Shizuka Anderson

Shizuka Anderson
Born
Shizuka Rachel Anderson

(1991-10-30) 30 October 1991 (age 33)
Edmonton, Canada
Alma materSophia University
Occupation(s)Actress, Model, Television Presenter

Shizuka Anderson (born 30 October 1991) is a Canadian-Japanese actress, television presenter, and model.[1] Anderson starred in the role of Pipon on the Japanese children's television program, Piponza ABC!,[2] and later appeared in the same role on the BBC spin-off series, Eigo no Ohanashi CBeebies.[3] She is also known for playing the role of Carol on the Amazon Prime Video series, Benza English and The Benza.[4] She has hosted and reported for the NHK World television programs J-Flicks[5] and Journeys in Japan.[6]

Anderson was a finalist in the 2020 Miss World Japan beauty pageant and won the title of "Japan Traditional Culture".[7][8]

Early life

Anderson was born in Edmonton, Canada. Her father is Canadian and her mother is Japanese.[9] She lived in Canada until the age of 18, when she moved to Japan for university at the suggestion of her grandparents. Anderson studied in the Faculty of Liberal Arts at Sophia University.[10][11]

Career

Anderson made her television debut in 2012 as the title character of the Kids Station television series, Piponza ABC.[2] She performed as the same character in a concert series with characters from other Kids Station children's programs[12] and later co-starred with Gota Watabe in the BBC spin-off, Eigo no Ohanashi CBeebies, which also aired on Kids Station.[3] She made a return to acting in 2020 in the recurring role of Carol in the Amazon Prime Video Series The Benza and Benza English. [4] She additionally voiced her character Carol in the video game adaption, The Benza RPG.[13]

Anderson has additionally worked as a reporter and television show host. She co-hosted Tokyo Extra,[14] a television program that aired live on TBS and YouTube, with Marty Friedman. She has additionally hosted YouTube videos for Tokyo Creative,[15] Best Ever Food Review Show,[16] and Rock Fujiyama.[17] Anderson has also made appearances on NHK World, reporting on episodes of Journeys in Japan and as the host of J-Flicks.[6][5]

In addition to television, Anderson co-hosted the educational NHK Radio 2 program, “Kōkōkōza Communication Eigo II” where she performed under her middle name, Rachel.[18]

Anderson was selected as a Miss World Japan Finalist in 2020 and won the Japan Traditional Culture title at the competition.[8]

In 2021, Anderson was featured on The Today Show with Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager in a segment introducing Tokyo leading up to the Tokyo Olympics.[19] She currently works as an ambassador for “EAT! MEET! JAPAN” and is the host of a Youtube channel called Japan by Food.[20][21][11]

Filmography

Television

Year Title Role Notes Ref(s)
2012 Piponza ABC Pipon
2012 Eigo No O Hanashi CBeebies Pipon
2015 Tokyo Extra Self Host
2019-present Journeys in Japan Self Reporter
2019 J-Flicks Self Host
2020 Benza English Carol
2020-present The Benza Carol

Video games

Year Title Role Notes Ref(s)
2022 The Benza RPG Carol

References

  1. ^ "ミス・ワールド・ジャパン2020ファイナリスト". Miss World Japan. Retrieved 2021-09-29.
  2. ^ a b "ピポンザABC！". MXTV.
  3. ^ a b "英国BBCの幼児向けアニメーションが英語知育番組として日本初放送　ヴァイオリニストでママの宮本笑里さんがいち早く体験！6月20日（土）にBSスカパー！で特別番組を放送". Zaikei.
  4. ^ a b "Benza English Cast". Tokyo Cowboys. Retrieved 2021-09-29.
  5. ^ a b "J-Flicks！". NHK.
  6. ^ a b "Journeys In Japan". PBS.
  7. ^ "ミス・ワールド2020日本代表が決定！". Miss World Japan. Retrieved 2021-09-29.
  8. ^ a b "『ミス・ワールド・ジャパン』ファイナリスト35人決定 GENICメンバー、タッチラグビー日本代表、ご当地アイドルら". Oricon News. Retrieved 2022-12-08.
  9. ^ "Shizuka Anderson". hafu2hafu. Retrieved 2022-12-08.
  10. ^ "YOUTUBE STARS: HOW NIKKEI AND HAPA HAVE FOUND A NEW WAYS TO TELL THEIR STORIES ON YOUTUBE". Nikkei Voice. Retrieved 2022-12-08.
  11. ^ a b "Hamish Downie's Five Questions With Shizuka Anderson". Two Gay Geeks. Retrieved 2022-12-08.
  12. ^ "「ハッピー！クラッピー ゆめのはぴはぴパレード」公開". Oricon News. Retrieved 2022-12-08.
  13. ^ "The Benza RPG". The Benza RPG. Retrieved 2022-12-08.
  14. ^ TOKYO EXTRA 8：東京 EXTRA, retrieved 2022-12-08
  15. ^ Day In The Life of Shizuka Anderson, retrieved 2022-12-08
  16. ^ What's It Really Like Filming With Sonny? Discovering Shizuka Anderson!!, retrieved 2022-12-08
  17. ^ Japan is more than just Tokyo. We tried some new and unusual treats from Hokkaido-only!, retrieved 2022-12-08
  18. ^ "Introduction". NHK. Retrieved 2021-09-29.
  19. ^ "A Tokyo Local Reveals What Makes Her City So Special". Today.com. Retrieved 2022-12-08.
  20. ^ "An Ambassador for Japanese Food". Japanese Government. Retrieved 2022-12-08.
  21. ^ "Shizuka". Eat! Meet! Japan!. Retrieved 2022-12-08.