Blaise Plant, a 46-year-old musician and vintner originally from Vanier, Ottawa, has spent more than half his life in Japan. He now runs a vineyard in Sendai City where he grows Baco noir, a hybrid grape popular among Niagara Peninsula winemakers. Plant says he is the only vintner in Europe, Asia, or Japan cultivating this variety.
From actor to pop star in Japan
In 2001, at age 21, Plant moved to Japan after his brother Maynard Plant, then 50, invited him to join a band. Maynard had been working as an Assistant Language Teacher through the JET program. Blaise was studying visual and performing arts at the University of Lethbridge and had just landed a leading role as Romeo at the Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan festival. He turned down the part and flew to Japan.
The brothers co-front the pop-rock band Monkey Majik, which signed with major label Avex in 2006. The band also includes drummer Takuya “Tax” Kikuchi and bassist Hideki “Dick” Mori. Their music blends J-pop, rock, and ballads, performed in both English and Japanese, and has been used as theme songs for movies and TV series, including the superhero franchise Kamen Rider.
Milestone and cultural ambassadorship
Plant recently passed a milestone: he has now lived in Japan longer than in Canada. He and his brother have served as Canada-Japan cultural ambassadors. According to Plant, Monkey Majik was the first pop act to perform before the emperor and empress of Japan. They also played at the 2008 Ottawa celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of Canada-Japan diplomatic relations.
This fall, the band will embark on a cross-Canada rail tour from Toronto to Vancouver on Via Rail’s The Canadian, aiming to inspire Japanese travelers to visit Canada.
Creating a new world in Sendai
Plant is married with three children and visits his Canadian family annually. He says learning Japanese was essential to building friendships and community. “The people are great. They’re very, very welcoming and everyone is so kind,” he said. “They really care about you and what you’re all about and your story.”
He reflected on his decision to stay: “I’ve created a whole new world in Japan, and you know, it would not make sense to ever really come back (to Canada).”
Plant also holds acting roles in Japanese TV dramas. He misses some things about Canada, like seeing the Northern Lights as a teen in Fort McMurray, and hopes to bring his family to Yellowknife to share the experience.
