At Northern Europe's largest gaming and cosplay convention NärCon, Dumpling Box had the opportunity to sit down and talk to the talented MIYA (more about MIYA here)!
We asked her a couple questions to help readers and her fans, MUNI (52), get to know her and her debut single MIYAO which was released earlier this year in March 2024.
If you had to describe yourself in just three words (in any language), what words would it be?
かっこいい Kakkoii (Meaning: cool, attractive, handsome)
I think this is the first thing people probably say about me! When people see me perform on stage for the first time, this is probably the first thing that comes to mind to people.
面白い Omoshiroi (Meaning: Interesting, funny, amusing)
When people see how I am in a different setting, my personality and such can be rather interesting.
Exotic
Um… Because it’s a little odd- Well, because I think I am exotic! [laughs] I would like to become that~! 😁
Could you tell us about the inspiration behind your debut single MIYAO?
I wanted to make a song that would make people go “that’s MIYA!”. The title has my name in it, and since I also really like cats it includes a cat’s meow in the title as well as in the song. I wanted to create something that was easy for others to get the idea of and visualize. I’d say that’s where I got my inspiration from.
What was the process of creating the choreography and music like?
As for the dance for MIYAO, I got a dance teacher to create a choreography that was very typical to MIYA. Rather than a girly or feminine choreography, a cool and attractive one. For the music as well, it’s an easy-to-understand and MIYA-like song.
What do you like to do on a day off?
Lately, I’m gaming [laughs] Other than that, I like to ride around and go for a drive on my little scooter! 🛵💨
If you could be a character from any movie or book, who would you choose?
Waah, there’s so much to chose from!
I think I would like to be a fantasy-style character, one that fights and such ⚔🔮
What’s an unexpected item we would find in your bag? 👜
I wonder what it could be… I don’t have everything with me right now, but let’s see what we have!
What I have with me right now is a film camera, tissues, and then perfume and such.
Hm, is there anything unexpected in here?
Well, let’s go with the perfume! It’s a sweet perfume, I really like this one.
Author’s note: She lifted the cap to let me smell, it smelled sweet with a tinge of vanilla (⁄ ⁄•⁄ω⁄•⁄ ⁄)
If you were an animal, what animal do you think you would be and why?
CAT! 🐱
I really like cats, and I would like to live like a cat; taking it easy, sleeping, eating, playing, and things like that.
Speaking of cats, you actually own two cats, right? Please tell us a little bit about them!
The first cat is Simon, I’ve had him for about 12 years now. He weighs 9 kg, he’s heavy, what a fat guy! [laughs] To me, he’s the cutest!
The second cat is Azuki, who was born only just earlier this year in April. She’s only 4 months old, so just a little kitten, but she’s so rowdy. She really is a troublemaker!
They’re both really cute! ☺
What kind of creative concept would you like to try as a solo artist?
I think would like to do something a bit different from MIYAO, something dark and kakkoii.
What is your personal goal for the next upcoming years?
As for my personal goal… Well, I’ve only just gotten started on my own as a solo act, so I think my goal is to increase the amount of genres that I am able to pull off.
EXclusive images from her Main Stage performance at NärCon 📸
Who is MIYA?🐱🌠
MIYA (宮内晴香; Miyauchi Haruka, born May 26th 1993 in Shizuoka, Japan) is a Japanese solo artist under MASTER LIGHTS Inc. In 2018 she made her original debut as an idol in the South Korean girl group GWSN (Korean: 공원소녀; Gongwon Sonyeo, Japanese: 公園少女; kōen shōjo), and became known for her unique girl crush charm, garnering a broad variety of fans across genders. In May 2023 she re-launched in Japan as the solo act MIYA, releasing her debut song MIYAO a little less than a year later on March 8th 2024.
Activities as MIYA🐈
Aside from performing and being active as a solo artist, she also is an overall creative person with a strong interest in art. She has contributed with her aesthetic sense to the design of album covers, illustrates goods, and contributed to the creative vision of her debut release. In combination with her birthday event 38+62 (MIYA AND MUNI) on May 26th this year, she hosted an art exhibition MIYA’s PLAYGROUND, which took place from May 24th to the 28th and was available for viewing at DESIGN FESTA GALLERY HARAJUKU.
MIYA, who has an has a background as a child actor in Japan prior to her idol debut in South Korea, is projected to be active as not only a solo artist but also as a model, actress, and creator. Some of her activities since being active as a solo act include being featured in the magazine NYLON JAPAN, being an MC at KCON Japan 2024, acting in a short drama from Chiilout Films, and modelling for the cosmetics brand Évossée.
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We would like to thank MIYA and MASTER LIGHTS Inc. for this exclusive opportunity for an interview, and to our official partner Swedish-Japanese Performers Association and NärCon for inviting and hosting MIYA in Sweden!
Make sure to check out the interview MIYA did on our partner SJPA‘s website about her impressions of Sweden and her life in Japan!
Interview is translated by Rudy from Swedish-Japanese Performers Association.
Follow MIYA
Website & Official Fanclub: miya38-62.fanpla.jp
Instagram: @miya_lv38
TikTok: @miya_lv38
X: @miya38_official
YouTube: MASTER LIGHTS
Stream MIYAO on streaming platforms🐱