Rina Sawayama Nominated For Brit Award After Eligibility Reform

Until recently, musician Rina Sawayama wasn’t eligible for The Brit Awards due to being born in Japan. Sawayama holds indefinite leave to remain in the UK but retains a Japanese passport to maintain ties with her family who live in Japan. As Japan does not allow dual citizenship, she cannot have a British passport. This meant that Sawayama was not eligible for both the Brit Awards and the Mercury Prize.

live tv is really scary !!!!!!!! thank u @BBCWorld pic.twitter.com/BnmHa7iYtl

— RINA SAWAYAMA (@rinasawayama) February 25, 2021

However, after bringing up in an interview with VICE her concerns over the situation, she met with the BPI, which organises both the Brits and the Mercury Prize, leading them tor reviewing their criteria and changing the rules.

“I literally fell to the floor when I found out that I’d been nominated for Rising Star,” the 30-year-old artist said.

BRITS RISING STAR SHORTLIST WTF😭😭😭😭 what is this journey 😭😭😭😭😭thank u sm I’m on the floor 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 @BRITs pic.twitter.com/WljMixPe9e

— RINA SAWAYAMA (@rinasawayama) March 11, 2021

The other nominees for this year’s Rising Star category are Griff, the 20-year-old singer from Hertfordshire, and Pa Salieu, the 23-year-old rapper from Coventry. All the nominees for this category are people of color.

The winner of the rising star award will be announced on March 19, ahead of the Brit’s ceremony which has been moved to March in light of the coronavirus pandemic.

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