Matt Kuwata

Masashi Kuwata (桑田将司, Kuwata Masashi, born July 18, 1994[1]), known professionally as Matt Kuwata (マット桑田, Matto Kuwata) or Matt Rose,[2] is a Japanese media personality, model, and musician.[3][4][5][6]

Matt Kuwata
マット桑田
Born
Masashi Kuwata (桑田将司, Kuwata Masashi)

(1994-07-18) July 18, 1994
Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan
NationalityJapanese
Other namesMatt Rose
Occupation(s)fashion model, TV personality, musician
Height1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
Websitehttp://life-is-art-18.com/matt/

Early life

His father is former professional baseball player Masumi Kuwata; his older brother Masaki is also a former professional baseball player, and his grandfather is professional golfer Izumi Kuwata.[7][8][3][9][10][11]

When he was 7 years old, his father began playing piano as a form of rehabilitation; at this time, Kuwata began to teach himself to play piano and violin. However, in elementary school, his father pushed him to continue playing baseball until graduation, in the hope that he would grow to eventually like it and continue. This did not happen; with the support of his mother, Maki, he promptly quit baseball after completing the sixth grade in order to pursue his interest in music. While his older brother appeared to have inherited their father's passion for the sport, Kuwata was reportedly disinterested in it.[12] His mother wrote a book about the experience, titled Anata wa Anata no Mama de Ii Kodomo no Jiko Kōtei-kan o hagukumu Kuwata Ie no Kosodate (あなたはあなたのままでいい 子どもの自己肯定感を育む桑田家の子育て) (You're Fine the Way You Are: Growing Children's Self Esteem, Raising Children in the Kuwata House).[6][13] On October 2, 2022, he made a TV appearance alongside his mother on Shuukan Sanma to Matsuko.[14]

He joined his school's orchestra, where he played drums, flute, and alto sax. In high school, he went on to Horikoshi Gakuen, where he played alto as well as soprano saxophone in wind orchestra. As leader of the orchestra, he won first place in the Tokyo High School Wind Orchestra Competition. He went on to J. F. Oberlin University by way of recommendation for his instrument ability, and studied abroad in America for his fourth year of university. Upon his return to Japan, he graduated and immediately began his activities as a tarento.[15]

Beauty

Kuwata is known for his whiteface makeup style, sometimes referred to as "Matt-ka" (マット化, "Matt-ifying"). Domestic Japanese media has described his appearance as that of a "foreign prince" (domestic Japanese media often misuses the word "foreign" to mean "white") or "living doll", as well as criticized him for looking "unnatural". Kuwata himself says that he does not consider the "unnatural" remarks to be insulting; that in contrast of the approachable idol image, he wants to be seen as unreachable, like theme park characters he had idolized. He says that, through his appearance, he wishes to convey the message that "your life is your own". He has declined to comment on any rumors of plastic surgery.[3][4][16] He does, however, admit to the use of image editing software, including BeautyPlus and Adobe Lightroom.[17][18]

In 2019, he was awarded "Most Newsworthy Person in Beauty 2019" at the Bestcosmetics Awards 2019, hosted by VoCE Magazine.[19][20]

In October 2021, cosmetics company Daiya Corporation launched an official website for Emrose, a "total beauty brand" produced by Kuwata, featuring skincare products planned and designed by him, with his clear and whitened skin in mind as part of the concept. Featured ingredients include guaiazulene and camomile oil. A pop-up shop for it was opened in Shinjuku Isetan, at which Kuwata made an appearance and was approached by people of a wide variety of ages. The product "Blue Relief Peeling Pad", released on July 8, 2022, sold out completely in one week.[21] The liquid cosmetics have sold out and been re-released multiple times. [22]

On June 29, 2022, a 34-minute video demonstrating his skin care and makeup routine was featured by Vogue Japan online, featuring products from his brand Emrose.[23][24]

Despite his use of whiteface, which he refers to as "Westerner make-up (西洋人風メイク)" or erroneously describes as "foreigner make-up (外国人風メイク)", Kuwata has explicitly stated that he "has absolutely no desire to be a white person".[25]

Music

On December 26, 2019, he released his first music single, "Yoso mo Tsukanai Story".[4] His next single, "Unconditional Love", was released on September 30, 2020.[26]

In May 2021, he made a guest appearance in the music video for Kis-My-Ft2 member Kento Senga's solo single, "Buzz".[27]

