Rina Sawayama's Parents Divorced & Her Mother Urged Her to Leave the House

When Rina Sawayama was young, her parents divorced, and her father wasn't always there for her and her mother as they navigated life in a foreign country. Despite not having a perfect family or her dad around, she and her mother persevered.

The talented Japanese-British singer and actress Rina Sawayama has courageously opened up about her challenges with her mother, which has resulted in a strengthened relationship between them.

They could both navigate their complex relationship with time, even though it was challenging. Today, the singer proudly shows off her mother on social media and has even paid tribute to her through her music.

Rina Sawayama's Parents Divorced When She Was Young

Rina Sawayama and her family moved from Niigata, Japan, to the U.K. when she was five. It was a challenging transition for them, especially when deciding on the best education for their daughter.

At first, her parents planned for her to return to Japan after five years, as they wanted to provide her with a Japanese education. However, she attended a Japanese school where she learned the language, dancing, and calligraphy.

The singer felt frustrated when she changed schools due to her limited English skills. While she managed to adapt to the new language, her mother took longer to improve, and Sawayama grew impatient with her progress.

Despite the challenges of attending an English school, Sawayama found pop music a way to connect with her friends. Unfortunately, things worsened when her parents divorced, forcing her to share a room with her mother.

As the singer entered her teenage years, the tension between her and her mother increased. These mother-daughter disagreements continued into Sawayama's college years, where she began exploring her passion for music. However, the demanding university environment took a toll on her mental health.

As a result, her mother urged her to leave their home, citing Sawayama's financial struggles and lack of money. Speaking about the situation, the singer revealed:

"She had basically kicked me out of the house, saying, 'You're poor, get out of my house. You have no money. Your music career is not going to go anywhere."

However, the singer saw it as a blessing in disguise as she could own and deal with her problems even though she believes people should be supported through their mental illnesses.

Rina Sawayama's Musical Tribute to Her Single-Parent Upbringing

Sawayama continuously pursued her passion for music and ultimately succeeded in the field. One of her latest compositions is the track "Catch Me in the Air," which is a part of her second album, "Hold The Girl." She co-wrote the song with Oscar Scheller, Gracey, Clarence Clarity, and Stuart Price as a tribute to her mom, who raised her single-handedly. She wanted to capture the complexities of her relationship with single parents.

Sawayama isn't just making waves in the music industry; she's also carving out a promising acting career.

The singer's second album was about being free to create and make music and making peace with her inner child. She revealed that she only got her own room when she was 15, after years of sharing a room with her mom. Sawayama claimed her independence and rebuilt her bond with her mother. Notably, she has never mentioned anything about her father and his family.

On Twitter in 2019, Sawayama shared a heartfelt tribute to her mother through three pictures, marking her first posting such content. She tweeted:

"we didn't have a great relationship growing up, so making up for lost time now makes me emotional 😭 if u r having a difficult relationship with ur family I know how lonely it feels but it takes work and can get better ❤️ a chosen family is family nonetheless too ❤️ [sic]."

Sawayama also admired her mom's timeless beauty, complimenting her flawless skin and mentioning that she used shampoo to clean her face. Sawayama considered herself truly "blessed."

Rina Sawayama Refers Two Asian Actresses as Her Moms

Sawayama isn't just making waves in the music industry; she's also carving out a promising acting career. She gained recognition for her role as Akira in the action movie "John Wick: Chapter 4," where she starred alongside Keanu Reeves.

When asked about the possibility of future installments in the "John Wick" series, Sawayama revealed she wanted acclaimed actress Michelle Yeoh to portray her on-screen mother. She referred to Yeoh as the "Mother of all Asian mothers."

In addition, if given a chance to star in her version of "Charlie's Angels," Sawayama's dream lineup would include the Oscar winner and Lucy Liu. The singer considers Liu an exceptional actress and her mother figure.

With her acting career on the rise, Sawayama wanted to try her hand at comedy and drama alongside her action film pursuits. Given the choice, she aimed to challenge herself in comedy.

The singer recently watched and loved "Everything, Everywhere All At Once," a comedy featuring Yeoh and the talented actor Ke Huy Quan. She also expressed a keen interest in being part of films about Asian immigration.