red and White Singing Contest) held on New Year’s Eve, when she was only 9.

At the department store, she used crystal sticks to spell the words “Love, Laugh, Live” which is the concept of the event.

Department store head Kazuto Taniguchi gave her a white teddy bear as a present.
Asked how she usually spends Christmas, Ohashi said that she decorates a white Christmas tree with her older sister and spends time with family.

And what does she hope Santa will bring her? “A shiny pretty doll,” she said.

Japan Today

Order by Time Order by Popularity

11 Comments

-2

soldaveNov. 18, 2011 - 10:47AM JST

Come on, this is someone famous in the Entertainment section of JT. Where's the journalist asking her who she will "Love, Laugh, Live" with this Christmas?
-2

MaboDofuIsSpicyNov. 18, 2011 - 11:30AM JST

Does she go to school?
-1

mackemackNov. 18, 2011 - 02:13PM JST

Her name is Nozomi. My Japanese is not so good, but I think it means she is very fast and stops infrequently.
2

Elbuda MexicanoNov. 18, 2011 - 02:29PM JST

This little girl became very famous here in Japan when she started singing the song for the anime PONYO, that song that went ponyo ponyo sakana no ko...great anime and great song and I wish Nozomi chan the very best!!
0

pawatanNov. 18, 2011 - 03:07PM JST

My Japanese is not so good, but I think it means she is very fast and stops infrequently

Nah, that's her brother HAYABUSA.
0

It"S MENov. 18, 2011 - 03:09PM JST

IIRC, Hayabusa = Peregrin Falcon.

My Japanese is bad too. :p
0

It"S MENov. 18, 2011 - 03:14PM JST

Doesn't Nozomi mean Hope?
0

pawatanNov. 18, 2011 - 03:30PM JST

IIRC, Hayabusa = Peregrin Falcon.

Yah, it's was a train joke in response to train joke.
1

papigiulioNov. 18, 2011 - 05:08PM JST

shes cute, no attitude like that other young Enka singer. But I hope she doesnt make more Ponyo songs :\
0

Blair HerronNov. 18, 2011 - 06:25PM JST

Her name is Nozomi. My Japanese is not so good, but I think it means she is very fast and stops infrequently.

Nah, that's her grandfather KODAMA
0

genji17Nov. 18, 2011 - 06:45PM JST

Hayai yo!!! Not even Thanksgiving yet...