His Name is Hideo Muraoka

After Akihiro Sato melted our hearts (and pantyliners [of the girls, that is hahaha!]), here's another luscious import from Brazil, the land that gave us samba, carnival and Havaianas. His name is Hideo Muraoka. Like Akihiro, Hideo is a mix of Brazilian and Japanese heritage. He is currently the new face of Folded and Hung's menswear line and he has done several print and TV ads in Bangkok (where he was initially based, just like Akihiro) and is soon to make waves here in Manila as well. For starters, here's an article about him taken from the supreme.ph website. Indulge!

Strip this Brapan: Introducing Hideo Muraoka

Published September 21, 2008

Hybrids are so hot right now. The fresh buffet of Brazilian-Japanese (or “Brapanese”, in case you’re out of the looks loop) models — sizzling Kobe-churasco meat on a stick — has proven to be a mix made in man-nequin heaven. When you’ve got the subdued heat of the rising sun and that carnal Brazilian charisma coursing through your genetically slick body, you’re pretty much guaranteed a prime billboard spot along Edsa — or a lineup of hoochies grabbing at your guns when you’re swinging by the club.

Hideo Muraoka is a special strain of Brapanese, though. Sure, he’s got the blown-up torso on Edsa down, pumped-up and pouting in a pair of dark jeans for Folded & Hung. But you’d expect a little something different from a guy who was on his way to snagging a law degree, finishing up his first semester in Sao Paulo before deciding to live the life of a wanderer — racking up modeling jobs in Singapore, Thailand, and Hong Kong before heeding the advice of some American buddies and landing on this tropical side of the world.

Only a brief span of time in Manila and he’s also landed enough gigs to get the girls and gay boys all flushed in fascination. And while the city’s high-living nightlife and its strobe-seeking vampires tend to eat up a few good-looking imports, Hideo’s got his symmetric head on straight. “I’ve never been to Embassy. I don’t like to party too much and I only drink a little bit,” the 20-year-old admits. “I’d rather travel around the Philippines — go to beaches and tourist places with friends.”

There are other concerns as well apart from swaggering his way into the artista assembly line like a few of his colleagues have. When he flies back home next year, he might just do the unusually responsible thing and grab his degree, maybe shifting to a course in marketing or advertising. He could even fly back here, study Tagalog, and cover more ad space and a prime spot in television. Or hey, the guy could have the best of both worlds and claim both the degree and a mass-swaying decree in entertainment. The hybrid heat makes anything possible.