Phongchi
Encyclopedia
, also credited as Phongchi, is a Japanese idol
of Vietnamese
descent. Often dubbed "Idoling No. 8", she is one of original members and has been the most popular member of the Japanese all-girl idol group Idoling
. She also does glamour modeling as a gravure idol, having released two photobooks and four DVDs since 2008.
to Vietnamese immigrant parents who came from Saigon, South Vietnam
. Fonchi participated in an audition, the SMA Teens Audition, held by Sony Music Artists
in 2005, becoming the runner up. She joined Idoling
as an original member in 2006.
She began to be known as the "protégé" of Sayuri Kokusho
, a seasoned actress known formerly as "Onyanko
No. 8", and began appearing on numerous non-Idoling television shows in late 2007. She released her first photobook titled Fon Fonchi in September 2008 and first DVD titled Cam On : Precious Time in October 2008.
Her second DVD A Letter From a Teen was shot in Okinawa and released in September 2009. Her second photobook Ritual Heart was shot in Bali
and released in March 2010. Her third DVD F : Angel's Wing was also shot in Bali and released in March 2010, and fourth DVD if : My Little Sister was released in November 2010.
In September 2010 she made her first Vietnam-related appearance at the annual Vietnam Festival event took place at the Yoyogi Park
in Shibuya
, Tokyo. She appeared in the event as its main host, along with several guests from Vietnam including famous Vietnamese artists as Ho Quynh Huong and NamCuong. Again, she is scheduled to work as the host for the Vietnam Festival 2011 (September 17–18) where the guests will again include Ho Quynh Huong, a famous female Vietnamese singer.
and Erika Tonooka. She has weighed up to 48 kg (105 lb) at 1.65m (5 ft 5 in), and she has stated that she considers herself overweight and has always been dieting. She said about it, "I can't announce my weight until I have a decent weight". She has stated that she has idolized the actress Risa Goto
and especially the famous model Emi Suzuki
, whose BMI
s have been reported to be less than 14.
She has revealed that she has a strong addiction to Caramel Frappuccino, a Starbucks beverage which often appears on her blog. There are about 247 kcal in one Caramel Frappuccino bottle and she drinks it twice a day. This can be one reason why she struggles so much with her weight, but she has stated that she could not live without it.
She is known as a hardcore gamer, more specifically, a hardcore PS3 player. One time she played Demon's Souls
in her room and couldn't stop playing it for about 20 hours straight, resulting in skipping an appearance on the Idoling show. She is also a wrestling fan, specifically a Dragon Gate
fan and has several wrestling game titles.
As for fashion, in her personal life, she did not show any preference in the 2000s, but since around 2010 when she hit 20 she has shown a strong preference for the Ageha style which does not fit her vibrant idol image.
Japanese idol
In Japanese culture, are media personalities in their teens and early twenties who are considered particularly attractive or cute and who will, for a period ranging from several months to a few years, regularly appear in the mass media, e.g...
of Vietnamese
Vietnamese people
The Vietnamese people are an ethnic group originating from present-day northern Vietnam and southern China. They are the majority ethnic group of Vietnam, comprising 86% of the population as of the 1999 census, and are officially known as Kinh to distinguish them from other ethnic groups in Vietnam...
descent. Often dubbed "Idoling No. 8", she is one of original members and has been the most popular member of the Japanese all-girl idol group Idoling
Idoling
is a Japanese female idol group created by Fuji TV. The concept of the group is to watch as the girls grow as idols and experience various things. The group currently has twenty members from various talent agencies. Idoling's main source of exposure is their variety show, which airs several new...
. She also does glamour modeling as a gravure idol, having released two photobooks and four DVDs since 2008.
Career
Fonchi was born in 1990 in Hiratsuka, KanagawaHiratsuka, Kanagawa
is a city located in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. As of 2010, the city had an estimated population of 259,991 and the density of 3,830 persons per km²...
to Vietnamese immigrant parents who came from Saigon, South Vietnam
South Vietnam
South Vietnam was a state which governed southern Vietnam until 1975. It received international recognition in 1950 as the "State of Vietnam" and later as the "Republic of Vietnam" . Its capital was Saigon...
. Fonchi participated in an audition, the SMA Teens Audition, held by Sony Music Artists
Sony Music Entertainment Japan
is Sony's music arm in Japan. SMEJ is directly owned by Sony Corporation and independent from the United States-based Sony Music Entertainment due to its strength in the Japanese music industry....
in 2005, becoming the runner up. She joined Idoling
Idoling
is a Japanese female idol group created by Fuji TV. The concept of the group is to watch as the girls grow as idols and experience various things. The group currently has twenty members from various talent agencies. Idoling's main source of exposure is their variety show, which airs several new...
as an original member in 2006.
She began to be known as the "protégé" of Sayuri Kokusho
Sayuri Kokushō
is a Japanese actor, singer, and tarento. She was an original member of Onyanko Club. She works for the talent management firm Sony Music Artists. Her debut single, Valentine Kiss, is the most popular Valentine's Day song in Japan.- Brief biography :...
