Ayumi Hamasaki Sekai - [article] J-pop singer makes debut in musical

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Tomiko Van, who stars in the Japanese version of the 2004 Broadway musical, is fascinated by this kind of do-it-yourself street fashion.

"They're great ideas. They're not the kind of costumes I usually wear," she says.

Definitely not for past stage appearances as a J-pop singer. Van is better known as the former lead vocalist of J-pop band Do As Infinity. The band's best-of album in 2002, Do The Best, sold more than 1 million copies. Since the band broke up in 2005, she has embarked on a solo career. BKLYN marks her debut in the world of musicals. Asked why she spells her last name Van, not Ban, she says: "I don't know--I just feel like spelling it that way. Because the sound of it rocks more that way, I guess."

Musicals had never been on the agenda for Van until she received the offer to perform in BKLYN.

"I felt quite hesitant and nervous when I got the offer. I wasn't really familiar with musicals, and the music was different from the genre I typically sing," she says. "But when I listened to the music, I found it empowered me. So I decided to give it a try."

The music in BKLYN is mainly soul and R&B. The story is told in a story-within-a story format in which five street performers hold a show about the life of a girl named Brooklyn. The scenario of a show by street performers explains the casual costumes, which may not seem as elaborate as stage costumes in other shows, even if they are cool.

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