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It’s the end of a busy day for Marie. The 21-year-old model and TV personality has just finished recording a two-hour entertainment program for cable TV. It’s 9 p.m., but Marie still looks fresh and cheerful as she sits down for an interview, a little surprised that an English publication is interested in doing a feature on her.
Born to a Japanese mother and French-Canadian father, Marie starts off in hesitant English, but picks up the pace as we proceed. “I hardly use English,” she says. “I was born in Tokyo and grew up only speaking Japanese. I went to Melbourne when I was 13 or 14 and spent a year there but couldn’t communicate much at all. It wasn’t until I went to high school in Milwaukee that I started to get better at English.”
Marie says that when she was a young girl, she had no thoughts of going into showbiz. “Actually, I dreamed of becoming a police detective,” she says. “I used to love the show 'Abunai deka' (Dangerous Detective). I wanted to solve murders and investigate crimes. Don’t ask me why I didn’t become a cop. It was just a dream.”
With Marie’s glamorous looks, it wasn’t the police department that came recruiting, but rather a scout for a modeling agency. “When I was 10, I was walking in Harajuku with my mom and some guy came up to us and asked if I’d like to try modeling. My older sister was already doing some modeling, so I thought I would give it a try. After finishing high school, I went into showbiz full-time. I thought about higher education, but realized that if I was going to do this line of work, then now would be the only time I could do it. I still want to go to college in New York but I can do that anytime.”
Standing 170 cm tall, Marie spends about half her week modeling for magazines, in particular ViVi. She has been a regular participant on the catwalks of the immensely popular Tokyo and Kobe Girls Collections. Like many of her showbiz contemporaries, Maris is sought after for various events. This year, she became an image character for lingerie maker Triumph International and in spring, she became the recipient of the “Gold Make-Up Award” by the Japan Make-Up Association in Tokyo. The association said her fashion and hairstyles contributed to new trends among young people.
On TV, she appears with comedian Tamori each Wednesday at noon on the Fuji network’s "Waratte Iitomo," as well as various other variety programs. Most recently, Marie released her first photo album. “It was pretty crazy and so much fun. At the event, some girls were crying, saying they were so happy to see me. I was really touched and pleased to get in touch with fans.”
Happy inside, happy outside
As she chats, Marie exudes an inner cheerfulness that is not always evident in many celebrities. “There are some people in this job who don’t look happy,” Marie agrees. “Yes, they are beautiful and handsome, but they seem to be sad inside and not having fun. If the model or star looks sad, you can usually see it in their face and that makes them unattractive. I do not want to be like that. I want to send a good feeling to people and I wouldn’t do this job if I felt otherwise.”
Marie says she seems to be most popular when she goes to Osaka and rural areas. “Country people are always fun to meet,” she says. Unlike other celebrities, she doesn’t write a blog. “It’s not because I’m lazy about it. Famous people in America, for example, don’t do blogs. Rather, they have home pages. Once you start a blog, you can’t quit. You also have to be able to write on a level that fans can identify with.”
Amid all the glitz of her profession, Marie says that the three things most important to her are family, friends and time. The last one is ironic, she admits, “because I take an hour to decide what I’m going to wear every morning.” An avid shopper, Marie frequents Aoyama, Harajuku, Ginza and Shinjuku. When she is not working, she likes riding her bike and photography. “I used to do a lot of dancing. I learned hip hop when I was younger, but I don’t get much time for that anymore. I like to chill out at home. I’m not a bad cook. You must come over and try my lasagna.” That’s useful info, because Marie adds that her type of guy is someone “who is kind and loves to eat.” So who would she invite to dinner? “Josh Hartnett,” Marie says without hesitation. “I really love him.”
Having grown up in Japan, Marie laments some of the changes that have taken place in society. “I think people of my generation cannot understand the news. Maybe it’s because of a lack of education or individual competence, which is sad. It is also sad that they are indifferent to news itself. For example, Japan is a country where people have no interest in politics. When I went to America, everybody seemed to like their country. It was like ‘Go America!’ But we don’t have that in Japan. The attitude here is ‘Who cares? As long as I’m happy.’ I guess I am more sensitive because of my heritage. When I am in America, I am like an American. It’s easy for me to adapt.”
