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Or sign-in if you have an account.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 VineyardsBlaise 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.Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorVanier, Ottawa-born Plant, 46, passed a milestone a few years ago: He’s lived longer in Japan than he did in Canada.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.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.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.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.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.It turned out to be the right decision, both professionally and personally.“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.Married and now a father of three, he visits his Canadian family every year and his relatives come to see him.He says learning Japanese was the key to making friends and finding a community. He loves where he lives.“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.”The brothers act as Canada-Japan cultural ambassadors.“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. Monkey Majik are (from left) Tax Kikuchi, Maynard Plant, Blaise Plant and Dick Mori. Credit: Ryu AmonThis 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.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.He misses the beauty of an Ottawa snowfall and one special dish: “the Canadian ramen called poutine,” he said with a grin.Plant has added vineyard owner and winemaker to his resumé.In a country that seems more aligned with sake than Chardonnay, Plant is part of a growing Japanese wine industry.“I’ve always had a passion for winemaking and I always saw that as kind of the end goal for my retirement,” Plant said while on a recent visit home to Ottawa.But he didn’t want to wait for retirement to fulfil his winery dream.He started Plant Vineyards in 2018 on a 2.5-hectare site, a size he figured would be manageable for one farmer.For a year Plant worked as an unpaid apprentice for Seattle-born former architect Chikafusa Mohri of Akiu Winery in the nearby village of Akiu Onsen to learn about viniculture and winemaking. His first wine, Seraphim Pinot Noir, was named for his eldest daughter. The Chardonnay is called Valentine, after his son. “And our wonderful third rocker is our sparkling wine. It’s Penelope,” he said, named after his youngest daughter.Friends and family pitch in during intense periods, like the harvest. Even the kids get involved, picking bugs off the vines.He’s 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. The vineyard produces about 2,000 bottles a year, all for the domestic market.He takes pride in being a farmer. When he isn’t making wine, Plant also hosts a radio show called Blaise’s Farm Life, interviewing growers about their crops and challenges — in Japanese, of course.He’s currently working on writing songs for the new album, but he wants to add a thank you before he gets to work.“Shout out to my brother Maynard for introducing me to the country.” Join the Conversation This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.