A powerful five-octave voice coming from a small frame is normally what describes Misia as a singer. The second hat she wears is as a philanthropic activist for Africa.
Donating money and participating in charity campaigns are not extraordinary for entertainers. So Misia felt she had to do more. She decided to visit African countries and make herself one of the most influential figures in raising awareness in Japan of various African issues.
Her prominence in these matters led the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to appoint her as the honorary ambassador for the fifth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD V), which will be held in Yokohama from June 1 to 3.