ArumimihifumiTaiwanese singer stubborn about her style of life, music
By Gillian Cheng
Courtersy of Mike Wong Arumimihifumi regards herself as a one-man band.
Arumimihifumi is a name that may be unfamiliar to most people. However, many people will remember a young girl crying and saying, "I don't mind being not famous. I just want to sing for all of you for my whole life." This was at an awards ceremony held earlier this year. That was her, Arumimihifumi.
Influenced by family members during her childhood in Taiwan, Arumimihifumi has loved performing in front of others since she was very small.
"My mother liked old songs, my father liked Peking opera, and my uncle played in a band. All these influences made me like music very much," she said.
"When I was small, I used lipstick to make my face all red, put a blanket on my back and wore high-heeled shoes to perform in front of my relatives."
This was the start of her career in show business.
She left her secondary school early and continued to study at a dance college.
It was her reluctance to study mathematics, rather than an interest in music, that prompted her to study dance.
"I am very weak at math. I always failed in my math tests at school. I just wanted to find a school at which I would not need to study any science subjects," said she.
At the dance college, she majored in dance and minored in piano. After graduation, she found herself interested in dance and wanted to become a choreographer.
"In order to become a successful choreographer, I thought, I would need to acquire more knowledge about backstage management," said she.
"I came to Hong Kong to pursue my study because Hong Kong was near to Taiwan. The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts told me that they had never admitted any Taiwanese students. I thought I had a good chance, so I came here.
"Frankly, I considered it as a trip to Hong Kong rather than an educational experience."
Her decision, however, deeply affected her relationship with her father.
Her father slapped her when he discovered that she was going to study backstage management in Hong Kong.
"My father said that he wouldn't give me even a cent if I insisted on going. He thought that whatever I studied, I should help him with his business after graduation. He felt that art could only be a hobby, not a career."
From then on, her father refused to speak to her. However, Arumimihifumi said she did not mind. She even felt proud of having faith in herself.
Born into a middle-class family, she was treated very well by her family. Therefore, strained financial circumstances in Hong Kong represented a great challenge to her. It once made her think of returning home.
"At that time, most meals were instant noodles, bread or McDonald's. I could only afford that because I spent most of my savings on paying for the school fees," said she.
"However, the slap that my father gave me reminded me that I should not give up. It would be a shame if I went back home without finishing my study in Hong Kong."
With help from her schoolmates and money earned from part-time jobs, she finally passed her first difficult year in Hong Kong.
Once, she was sent to hospital because she worked too hard at her part-time jobs. However, she did not tell her family about it because she thought that they might look down on her.
"They still don't know about it now," she said, laughing.
Luckily, her hard work and strong faith touched her father. Their relationship has improved a lot after her first year in Hong Kong. Her father started to send money to her.
Arumimihifumi said that she did not have any ambitions during her schooling in Hong Kong.
"At that time, I just hoped that I did not need to go to school the next day," said she.
"I think that it is not necessary to go to school after I have learnt the things I need. For example, teachers in primary school always ask you to write a single word several times. However, I think it is meaningless to do so. Writing it once to let myself understand is enough. This is what my father taught me."
After she graduated from the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, Arumimihifumi tried to find a job in Taiwan. The result was fruitless. However, there were many jobs waiting for her in Hong Kong.
"It is fate that made me stay," she said.
Her participation in Keith Leung's graduation school project gave her a chance to start pursuing music in Hong Kong. In the project, she was given the chance to be a singer and choreographer. In addition, she found many jobs related to stage management in Hong Kong.
Arumimihifumi said that the work of Keith Leung inspired her. After seeing his work, she found that she also wanted to express something from her heart.
Thus, she set up a theatre named Arumimihifumi Bugsbox.
Later, with a recommendation and help from Keith Leung, Arumimihifumi produced two albums, both named Yau Yi Fei Man, which is her Chinese name.
"I am like the Joan of Arc shown on the cover on my second album. She is holding a broken flag. It means that my music is just like a revolution, though it still has not been successful yet."
She said she produces her music not to make money, but to make the world happier.
"I am a pessimistic person. However, I want to make others happy. If my music can make someone feel more relaxed, that's enough to me."
Early this year, she was awarded the bronze award for Group of the Year during the Commercial Radio Music Awards.
"This award assured me that I should retain my own style of music," she said.
