Maekan

The faces of Japan’s entertainment industry are changing. From models to boy bands to athletes, the country is celebrating its new diversity, especially hafus—the Japanese term for biracial people. But before this new wave of mixed Japanese celebrities, there was Crystal Kay. This half-Korean and half-African American songstress was born in Japan, and was one of the only half-black people in mainstream media when she burst onto the Japanese pop scene in 1999. In this exclusive MAEKAN interview, she tells us about being mixed in Japan, and how her multicultural background has helped make her borderless as an entertainer. Script and Narration by Iris Van Kerckove Audio by Elphick Wo Photos by Kara Chung See the whole story