Sanma, Shinobu’s Daughter Makes First Appearance

Imalu


What do you do with your life if your mother is one of Japan’s top actresses and your father is perhaps the country’s most recognizable comedian? Enter show business, of course. And so with much fanfare, Imalu (19) made her first public appearance yesterday. The daughter of actress Ohtake Shinobu (51) and comedian Akashiya Sanma (53, profile) actually debuted as a magazine model last month but the media had never been able to use anything other than still photos and soundbites. She spoke to fans at an FM Yokohama event held at the Queen’s Square mall, and the appearance of music producer Tago Kunio (35) made it clear that her career will move in that direction, too. She said that she has been taking voice lessons a couple of times a week since last autumn. Her choice of career, common enough for the children of celebrities, has led to a mixed reaction. There has been quite a bit of online criticism, saying the world can do without more so-called “ni-sei,” or second generation, celebrities. After finishing junior high school in Japan, Imalu graduated from a high school in Victoria, Canada last June.