(Note: I use AI to help me translate my stories from Japanese to English.)
Shoko Haida, born in 1979, is a Japanese singer, actress, and voice actor.
Both of her parents are musicians, and from an early age she learned children’s songs from one of Japan’s leading composers.
She also sings on YouTube and has many viewers.
I sometimes watch her on TV. She says very funny things, so I laugh a lot. She has a great sense of humor.
There is an interesting episode about an audition she took, and I want to share it with you.
From 2003 to 2008, she was a singer for children on a TV program called With Mother.
This TV program has a history of more than 60 years and is one of Japan’s leading children’s shows.
Children in Japan watch this program and learn Japanese and everyday things.
The program features one male and one female singer for children. They become role models for children and have a great influence on them.
Because of this, singers for children are expected to have good personalities.
When Haida auditioned for With Mother, the competition rate was 600 to 1.
She made it to the final round. At that time, six women remained.
She thought she wouldn’t pass. The other finalists were all graduates of music colleges, and many were very good singers.
During the final exam, Haida and the other candidates received the music they were going to sing. They practiced in the waiting room.
Then one of the applicants asked the others, “How am I supposed to sing this?” Everyone else was too busy practicing and ignored her.
But Haida was different. She had experience singing children’s songs and knew the song, so she taught the woman how to sing it.
Because of that, Haida didn’t have time to practice for her own final exam.
However, Haida passed the audition. Why?
The truth was that the woman asking for help in the waiting room was actually one of the judges. She was observing the applicants’ attitudes.
Among the applicants, there were many good singers — but Haida was the only one who helped a person in trouble, sacrificing her own practice time.
Because of this, Haida was chosen.
Singers for children are not only expected to sing and dance well, but also to be kind. Haida’s kindness touched the judges’ hearts.