Model behaviour

Legends of foreign models finding success pimpin' everything from Fendis to toothpaste will always exist. But how easy is it to really strike it rich in Japan by striking a pose?

After several hours of work, it all came down to this moment. It was finally Mike Michaud's moment to shine. His new HEP 5 commercial was set to start airing today and he wasn't about to miss his TV premiere. “I was watching the channel waiting for the ad. Finally the commercial came on and I waited again to see myself. Then right near the end, I saw my face… and a logo came up over it,” says Michaud. “But for three seconds I was a star.”

Welcome to the glamorous world of modeling in Japan. Many foreigners who come here dreaming of gracing billboards and trains find that the paparazzi aren't hot in their pursuit and the yen doesn't always flow like draft at happy hour. Of course everyone knows a friend who knows a friend who came to Japan and struck it rich posing with sunglasses or smiling manically at pachinko parlours. But beyond the urban legends of the industry, just how easy is it to strike it rich here by striking a pose?

“I didn't have any delusions of being a male supermodel,” says Mike Michaud, a twenty-nine year old American who has been modeling with Group Echo for over a year while teaching English. “I just thought that it would be a fun way to make some extra money.” But for twenty-four yearold Aprille Willemse, modeling was something that interested her before she came to Japan. Willemse, did some modeling back home in Canada before attending university and compares it to being on stage. “Modeling is similar to theatre,” says Willemse. “You play an image or a character. It isn't the same routine at every job I go to. Every booking is different and it is somewhat challenging.”

Michaud agrees. “You spend a lot of time just sitting around … then it's go, go, go and then waiting again.” On one eight-hour shoot, Michaud says he and the other models only worked for about two or three hours. “We met the agent at six thirty (in the morning) and then we went to the shoot, worked for about an hour, had lunch, then waited some more, while they changed props, before finishing the shoot. Besides the unpredictable schedule, being a model in Japan can sometimes leave aspiring stars literally lost in translation. “The directors don't usually speak English. “It's a lot like that scene from Lost in Translation,” laughs Michaud. “They often say ‘smile bigger, be sadder.'” On one shoot for a curtain commercial, Michaud was even told to be more seductive. “Sometimes, it's hard not to laugh,” says Michaud.

Willemse also says not being able to fully understand the crews on shoots can present an interesting challenge. “There may be more pressure than one may expect,” says Willemse. “On one shoot they actually gave me the nickname ‘sensei' and started talking about me. I don't think they were saying anything bad, but it made me feel a little insecure. I wanted to say something, but then I felt that saying something might have looked unprofessional.”

And if being a professional in the modeling biz is important to you, Michaud and Willemse both have their own brand of advice to getting started.

“Some people think that they can't get into modeling because of their body type, but anyone can do it,” says Michaud. “Don't be discouraged by not getting work. I haven't had any work in two months. Before that, it was two to three jobs a month.” Just be sure to pick a reputable company, relax and have fun with it.”

Willemse has similar advice. “Do your homework. Find out where the best agencies are.” Willemse took this advice from a former roommate in Tokushima who used to be a modeling scout in Australia. And since moving to Osaka, she has been modeling ever since. “Even if a few agencies say ‘no', just keep trying. I did. Look through magazines and note how the models pose. If you have a friend who does photography, have them take pictures of you. Remember modeling does take practice.” Posing all day can be tiring and certainly does require more than just a pretty face, but all that practice can really pay off. “The average job can pay anywhere from ¥10-15,000,” says Michaud. “I once got ¥50,000 for a commercial. If there are fewer people involved then it usually pays more.”

If the paycheque sounds enticing, wait until you hear about the other perks. “My first job was with Mazda,” says Willemse. It was for a calendar and it was shot in Hiroshima. I got my travel paid for and I got to stay in a fairly nice hotel. They even paid for my meals. I also got to do some sight-seeing”.

Not too shabby for a day's work. If nothing else, having a catalogue with your mug on it will make an impressive souvenir to show to friends back home. And with some jobs paying up to ¥100,000, you have nothing to lose … and a lot to smile about.

Text: Antoinette Sarpong • Photos: KS