A Japanese man who followed in the footsteps of the Beatles and went to Liverpool to learn to sing has ended up performing as a schoolgirl after getting back home.
Japanese musician and part-time model Takuma Tani had started teaching people singing when he returned to Japan but struggled to find work in any of his chosen roles.
That changed dramatically at 34 when he went to a shoot and was asked to stand in for a female model, which caused initial embarrassment until his performance on the shoot was greeted with enormous enthusiasm by everybody involved.
He was urged to take part in another shoot, and allow them to turn his delicate features into an asset.
Takuma Tani, 47, poses out of costume in undated photo. He is known as Japan ‘cutest’ Lolita character. Note: Private photo. (CEN)
The now 47-year-old said: "I spent ages trying to be more masculine and then I found out that in the end my petite body, delicate features and soft temperament all became my greatest strengths."
Because of his musical skills he then tried singing it with his alter ego initially with rock music but later to softer more emotional songs and he has been praised for his falsetto voice — described as "powerful and moving."
Takuma Tani, 47, poses in undated photo. He is known as Japan ‘cutest’ Lolita character. Note: Private photo taken from social media. (@tani_takuma/CEN)
One anime song cover reached over 50,000 views on YouTube and he says that in order to stay the fashion he gets a female perspective with his mother helping him pick his Lolita outfits.
His daughters apparently do not have a problem with his successful new career choice although he makes it clear that if they ever did, he would stop immediately.