Mayuka Thaïs

Mayuka Thaïs (born September 25, 1979) is an American singer-songwriter, artist, actress, 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 television show Shimajiro.[3][4][5][1]

Mayuka Thaïs
Tusks & Horns Tour 2015 Image
Background information
Born (1979-09-25) September 25, 1979
San Francisco, United States
OriginSan Francisco, United States
Genres
  • Folk
  • Children's Music
  • Pop
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter
musician
artist
actress
art educator
voice over artist
edutainer
InstrumentsGuitar
Vocals
Harmonica
Years active1985–present
Associated actsThe Homeworks, Mayu Wakisaka, The Watanabes, Nesian Mystik
Websitemayukathais.com

Early life and career beginnings

Thaïs was born in San Francisco to a Caucasian American mother Teri Suzanne;[1] her late father was Japanese.[1][6] [7] She worked in the edutainment industry 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. [9] At the age of 10, Thaïs won the Tokyo Metropolitan Government art award.[3][10] Her notable role came when she became the main singer, actress on a popular children's television show Shimajiro[1][3][4] [11] 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][12] Thaïs is currently an instructor at Otis College of Art and Design.[13][2][1][14] [15] [16]

Music

At the age of 5, Thaïs recorded a Christmas album Minna De Merry Christmas with multiracial children for Nippon Columbia.[17] 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][18] With the help of contributors on her Pledge Music campaign, her album Tusks & Horns was produced by Geoff Levin of People! in May 2014.[19][2] Thaïs has shared the stage with artists such as Mayu Wakisaka, The Watanabes, Nesian Mystik, Geoff Levin, and many others.[20][21][22][23][24]

Art

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

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 from CSI, 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

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.

Philanthropy

In 2011, Thaïs launched an indiegogo campaign to raise funds for the children at Atlanta Georgia's Children's Rite Hospital Children's Healthcare of Atlanta (CHOA). She raised $1736 and also created a music video with her song Hope Is My Friend to spread the news of love and hope so that hospitalized children would have Christmas presents.[39]

Art and music non-profit collaborations

Music

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. World renowned drummer percussionist Billy Hawn joined in to help teach, inspire, and arrange music for the students.[40]

Art

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. [41]

Television

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.[42]

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

Children's television personality

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

Discography

Songs for films
YearFilmRoleDirected bySong
2013Half Way to HellSongwriter, performer, writerRichard FriedmanSong Without You
2014LiberationSongwriter, performer, writerSiglia DinizLet the Wind Blow
2014On Georgia's MindSongwriter, performer, writerMontana MannDon't Say Forever

Albums
Independently released:
TitleArtistYearRoleProducerLabels
Tusks & HornsMayuka Thaïs2014Singer-songwriter, guitaristGeoff LevinIndependent
Studio released:
TitleYearRoleLabels
Minna De Merry Christmas1988SingerNippon Columbia
The Adventures of Shiny & Sparkle1989SingerALC
Ninjin Cha Cha Cha1993SingerNippon Columbia
Ahiru No Samba1994SingerNippon Columbia
Mrs. Santa's Series: Thanks Santa!1995SingerNippon Columbia
All We Need1998Singer-songwriter, performerNippon Columbia
Doki Doki Family1999SingerMeito
Teri's Happy Animals2000SingerNippon Columbia, Meito
Mama to Asobou: Eigo no Asobi uta2000SingerNippon Columbia, Akachan Honpo
Bring Santa To Me2001SingerDream Illumination
Action 82002SingerNHK software
Genki Genki Nontan Utaou! Christmas2004SingerNippon Columbia
Play Time for Toddlers2005SingerBenesse
Let's Play with Alphabets2009SingerNippon Columbia
Let's Sing English Songs Together2012SingerNippon Columbia
Toku Toku Eigo no Uta 50 songs2013SingerNippon Columbia
Maniatta! Series (6) Christmas & New Years2013SingerNippon Columbia
Columbia Kids! Hop! Step! Jump! Eigo no Uta Tsume Awase2015SingerNippon Columbia
Santa to Utaou Christmas2016SingerNippon Columbia
Eigo no Uta2017SingerNippon Columbia
Christmas Song2018SingerNippon Columbia
Christmas Songs Best of Best2019SingerNippon Columbia

Singles
Singles released independently:
  • 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)
Released Nippon Columbia:
  • Let's Play with Alphabets (2009)
  • Kaze no Youni (1993)

Music videos
  • 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

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

Music
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
  • "We all Japan No. 10 – Mayuka Thaïs "[43] 2011
  • "Mayuka Thaïs Summer Songwriting Workshop for Youth Speak Collective 2011 with Billy Hawn "[44] 2011
  • "GLOBAL MARCH FOR ELEPHANTS & RHINOS SF – Musical Medicine with Soleil Dakota "[45] 2014
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References
  1. Johnston, George. "INTO THE NEXT STAGE: Learning Japanese and the Shimajiro Connection". Rafu Shimpo. Retrieved July 8, 2017.
  2. 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. Samuels, Elliott (November 12, 2016), "Life: Mayuka Thais: Artist Mayuka Thais: 'Remember to look at everything with wonder'", The Japan Times
  4. "Mayuka Thaïs IMDB". IMDB. Retrieved January 6, 2017.
  5. "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. "Mayuka Thais About". Mayuka Thais. Retrieved March 11, 2017.
  10. Samuels, Elliot (April 23, 2017). "Cut paper artist Teri Suzanne: 'a pair of scissors is the superhero of utensils'". Retrieved April 22, 2017.
  11. "Mayuka Thaïs Debut Album Quest". Pledge Music. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
  12. "Mayuka Thais About". Mayuka Thais. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
  13. "Faculty bios". Otis College of Art and Design. Retrieved April 19, 2017.
  14. "20 Questions: the best answers of 2016". The Japan Times. Retrieved July 11, 2019.
  15. "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.
  16. "Habitat Umbrellas". davisart.com. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
  17. "Nippon Columbia Christmas Albums". Nippon Columbia. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
  18. "Genki Genki Nontan". Nippon Columbia Japan. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
  19. "About". Mayuka Thaïs. Retrieved January 6, 2017.
  20. "1/10 Japan Music Week, NZ Night/KIWIアーティストを応援しよう！". Retrieved March 14, 2017.
  21. "Animal Refuge Kansai ARK Fundraiser in Tokyo". Retrieved March 14, 2017.
  22. "LIVE". Retrieved March 14, 2017.
  23. "Mayuka Thais About". mayukathais.com. Retrieved March 14, 2017.
  24. "Mayuka Thais". iTunes US. Retrieved April 25, 2017.
  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. "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. "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. "Help Hospitalized Children at Christmas 'Share the Hope'". indiegogo. Retrieved March 13, 2017.
  40. "Mayuka Thais About". Mayuka Thais. Retrieved March 14, 2017.
  41. "Mayuka Thais, 'Life Size Baby Asian Elephant' painting 2013". elemotion.org. Retrieved March 14, 2017.
  42. Samuels, Elliott. "Artist Mayuka Thais: 'Remember to look at everything with wonder'". The Japan Times. Retrieved November 12, 2016.
  43. luixsilva (January 18, 2011). "We all Japan #10 - Mayuka Thaïs" – via YouTube.
  44. Mayuka Thais (September 16, 2011). "Mayuka Thaïs Summer Songwriting Workshop for Youth Speak Collective 2011" – via YouTube.
  45. Soleil Dakota (January 19, 2015). "GLOBAL MARCH FOR ELEPHANTS & RHINOS SF - Musical Medicine with Soleil Dakota" – via YouTube.
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