Hanayo

Hanayo (??, Nakajima Hanayo?, born 1970) is a Japanese musician and artist. She is known for her playful and subversive artwork, often deeply rooted in Japanese culture. Hanayo currently lives and works in Berlin.

In 1989 Hanayo began training as a junior geisha in Tokyo, publishing an account of the experience in her 1991 book, Oshakuchan No. 1. Together with Japanese noise musicians Masami Akita (Merzbow) and Masaya Nakahara (Violent Onsen Geisha) she formed the band Muscats in 1992. Later that year Hanayo was featured on the cover of The Face magazine's December issue in full geisha attire. In 1993 she modeled for a Jean Paul Gaultier advertising campaign.

In 1995 Hanayo finished her geisha work and moved to Europe. In 1997 she joined German director/performance artist Christoph Schlingensief for several projects: She portrayedYoko Ono in the performance Mein Filz, mein Fett, mein Hase (English: My Felt, My Fat, My Hare) at documenta X in Kassel. She took part in Schlingensief's performance Passion Impossible at the Deutsches Schauspielhaus in Hamburg and had a role in his theatre play Die letzten Tage der Rosa Luxemburg (English: The Last Days of Rosa Luxemburg) at the Berliner Ensemble. In 2000 Hanayo starred in Shane O'Sullivan's film Second Generation.

Hanayo's single Joe le taxi has been featured on many compilations, including 2 Many DJs with Soulwax. She has performed with musicians and bands such as Violent Onsen Geisha, Red Crayola, Vapid Dolly, Black Dog, Jun Miyake, Merzbow, Woodman, Kai Althoff, Terre Thaemlitz, The Panacea, Pain Cake (with Locust Fudge) and Ponpons. Her most recent project is the Berlin-based band Wooden Veil.

www.hanayo.com

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