Commercials

In September 2019, he filmed his first starring role in a commercial, advertising Black Thunder candy bars.[28][29] In November 2019, he and his father starred in a commercial for Y! Mobile together.[30]

In March 2020, he starred in a Mouse Computers web commercial, alongside The Fuccons.[31]

In April 2020, he starred in a web campaign for an Earth Corporation insect repelling device.[32][33]

In September 2021, he co-starred in a commercial for Uber Eats Japan, in which he is shown making up Japanese actress Nanako Matsushima in whiteface as well.[34] In the same month, he also appeared in a web commercial for AvanTime Tone Shot Cream, becoming a "beauty ambassador" for the brand.[35]

TV Appearances
  • Honma Dekka!? TV (Fuji TV Keiretsu, July 27, 2022) [36]
  • Nonstop (Fuji TV Keiretsu, January 14, 2022)[37]
  • Sekai Marumie! TV Tokusō-bu 2 Hour Special, September 28, 2020 Nihon TV Keiretsu)[38]
  • Shuukan Sanma to Matsuko(TBS Kei, October 2, 2022)[39]

Other appearances

Kuwata guest-starred in a limited campaign that ran as part of Makai Senki Disgaea RPG from October 8 to 22, 2020, titled Bishoujo Sentai Lovely V: Matt to Fushigi na Kagami. He was featured in a special battle, special mission, and login bonus, and designed two items for the event himself.[40]

