I’ll never forget the first time I saw cosplay singer Reni Mimura. I was at Zenkaikon 2009, a Pennsylvania anime convention, and Reni was busy rehearsing for the con’s opening ceremonies. I cannot say enough about the performance she gave that day. Not to be cliché, but if you looked up “cute” in the dictionary, her picture should be there. I’m not sure if it was the bunny ears, her energy, or her smile, but I completely fell in love with her. I’m not exaggerating when I say “cute” is the only suitable word to describe this young performer.

Reni Mimura specializes in “Akihabara style” performances, which is a style that “emphasizes the cute look of Japanese pop-culture with the hip appeal of Japanese animation.” She performs in cosplay, and does songs in both Japanese and Engish.

For the past few months, I’ve watched Reni’s popularity and name recognition grow. She’s got her own “Maid” show in New York City, and she’s been making appearances at all of the major anime conventions on the United States East Coast. In fact, she just finished up a weekend at Anime Boston.

In addition to being talented and adorable, Reni is also completely dedicated to her fans. In fact, she calls them her angels.

Reni was nice enough to do an interview with Alltern8 and The Convention Fans Blog, which is posted below. We talked about her big move from Japan to New York City, what her life is like as a professional performer, and the advice she’d give to aspiring singers.

Alltern8: Reni, had you ever attended anime conventions in Japan, before moving to America? If so, how are American anime conventions different from Japanese anime conventions? Or are they the same?