Mo Ieong

Exclusive Interview: JACE CHAN on Her New Song “I’m Tired”

https://youtu.be/myWVu7OZcyE About the Rare 29-Year Saturn Return The Saturn Return is a fascinating and mysterious astrological concept. Saturn completes its orbit approximately every 29.5 years. In other words, each person’s Saturn Return happens around the age of 29, marking a significant time of personal growth. This period often brings noticeable changes in relationships and can be a pivotal turning point in various aspects of life. “I didn't set specific goals based on age or year, but coincidentally, everything happened during this period.” JACE remarks. Regardless of whether Saturn is influencing her, JACE took this crucial juncture to leave her record company and reinvent herself as an independent singer-songwriter. You might have heard about her over the past two year...

Cath Wong: Praise Me Loudly If You Doubt Life An Exclusive Interview on Her New Song《黃言》

Cath Wong has a unique philosophy, which she calls "Wong's Philosophy": Be willing to endure hardships; don’t focus solely on immediate gains. Be kind; others' attitudes should not influence your principles. Recognize and praise yourself; after all, surviving is already an incredible feat. "I’m quite stubborn. What might seem like trivial principles to others are philosophies I will adhere to for life," Cath asserts. In line with this, she recently released a new song, 《黃言》, a self-praising anthem. During our interview, I asked her to list three things she deserves praise for. After some thought, she said, "I think I sing quite well, I cook decently, and I write songs pretty nicely." Her tone carried a hint of uncertainty, and she sounded slightly reserved. "In the past, ...

A Fond Farewell to Oneself: The Living Funeral of Mizunoe Takiko

Japan's First Woman to Host Her Own Living Funeral On February 19, 1993, 500 people gathered at the Tokyu Hotel in Tokyo to attend a living funeral for the esteemed entertainer Mizunoe Takiko, who was about to celebrate her 78th birthday the following day. As the "deceased," Mizunoe began the ceremony with a speech: "To be able to see my own portrait and flower-adorned altar while still alive is truly a blessing." Thus began this unprecedented event. "I just want to hug Takiko one more time," actor Nishimura Ko offered his eulogy in front of Mizunoe’s portrait, while Mizunoe herself, seated in a wicker chair beside him, burst into laughter. A year prior, Mizunoe attended a memorial concert for the musician Imaizumi Takao, where she was inspired by producer Ei Rokusuke to organize he...

Androgyny in the Spotlight: The Dream and Downfall of the Takarazuka Revue

Stardom vs. Academia When someone advises you to focus on your studies rather than chasing stardom, they might be onto something. Reality shows that becoming a star is significantly more challenging than getting into a prestigious university. Take, for instance, the University of Tokyo, Japan's top institution, with an acceptance rate of 22%. In contrast, the acceptance rate for the renowned Takarazuka Revue, a theater troupe blending song, dance, and drama, is a mere 3.7%. There's a catch, though: you must be female. Founded over a century ago, the Takarazuka Revue is an iconic all-female musical theater troupe. Each year, thousands of girls from across Japan vie for a spot at the Takarazuka Music School, with only about 40 to 50 making the cut. Once admitted, they undergo ...

【WHY NOT BOLD】Roaming Across the Corners of the Globe: Interviewing Gigi Chang

That Year, She Became a Wanderer of the Earth “In a single, exhaustive day, I became a global nomad.” On September 11, 2022, a young woman commenced her worldwide adventure, sharing the beginning of her journey on Instagram from her first stop, London. Gigi Chang succinctly describes herself online: “Capturing stories with my camera, I wander solo across the globe. My home is in Africa for now.” At 22, the Taiwanese photographer chose to embark on an extensive journey. Like Phileas Fogg, the protagonist from Around the World in Eighty Days, her adventure started in London, but hers was not spurred by a wager nor constrained by a deadline. Her travels aimed simply to fulfill a childhood aspiration. “I want to tell my younger self: Look, you are more courageous and resilient than you ...

【WHY NOT BOLD】Behind Every Mom: Heroes and Villains – Interviewing Rosa Maria Velasco

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXQGiidSKlY In “Time Still Turns the Pages (2023)”, the character of Heidi, portrayed by Rosa, is perhaps the most merciless mother imaginable. Her cruelty is vividly depicted through her actions of hitting and berating her child in the film, alongside a heart-wrenching declaration that any potential divorce would be solely the child’s fault, culminating in her ultimate decision to abandon her family altogether. However, it’s crucial to distinguish Rosa from her on-screen persona, for in real life, she embodies the very essence of maternal love.  The Right to Cry as a Mother Having been with her husband since 2001 and married after a 13-year courtship, they welcomed their daughter Mia seven years later. Rosa describes Mia as the culminati...

【WHY NOT BOLD】“Encyclopedia of Handsome Guy” – Interviewing Lai Ying

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UonX9d92oCk Quickly name three “handsome guys” that come to mind. Don't overthink it, just shoot! See, Everyone has their own little black book of handsome guys. From the 90s heartthrobs like Takeshi Kaneshiro, Edison Chen, Daniel Wu, and Aaron Kwok, to the new kids on the block like Mirror, Jeffrey Ngai, and Terance Lau... Every era has its own batch of eye candy. So, for Lai Ying, whose fascination with handsome men knows no bounds, she decided to take the plunge and create a track called 《美男子圖鑑》 - teaming up with like-minded musician Serrini to pen the lyrics. Both are unabashedly smitten with good-looking guys. The song metaphorically likens love to a forest where everyone picks their own path. “《美男子圖鑑》 was one of those wild ideas I just had ...

Truely Rachel Leung

Rachel Leung is no newcomer to the cinematic world. Since her debut in the film “Somewhere Beyond the Mist” in 2015, nearly nine years have passed. Now, as she approaches her 31st birthday, she has received an extraordinary gift: the Best Supporting Actress award at the Asian Film Awards for her role as Ling, a mentally challenged individual who suffers sexual assault, in “In Broad Daylight”. In the days leading up to the Asian Film Awards ceremony, Rachel shared insights from her journey as an actress during a panel discussion titled “In Conversation: The Multifaceted Lives of Women Filmmakers” Dressed in a white dress and sporting thick-soled shoes, her appearance sparked a light-hearted comment from the host, Kearen Pang: “It's indeed challenging being an actress, with or without ma...