References
  1. "Matt 26歳誕生日迎え父・桑田真澄氏との2ショットで祝福に感謝「らびゅーーー」 - スポニチ Sponichi Annex 芸能".
  2. "桑田氏次男のＭａｔｔ「Ｍａｔｔ Ｒｏｓｅ」に改名 - 芸能 : 日刊スポーツ". Nikkansports (in Japanese). Retrieved 2022-03-13.
  3. McGee, Oona (2019-02-14). "Matt Kuwata stuns the world with transformation from Japanese boy to living doll 【Photos】". SoraNews24. Retrieved 2022-03-13.
  4. "Who is Matt Kuwata ?". Tokyo Street Style. 2020-02-05. Retrieved 2022-03-13.
  5. "桑田真澄を父に持ったMattという異才のプライド──キラキラした世界で夢を与えたい". GQ JAPAN (in Japanese). 2019-10-14. Retrieved 2022-03-13.
  6. "Mattさん「続けていたらある時、僕を見る目が変わった。僕の強みはマイナスをプラスにできること」". telling (in Japanese). Retrieved 2022-03-13.
  7. "桑田真澄は次男Mattだけでなく弟・桑田泉のキャラも濃かった！ | 斜め上からこんにちは（芸能人、有名人の過去、今、未来を応援するブログ！）". anincline.com. Retrieved 2022-03-13.
  8. "桑田Ｊｒが独立Ｌ新潟からドラフト２位指名 - プロ野球ニュース". Nikkansports (in Japanese). Retrieved 2022-03-13.
  9. "「本当に素敵なお父さんです」 Matt、桑田真澄の誕生日に親子ショット 理解ある父に感謝の言葉も". 2019-04-02. Retrieved 2022-03-30.
  10. "Matt、兄との2ショット公開「似てらっしゃる」「仲良し兄弟ですね!」". 2020-08-11. Retrieved 2022-03-30.
  11. "Matt、父・桑田真澄氏から今でも期待されていることとは？「僕のこと…」". 2021-12-08. Retrieved 2022-03-30.
  12. "Mattママが語る｢野球を強制させない｣深い訳 | メディア業界". 東洋経済オンライン (in Japanese). 2021-04-16. Retrieved 2022-03-13.
  13. 桑田, 真紀 (2021-04-14). あなたはあなたのままでいい 子どもの自己肯定感を育む桑田家の子育て [You're Fine the Way You Are: Growing Children's Self Esteem, Raising Children in the Kuwata House] (in Japanese). Japan: Kodansha. ISBN 9784065232538.
  14. https://hochi.news/articles/20221003-OHT1T51050.html?page=1
  15. "Ｍａｔｔ、ブログで知られざる経歴を激白「小学６年間は野球」「大学に楽器推薦で進学」コンクールで金賞も". スポーツ報知 (in Japanese). 2019-05-30. Retrieved 2022-03-13.
  16. ""違和感"の向こう側へ…Mattが求めた自分だけの美「『不自然』は僕にとって批判ではない」（オリコン）". Yahoo!ニュース (in Japanese). Retrieved 2022-03-13.
  17. Baseel, Casey (28 Oct 2019). "We copy the look of Matt, Japan's hottest male model as SoraNews24's Meg becomes Mett". Soranews24. Retrieved 2022-03-14.
  18. Mangrove, Mitz (4 May 2020). "唯一無二に生きる！ マットとミッツ・マングローブのスペシャル対談". Harper's Bazaar (in Japanese).
  19. "Matt 「最もニュースな美容人」受賞に笑顔 シワができたら「ナチュラルに」". Sponichi Annex (in Japanese). 13 Dec 2019. Retrieved 2022-03-13.
  20. Yori, Niyan (2018-05-27). "Mattの高校や大学の学歴＆経歴まとめ！昔のすっぴん画像が別人！". Resumedia (in Japanese). Retrieved 2022-03-13.
  21. "ダイヤコーポレーション、Matt監修のコスメブランド「EMROSE」を販売 こだわりを反映、着実に認知拡大". MyNavi News TechPlus (in Japanese). 2020-07-30. Retrieved 2022-08-06.
  22. "Matt（マット）｜"桑田真澄というフィルター"を世間に捨てさせた生き方を語る［インタビュー］". 13 April 2022.
  23. "Mattが、すっぴんからのフルメイクを丁寧な解説付きで初披露！ | Beauty Secrets | VOGUE JAPAN". Vogue Japan (in Japanese). 2020-06-29. Retrieved 2022-08-06.
  24. "加工なし"ガチすっぴん"公開で話題のMatt メイクへの強い思い「誰に笑われてもいい」に激励の声". Sponichi Annex (in Japanese). 2020-07-01. Retrieved 2022-08-06.
  25. "Mattが「西洋人風メイク」をする理由　「アジア人の僕が…」". ニコニコニュース (in Japanese). 2019-03-15. Retrieved 2023-03-10.
  26. "桑田真澄の息子、Matt（26）が改名、現在がとんでもない事になっていると話題に". 秒刊SUNDAY (in Japanese). 30 September 2020. Retrieved 2022-03-14.
  27. "キスマイ千賀健永ソロMV、みきおだら人気YouTuber集結 ヘラヘラ三銃士・さおりんがヒロイン「可愛すぎ」の声集まる - モデルプレス". Modelpress (in Japanese). Retrieved 2022-03-13.
  28. Roll, Dale (2019-09-10). "Real-life doll Matt Kuwata scores first commercial with Black Thunder candy…and it's very weird". SoraNews24. Retrieved 2022-03-13.
  29. Kyle (2019-09-12). "Matt Kuwata shows off his natural beauty in his very 1st CM". ARAMA! JAPAN. Retrieved 2022-03-13.
  30. "桑田真澄＆Matt：親子がCM初共演 「Matt、お前の道を行け」 横浜流星は学ラン姿の生徒会長に". 2019-11-28. Retrieved 2022-03-14.
  31. "Ｍａｔｔが「マイキー」とコラボ 新ウェブＣＭ公開 - 芸能 : 日刊スポーツ". Nikkansports (in Japanese). 25 March 2020. Retrieved 2022-03-13.
  32. "News Release" (PDF). corp.earth.jp.
  33. "Living doll model Matt transforms into a mosquito for surreal new insect repellent commercials". SoraNews24. 5 May 2020. Retrieved 2022-03-14.
  34. "松嶋菜々子、Uber Eats新CMで"Matt化"メイクに初挑戦！「私って分かるかな(笑)」". Archived from the original on 6 March 2022.
  35. "桑田真澄氏は本来色白、Ｍａｔｔ「僕が塗ってあげようか」父の美肌化計画 - 芸能 : 日刊スポーツ". Nikkansports (in Japanese). 8 September 2021. Retrieved 2022-03-13.
  36. "Mattの徹底した"夏が苦手"ぶり「日光が嫌で野球をやめた」「日傘を2個持ち」「汗腺にボトックス注射」". 29 July 2022.
  37. "桑田真澄、Mattに「今はきれいでも俺の歳になったら……」". 16 January 2020.
  38. "Matt、高校はタクシー通学で往復2万円「電車の乗り方わからず…」". October 2020.
  39. https://hochi.news/articles/20221003-OHT1T51050.html?page=1
  40. "「魔界戦記ディスガイアRPG」Mattさんが魔界に降臨！イベント「美少女戦隊ラブリーV～Mattと不思議な鏡～」が開催" (in Japanese). Gamer. 2020-10-08. Retrieved 2022-12-15.
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