In the future, Marie says she would like to try her hand at fashion design. One thing she doesn’t want to do, though, is movies. “I can’t act. I am horrible at remembering dialogue,” she says ruefully. Which means that if Josh Hartnett comes calling for a leading lady, he’ll probably end up with a plate of lasagna instead.
© Japan Today
46 Comments
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rjd_jr
Wonder why all these 'models' all have one names.
MrMukatsuku
Therein lies your answer...
Nessie
Like she said: Trouble remembering their lines.
thepro
She is seriously annoying on TV. How is she a model, also? Not really a 'classic' beauty is she...
pointofview
Interesting... Parents are Japanese and Canadian (no need to say French-Canadian)but she spent time in Australia and the US studying English. Typical Eh!
Cap587
Well... uh, at least she doesn't have a blog. Enough said.
IchyaParadise
Damn...I am actually gonna say something nice again. She is not thw worst out there and she is one of the few that I can actually stand on what little TV I do watch. I do respect that this article seems to make her down to earth and she even hates how most of her own countrymen of here age are not into their politics.
KaptainKichigai
Another talentless, pretty face exploited for money and image. Who cares? She is no different than every other girl in fashion shops or the cell phone shops. Young with no substance and just lucky. Good for her. Boooooorrrriiiing.
Jayeln
She's 21, high school diploma and a model.What more can u ask for?
Wottock_Hunt
"I want to send a good feeling to people "
Mission accomplished - what a corker! Zzzzzzzzzip! (breathing on palms)
tattit742
Um...actually a lot of famous Americans post blogs!
tattit742
and its also interesting on TV when asked what she liked to cook she said "I dont know because I've always had chefs make all my meals for me." and now she wants to date a guy that will like her cooking?!
soldave
rjd - she's foreign, ergo she doesn't need a 2nd name. They just won't let another foreigner with the same name become famous!
myhomeuphere
Lots of jealousy around here:
He single name is her stage name - Marie Tamaki-Pascal is her full name. Her father was the boss of Elf, certainly not short of a quid, she is making her own way - good luck to her.
zaichik
zaichik
Best make-up-ist?
The question is, does she actually have any talent beyond looking pretty and vacuous?
nath
Now to face the wolves on both sides of the lens.
Will she attain beauty inside and out after as well?
Will you? She seems charming from the article comments.
JeffLee
I was born in Toronto. How come no one calls me "English Canadian"?
bamboohat
Dudes, she was recruited when she was 10. Since then, she realized she would be successful only on her looks. Hopefully not, but she probably will understand where that sadness she speaks of comes from when she realizes that as she ages and her looks begin to fade, so will the reason for her being the center of attention. Hopefully she'll hold onto the awareness that that she does have the option for further education and to make something of herself from an intellectual standpoint.
soldave
zaichik - she's a tarento... skills are optional and usually superfluous.
beavis
The cold, hard truth.
zaichik
Silly of me to forget - I've evidently been out of Japan too long.
WilliB
While you ridicule her, she is laughing all the way to the bank.
KaptainKichigai
The bank doesnt save her soul or her dignity for exploiting herself as a pretty idiot for money. She only furthers the declination of Japanese soceity by setting the example to girls that a pretty face is all you need. And choosing it over an education. Some role model.
Richard_the_First
She isn't even good looking, in my opinion anyway.
darksamurai
I love here..she's really talented.
Sarge
"he'll probably end up with a plate of lasagne instead"
I love lasagne.
WilliB
Kaptainkichigai:
She is on Japanese TV, what do you expect? Do you feel such pity for the rest of the geinojin crowd?
KaptainKichigai
I expect nothing anymore Wiili. There is no culture left in Japan. The younger generations have no clue about their own country. Sometimes I think the Gaijins are more interested in Japan than its own citizens. This isnt even the same place it was as little as 5 years ago. And now this nonsense with these ridiculous "celebrities". There is no art in Japan, no creativity. Its all just regurgitated culture born off the internet and from magazines and videos. " We are living in an exhausted decade where there is nothing to look forward to and noone to look up to."
