Japanese star Yua Mikami wants to stay in Taiwan year-round

Yua Mikami announced her joining of Taiwan's professional basketball team Formosa Sexy late last year. (Photo by Hu Shunxiang)

[Reporter Lin Xin-ying / Exclusive Interview] Japanese popular goddess Yua Mikami announced her joining of Taiwan's professional basketball team Formosa Sexy late last year. She came to Taiwan with high popularity, and every time she attended a cheering event, fans would flock to see her. Now that she has been with the team for nearly half a year, she recently accepted an exclusive interview to share her experiences. She expressed her affection for Taiwan and admitted that she wants to try cheering for professional baseball because she wants to "stay in Taiwan more."

Yua Mikami won this year's annual popularity championship in less than a year after joining the professional basketball league. (Photo by Hu Shunxiang)

Yua Mikami won this year's annual popularity championship in less than a year after joining the professional basketball league. She happily thanked fans for helping her vote and did not forget to thank the team for giving her the opportunity to join. "I am very grateful to the players for playing hard, my cheerleading teammates took good care of me, and I wouldn't have won the championship without the fans. I am grateful to everyone."

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At 32 years old, Yua Mikami has many feelings about her life cheering in Taiwan over the past six months. She revealed that she originally thought she would be the oldest member of the team after joining, but later found out that was not the case. "In Japan, if you are over 30 and still in this line of work, you might be considered an old lady, but Taiwan is completely different." She exclaimed that she really likes the workplace and fan atmosphere here. "Everyone is very friendly, and if possible, I want to keep dancing."

Yua Mikami admitted that she wants to try being "dual-licensed for professional basketball and professional baseball." (Photo by Hu Shunxiang)

Yua Mikami also admitted that she wants to try being "dual-licensed for professional basketball and professional baseball." However, she emphasized that she did not come to Taiwan to make money. "If I just wanted to make money, I could do my own business in Japan." It's purely because she likes Taiwan very much. "I want to stay in Taiwan all year round." When asked about the person who took care of her the most in the team, Yua Mikami immediately named the captain, Zizi. "I admire her very much and spend a lot of time with her. Every time I come, I feel that she takes good care of me."

She is currently still practicing Chinese diligently, and she laughed, saying that she usually learns through language apps. The Chinese she speaks most fluently is "rice." As for her relationship status, Yua Mikami frankly said that she currently has no suitors. When asked if she could accept a Taiwanese boyfriend, she shyly said that she thinks Taiwanese men are very gentle and considerate, but her biggest concern is the language barrier. "I like to chat very much. If the other person's Japanese is not good, it might be difficult to communicate, after all, my Chinese is still only at the 'rice' level right now."

Now that she flies to Taiwan every month, she has already fallen in love with Taiwanese food, especially hot pot and mala tang. As for the crucial question, "Do you add taro to hot pot?" Yua Mikami smiled brightly and immediately replied that she is a taro supporter. "I will definitely put it in!" Currently, she stays in hotels when she comes to Taiwan, and friends around her have encouraged her to buy a house in Taiwan. However, Yua Mikami said that she doesn't know much about real estate. "When staying in a hotel, someone can clean up, so I can still stay in a hotel for now."