Canadians Abroad: Ottawa’s Blaise Plant has created ‘a whole new world in Japan’

Blaise Plant is proud to be the only vintner “in all of Europe, all of Asia, all of Japan,” growing Baco noir, a hybrid grape that’s especially popular among Niagara Peninsula winemakers. Plant Vineyards

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Blaise Plant wanted to be an actor. In 2001, at age 21, he swapped one stage for another with a new life in Japan, co-fronting what became successful pop-rock band Monkey Majik.

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Vanier, Ottawa-born Plant, 46, passed a milestone a few years ago: He’s lived longer in Japan than he did in Canada.

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It’s been 20 years since Monkey Majik signed with major Japanese record label Avex, a milestone they’ll mark with a new album and concert tour in the coming months.

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He and his brother Maynard Plant, 50, share lead vocals, along with guitar and songwriting duties. Drummer Takuya “Tax” Kikuchi and bass player Hideki “Dick” Mori round out the chart-topping band’s lineup. Their songs, performed in English and Japanese, include J-pop, rock and ballads that put an emphasis on inspiration. The band’s music has also been used as movie and TV series themes, including the superhero media franchise, Kamen Rider.

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Plant, who has lived in Sendai City in northern Japan for 26 years, has also picked up a variety of acting roles, in TV dramas in Japan.

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Maynard moved to Japan first, to work as an ALT (Assistant Language Teacher) with the Japanese government-sponsored JET program. After his contract ended Maynard asked his brother to move to Japan with him to write music and help take a band he’d started to the next level.

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Plant was studying visual and performing arts at the University of Lethbridge and working toward a career in theatre at the time. He’d finally landed a leading role at summer festival Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan in Saskatoon. He turned down the role of Romeo in Romeo and Juliet and got on a plane with his brother.

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It turned out to be the right decision, both professionally and personally.

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“I’ve created a whole new world in Japan, and you know, it would not make sense to ever really come back (to Canada),” he said.

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Married and now a father of three, he visits his Canadian family every year and his relatives come to see him.

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He says learning Japanese was the key to making friends and finding a community. He loves where he lives.

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“The people are great. They’re very, very welcoming and everyone is so kind,” he said. “They really care about you and what you’re all about and your story.”

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The brothers act as Canada-Japan cultural ambassadors.

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“We were the first pop artists to perform in front of the emperor and empress of Japan,” said Plant. They also played at the 2008 Ottawa celebrations to mark the 80th anniversary of Canada-Japan diplomatic relations.

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Monkey Majik are (from left) Tax Kikuchi, Maynard Plant, Blaise Plant and Dick Mori. Credit: Ryu Amon

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This fall they’ll do a cross-Canada rail tour, travelling from Toronto to Vancouver on Via Rail’s The Canadian to inspire Japanese travellers to visit Canada.

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Plant said there are things he misses about his birthplace. He recalls the thrill of seeing the Northern Lights as a teen in Fort McMurray. He hopes to bring his family to Yellowknife to share the spectacle.