Thenewfront
KaptainKichigai- I agree with you on this point. Style over substance is the thing in Japan nowadays. Most of the world is similar though.
Thenewfront
KaptainKichigai- I am British, not any type of Gaijin, same as this Marie is Canadian-Japanese, not half gaijin.
If thsi woman is spresading cheer, good luck to her i say. She is doing it in a manner that does not use offensive words which disgust decent people..
Quirinus3
I agree with TheNewFront- I hope this byoung lady can bring happiness to people in her chosen course of career.
Let us spread cheer through multi cultural people such as Marie, make people happy, and address them in respectfull ways.
Just my view.
MrEggAndSpoon
TheNewFront and Quirinus3; Man you to guys are cool, you are for equality, i respects what you says.
This girl make people happy , that is good ting.
Jeff Huffman
*WilliB at 12:40 PM JST - 12th September
*While you ridicule her, she is laughing all the way to the bank.**
Perhaps. But most tarento don't make all that much money, paying hefty handling fees to their agencies, and they have a pretty short shelf life.
Jeff Huffman
Thenewfront at 12:50 AM JST - 13th September
KaptainKichigai- I agree with you on this point. Style over substance is the thing in Japan nowadays. Most of the world is similar though.
New to Japan or posting with no in country experience? Never hear of tatemai and honne? Japan has, for most of its history, been about hiding reality behind facades.
Jeff Huffman
She brings to mind another pretty face of Japanese-Canadian extraction whose first name beings with "M." Name is on the tip of my tongue . . . I think she appears in magazines and in movies, too.
Freespeech
Thenewfront : I agree with you, and I think that the finesse to which jeffrey alludes with his "tatemai" is a thing of the past, a ghost, a dream that he entertains for not seeing how desperately crude the japanese culture has become.
NYC_Samurai
She's 21 years old, beautiful, multi-cultured, and enjoying her life. Envy is exuding from most of the posts here. I'm guessing you're about the same age as her.
meanmutha
KaptainKichigai at 12:47 AM JST - 13th September
I expect nothing anymore Wiili. There is no culture left in Japan. The younger generations have no clue about their own country. Sometimes I think the Gaijins are more interested in Japan than its own citizens. This isnt even the same place it was as little as 5 years ago. And now this nonsense with these ridiculous "celebrities". There is no art in Japan, no creativity. Its all just regurgitated culture born off the internet and from magazines and videos. " We are living in an exhausted decade where there is nothing to look forward to and noone to look up to."
your spot on dude.
rurika
ViVi models have a very short shelf life, Marie is making the best of her looks while they last. She can delay her education until she's 25, 30 or much older. These days you can get an education at any age. She's a smart girl who understands how the world works and she has a much more pleasant personality than most celebrities. Good luck to her.
Xeno23
She went to high school in Milwaukee? WTF? I mean, I've been to Milwaukee. I was born in Wisconsin; even I don't go there anymore.
Folks should make a distinction between high culture and pop culture; pop culture is incredibly silly pretty much everywhere, not just Japan. How is Paris Hilton and Survivor any better than Becky and funny gaijin on TV? Or look at what Eurovision has become; at one time that event meant something - now it's dreck.
Honne, tatemai - that was a perceptive post. High culture in Japan is readily apparent and accessible to those who know how to see it and find it; perhaps those who rant about the state of Japanese culture don't have the eyes to see it themselves? If all you do is watch TV, or hang in Akiba, well.
Anyway, I got a newsflash: pop culture in Japan was pretty silly in 1969 too folks.
Moderator: Stay on topic please.
BurakuminDes
I for one am not envious, I am drooling over her......
usaexpat
Crazy, she went to Highschool in Milwaukee, my home town. That must have been a shock, Milwaukee is like Nagasaki as Tokyo is like LA. As for the sour grapes from some posters so what. She's pretyy, successful and seems to be happy, good for her.
Nessie
She's ain't the only one.
LoveUSA
She looks more Japanese than French Canadian. Why is that?