By Chris Betros

Model attitude
A little English and a big heart go a long way for Moe Oshikiri

Kohji Shiiki

A grandma model? Why not, says 29-year-old Moe Oshikiri, who hopes to still be in front of the camera when she’s in her eighties. “Fashion is inspirational and important for expressing one’s personality, no matter what your age.”

Oshikiri is conducting this interview in English at the Metropolis offices, where she’s been meeting with staff to prepare her own article for the magazine. Her eagerness and confidence to use English is a legacy of her two years as co-host of NHK’s popular program Eigo de Shaberanaito, which will finish its run at the end of March.

Born in Chiba, Oshikiri says she dreamed of being an artist when she was a young girl. “I always liked to draw and paint. I still do.” After a stint as an amateur model, she was scouted in Shibuya when she was 18. Her early days in the business were filled with hardship, which she recounts in her recently released book, Moderu Shikkaku (“No Longer a Model”). (The title is a play on author Osamu Dazai’s famous 1948 novel Ningen Shikkaku—“No Longer Human”). In it, she tells how, after her first modeling agency went bankrupt, she struggled to make ends meet as a part-timer. “I was working in a factory putting strawberries on cakes as they came along on a conveyor belt, and doing other odd jobs,” she recalls.

The book, which Oshikiri says took her about four months to write, also recounts how she suffered from a spine injury in 2005 after being dumped by a wave in Hawaii. She was forced to spend the next three months out of work, but she persevered, and in the last four years has become one of Japan’s top models. She was a long-time fixture in CanCam fashion magazine and most recently “graduated” to AneCam. “AneCam is for women over 25, who are more stylish and more active,” she explains. Besides magazines, Oshikiri has taken part in the popular Tokyo Girls Collection fashion show. She’s also appeared in ads for Sony Ericsson and Asahi Beer, and her legs adorned the Japanese poster for the 2006 movie The Devil Wears Prada.

However, Oshikiri has really come of age on Eigo de Shaberanaito. “I studied English in school but it wasn’t much fun,” she says. “I started studying it more seriously about 4-5 years ago… When I was in hospital with my back injury, I started watching Eigo de Shaberanaito and really liked it. Joining the program was a challenge and a big opportunity. It’s been fun interviewing famous people like Will Smith and Keanu Reeves in English. Cameron Diaz was great. I love her. She gave me a lot of encouragement.” Oshikiri says she tries to keep up her English by reading books and magazines when she can, as well as watching movies without subtitles.

Her involvement with Metropolis sprang from a desire to put those skills into action. “I've been on the show for two years, and I really wanted to challenge myself,” she says. “I thought writing an article for Metropolis would be a perfect outlet.” After meeting with the editors and coming up with a list of potential interviewees, Oshikiri decided to profile Godiva Japan president Tom Chu (below). The interview was also featured on a recent episode of Eigo de Shaberanaito.

After the program ends, she’ll still be a busy woman, designing kimonos and watches, as well as a line of hosiery with her good friend and fellow model Yuri Ebihara. Oshikiri also does interior design, and last summer she even created some seasonal ice cream. “Modeling will remain my main job, though,” she says. “Some days, I am up at 4am and we don’t finish until midnight.” She stays in shape by going to the gym once or twice a week, dancing and playing golf. For relaxation, she says she likes shopping in Daikanyama, hanging out in Ebisu, or cooking at home. “I make a great stew,” she says. Whatever lies ahead, Oshikiri believes it’s important to have a positive attitude. She follows the news closely, and regularly makes contributions to children’s charities—most recently, to a relief fund for victims of the wildfires in Australia. “I’m really interested in President Obama. I hope he can bring change. There are many uncertainties these days. I believe that we have a bright future, but we all have to focus on doing what we can. The first step for me is to help others. If someone next to me is crying, I want to encourage them, even if it is just with a smile. A smile is the best gift I can give.”

Check out Oshikiri’s blog at http://ameblo.jp/moemode.

Chris Betros is the editor of Japan Today (www.japantoday.com).