This Woman Has Been Dubbed The Beyonc Of Japan And Shes Fabulous

Say hello to Naomi Watanabe, the comedian, impressionist, fashionista, designer, Instagram celebrity, actress, and body-positive role model being hailed as the “Beyoncé of Japan”.

Watanabe specializes in the genre of Japanese comedy known as monomane, or celebrity impersonation. She got her big break in 2008 appearing on Japanese television variety shows performing her over-the-top Beyoncé lip sync impersonations.

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In a country where, according to the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, the average female under 40 weighs less than 115 pounds, the sight of a 200-pound diva working it – and killing it – on TV was unforgettable.

Where many other comedy acts in Japan become one-hit wonders, Watanabe’s star has continued to shine brightly. Not content to chill on the variety show circuit, she branched out into TV commercials and regular appearances on television dramas. In 2014, she even debuted her own clothing line, PUNYUS, featuring a range of cute, cool, and quirky fashion for girls of all sizes.

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“Of course, larger women want to be fashionable, too, but there weren’t any fashionable clothes for us,” Watanabe explained to the Washington Post about her reasons for starting the brand. With her body-positive message, Watanabe is a key figure in the recent movement in Japan to embrace pocchari, or plus-sized, women with cute names like “marshmallow girls”.

In 2016, she embarked on a sold-out world tour of New York, Los Angeles, and Taiwan (Watanabe is half-Taiwanese). The show was complete with comedy, backup dancers, her signature Beyoncé lip sync, and Lady Gaga impersonations.

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Declared a 2016 Vogue Japan Woman of the Year and with nearly seven million Instagram followers and counting, there’s no question that Naomi Watanabe is the “Beyoncé of Japan”.

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Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.