'Metal, but cute': How a bearded stunt actor from Adelaide became a 'kawaii' icon in Japan

Key PointsLadybeard is a Japan-based Australian wrestler, singer and stuntman.The entertainer says cross-dressing has broken down barriers for him. His band, Babybeard, combines heavy metal and J-Pop.

“You are on Down Town DX! You’ve made it!,” the message read.

It was November 2015: Ladybeard had just appeared on the long-running Japanese TV variety show hosted by comedy duo DOWNTOWN and friends were sending their congratulations.

Appearing on Down Town DX, which first aired in 1993, is often regarded as a mark of success in Japan’s entertainment industry.

But it was a long way to the top for the entertainer from Adelaide.

Before moving to Tokyo in 2013, he spent six years in Hong Kong, working as an actor, a voice actor and a stuntman.

Ladybeard still wears many hats and is now gaining global popularity as a member of the music group Babybeard.

Hong Kong to Tokyo, actor to pro-wrestler

Ladybeard started training in martial arts when he was small and also studied drama at a university in Adelaide.

“I moved to Melbourne (as a young actor). I was also training in Hong Kong-style cinematic action with an Aussie who spent nine years on Jackie Chan’s stunt team,” Ladybeard said.

“I was kind of complaining about the situation in Melbourne at that time, in terms of acting and so forth, and he said, ‘You should go to Hong Kong because in Hong Kong you are a minority. Your pool of competition is much smaller’.”

Ladybeard followed the advice and did well in Hong Kong, but then the global financial crisis hit in 2008 and jobs disappeared.

What am I going to do? After a lot of soul-searching, I realised that I could solve all my problems by becoming a cross-dressing pro-wrestler with metal singing!

In Hong Kong, wrestling was just starting to taking off, and he started his new career at the Hong Kong Wrestling Federation (HKWF), the only professional organisation at the time.

Ladybeard is a cross-dressing pro wrestler and a heavy metal singer from Adelaide Credit: Ladybeard

He debuted at HKWF’s first ever public event, ‘King of Wrestling’, in June 2009, before eventually embarking on his first tour of Japan in 2011.

His performances were well-received, and he liked the country, so Ladybeard moved to Tokyo in 2013.

Cross-dressing at 14

Ladybeard said he started cross-dressing around the age of 14, out of necessity in a way.

“I have big legs and have a really big butt. Pants never really fit correctly on me. Oh yeah, (when I wear a skirt) I can move my legs, which is wonderful with my martial arts base, I can kick properly … finally.”

He said that, in his experience, he’s been treated “much better” in a skirt than in pants.

“It (cross-dressing) kind of brought down barriers that would be up when I met people. At the same time, if I was not going to get along with someone, I would know it straight away. Very interesting.”

Cross-dressing entertainers are treated differently on set or stage in Japan, compared to Australia, he said.

Ladybeard is performing on stage. Credit: Ladybeard

“Japan is very unique. You get picked on (in a comedic way). But it’s fine, it’s actually a favourable situation (for the entertainer). In Australia, they (cross-dressing entertainers) never get teased (on TV). Very interesting,” Ladybeard said in Japanese.

He said one of the important skills for comedians in Japan is to take advantage of moments when they are the centre of attention, even if you are getting teased about your appearance.

A bearded white man in a skirt means something different in every culture. What Ladybeard means in Japan is vastly different to what I mean in Australia.

“Over there (in Japan) I obviously have the foreigner factor – I’m this foreigner in a skirt,” he said.

“But in Australia, I’m just this dude in a skirt. I don’t think this would work in Australia if I had not gone to Japan first.”

Special guest for SMASH!

This month, Ladybeard visited Sydney to attend the SMASH! Sydney Manga and Anime Show as a special guest.

The annual Japanese pop culture event is considered the largest anime convention in Australia and has been held at the International Convention Centre Sydney across two days since 2018.

The first edition of SMASH!, organised in 2007 by two artists at the Roundhouse at the University of NSW, was attended by fewer than 1,500 people. After an absence in 2020 and 2021 due to the coronavirus outbreak, SMASH! 2022 attracted more than 28,000 visitors.

For July’s event, tickets sold out early just like last year.

“I have been wanting to come to SMASH! for a long time. It took five years. So I feel so good and happy. The last time I came to Sydney was five years ago. I miss you Sydney,” Ladybeard said in Japanese.

Kawaii metal

Ladybeard’s schedule at SMASH! was full, including his solo stage performances. As a heavy metal singer, Ladybeard started collaborating with other J-Pop singers and launched his new career as a member of an idol group in 2015.

He dubs his genre as Kawaii Metal (or ‘Cute Metal’), which mixes some elements from heavy metal and J-Pop. One of the pioneers of this genre is a Japanese idol trio Babymetal, who just wrapped up their first Australia tour in June.

Ladybeard performing on stage. Credit: Ladybeard

After performing as a solo musician and in several collaborations, Ladybeard formed the trio Babybeard in 2021.

“Babybeard is ready to go anywhere in the world. I came to Sydney by myself this time, but next time, I’ll come with two members. Babybeard’s Australia tour. Let’s make it happen.”

Ladybeard’s next destination is Singapore, where he will attend the AFA Creators Super Fest 2023 on 22-23 July.