, a seasoned actress known formerly as "Onyanko
Onyanko Club
was a large all-girl Japanese pop idol group in the 1980s. The group gave a new approach to the idol formula with its 52 official members and three unofficial members...
No. 8", and began appearing on numerous non-Idoling television shows in late 2007. She released her first photobook titled Fon Fonchi in September 2008 and first DVD titled Cam On : Precious Time in October 2008.
Her second DVD A Letter From a Teen was shot in Okinawa and released in September 2009. Her second photobook Ritual Heart was shot in Bali
Bali
Bali is an Indonesian island located in the westernmost end of the Lesser Sunda Islands, lying between Java to the west and Lombok to the east...
and released in March 2010. Her third DVD F : Angel's Wing was also shot in Bali and released in March 2010, and fourth DVD if : My Little Sister was released in November 2010.
In September 2010 she made her first Vietnam-related appearance at the annual Vietnam Festival event took place at the Yoyogi Park
Yoyogi Park
is one of the largest parks in Tokyo, Japan located adjacent to Harajuku Station and Meiji Shrine in Shibuya.What is now Yoyogi Park was the site of the first successful powered aircraft flight in Japan, on December 19, 1910, by Captain Yoshitoshi Tokugawa, after which it became an army parade ground...
in Shibuya
Shibuya
is one of the 23 special wards of Tokyo, Japan. It is also a surname of Japanese people, including:-People:*Shibuya Konnōmaru, a 12th century warrior*Kotono Shibuya , a female actor*Momoko Shibuya , a female actor...
, Tokyo. She appeared in the event as its main host, along with several guests from Vietnam including famous Vietnamese artists as Ho Quynh Huong and NamCuong. Again, she is scheduled to work as the host for the Vietnam Festival 2011 (September 17–18) where the guests will again include Ho Quynh Huong, a famous female Vietnamese singer.
Weight-loss obsession
Fonchi always talks about her weight and weight-loss plan whenever she is interviewed. She has been a member of Idoling's Pocchari Dohmei ("Axis of Chubby"), a team consisting of the three heaviest members in the group, along with Erika YazawaErika Yazawa
is a Japanese gravure idol. She is from Tokyo, and was a first year member of the idol group Idoling!!!. Her nickname is 'Yaza-pai'.- Photographs :* Eri Color * No...
and Erika Tonooka. She has weighed up to 48 kg (105 lb) at 1.65m (5 ft 5 in), and she has stated that she considers herself overweight and has always been dieting. She said about it, "I can't announce my weight until I have a decent weight". She has stated that she has idolized the actress Risa Goto
Risa Goto
is a Japanese actress and gravure idol. She was born in Ukiha, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. She is currently signed to the talent agency, JMO.-Television:* Xenos * Shinjuku Boso Kyukyutai * Psychometrer Eiji 2...
and especially the famous model Emi Suzuki
Emi Suzuki
is a Japanese fashion model and retired occasional actress. Widely known by her nickname Emichee, she has often been described as a "charismatic model" and is particularly popular among gyaru teenagers.-Early life:...
, whose BMI
Body mass index
The body mass index , or Quetelet index, is a heuristic proxy for human body fat based on an individual's weight and height. BMI does not actually measure the percentage of body fat. It was invented between 1830 and 1850 by the Belgian polymath Adolphe Quetelet during the course of developing...
s have been reported to be less than 14.
She has revealed that she has a strong addiction to Caramel Frappuccino, a Starbucks beverage which often appears on her blog. There are about 247 kcal in one Caramel Frappuccino bottle and she drinks it twice a day. This can be one reason why she struggles so much with her weight, but she has stated that she could not live without it.
Personal life
Aside from her native Japanese, Fonchi is also fluent in Vietnamese. Her first DVD Cam On featured her conversations with native Vietnamese-speaking children.She is known as a hardcore gamer, more specifically, a hardcore PS3 player. One time she played Demon's Souls
Demon's Souls
is an action role-playing game video game developed primarily by From Software exclusively for the PlayStation 3. It was released in Japan on February 5, 2009 and published by Sony Computer Entertainment...
in her room and couldn't stop playing it for about 20 hours straight, resulting in skipping an appearance on the Idoling show. She is also a wrestling fan, specifically a Dragon Gate
Dragon Gate
is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion formerly known as Toryumon Japan. Most of Dragon Gate's wrestlers are graduates from Último Dragón's Toryumon Gym, and thus the promotion is based on a Junior Heavyweight style with varying emphasis on high flying maneuvers, flashy technical grappling,...
fan and has several wrestling game titles.
As for fashion, in her personal life, she did not show any preference in the 2000s, but since around 2010 when she hit 20 she has shown a strong preference for the Ageha style which does not fit her vibrant idol image.
DVDs
- Cam on, October 22, 2008
- 10-dai Kara no Tegami (A Letter from a Teen), September 30, 2009
- F : Angel's Wing, March 19, 2010
- if : Boku no Imoto (if : My Little Sister), November 27, 2010