[article] Mai wins fans in Asia

[nmskalmn]

FROM Shandong in China to Hong Kong and now Taipei, J-pop sweetie Mai Kuraki has left a trail of smitten fans and journalists in her wake in the past two weeks.

One cannot help but wonder: Is she out to compete with J-pop queen Ayumi Hamasaki?

Ayumi has made her Asian ambitions known by holding three concerts in the Chinese regions and shooting a music video with Hong Kong actor Shawn Yue in his hometown.

And Mai, 25, seems to be hard on Ayumi's stiletto-shod heels.

The R&B singer said last week that she will stage her first Asian concert at the Taipei Arena in November.

In 2003, she collaborated with Singaporean singer Stefanie Sun on two English songs.

Mai, one of Japan's biggest pop icons - she has sold 6million albums since her 2000 debut - has also been jetting around the region, making her presence felt.

Unlike glamourpuss Ayumi, who never leaves home without a massive entourage, Mai charms with her more casual and humble ways.

She dresses down, travels with her mum in tow and seems to prefer local haunts to the designer boutiques that Ayumi adores.

In Hong Kong, she was seen choosing ice cream at a shop and making a wax sculpture of her hand at a roadside stall.

In Taipei, she tried wrapping and frying dumplings at the popular Shihlin night market.

The hard-working Mai even pored over books to learn Mandarin.

SINGS IN MANDARIN

The result? She was able to perform a Chinese song with aplomb and surprised many by speaking Mandarin.

The song was Born To Be Free, which she sang at the A3 Champions Cup in Shandong, twoweeks ago.

Mai is the image ambassador for the annual football event involving China, Japan and South Korea.

The website Tom.com reported that she won the loudest applause at an A3 party when she made a short speech in fluent Mandarin.

In Taipei, she scored points by introducing herself in Mandarin and constantly saying 'duo xie' (Mandarin for many thanks) at the Golden Melody Awards.

The media raved about her personality, on how she asked to take a photo with journalists and how she readily agreed to walk the red carpet with a government official whose department had organised the awards.

Earlier reports in Hong Kong had also praised her personable ways.

Her photo shoot-cu m-holiday in Hong Kong wth her mum was a hush-hush affair, but reporters found out and and followed her.

However, Mai didn't seem to mind and even posed for pictures.

She also told reporters she is a big fan of Hong Kong movie star Jackie Chan.

The one person she is dying to see is Stefanie, she said. It has been years since they met.

Who knows, they might end up doing another duet, and this time, in Mandarin?

http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/show/st...133620,00.html