“ZENPod” Season-3, episode 3, featuring Ms. Hiromi Maruhashi, A Japanese and Winner of the prestigious 1st NIHON KAIRALI KERALEEYAM Award.  An exponent of Mohiniyattam and Nangiarkoothu, and Proficient in “Kalaripayattu”, a classical Martial Arts Form, Hiromi established Kerala Planning, a cultural project to spread the Fine Arts Culture of Kerala.  “Spirituality for me is about ‘Peace’, ‘Being brave’, it gives me the ‘Calm’.  Whenever I am on stage, I feel spiritual”, - says Hiromi Maruhashi in her talk with Venkatesh Mahadevan

Born in Utsunomiya, Japan, Hiromi is a graduate from the Japanese Social Welfare University, Hiromi Maruhashi came to India in 1996, and started learning  Mohiniyattam from Kalamandalam Leelamma and Nangiarkoothu from Margi Sathi. Ms. Maruhashi Hiromi Maruhashi Hiromi has been awarded for the prestigious 1st NIHON KAIRALI KERALEEYAM AWARD for her contributions in promoting Kerala culture and arts in Japan.She learned Mohiniyattam under the instruction of Dr. Kalamandalam Leelamma and completed a course on Mohiniyattam at Kerala Kalamandalam, a public institute for art and culture. She further learned Nangiarkoothu under the instruction of late Margi Sathi. She learned classical martial arts - Kalari Payat at CVN Kalari.  Hiromi was selected as an artist in an overseas internship from the Agency for Cultural Affairs of Japan in 2001. She established Kerala Planning in April 1999, a cultural project designed to spread the performing arts of Kerala; Mohiniyattam, Koodiyattam, Nangiarkoothu, Kerala Natanam, and Kathakali, throughout Japan. Hiromi has been involved in a wide range of activities and has appeared in films and TV shows in India.  She has been performing with disciples in Japan and has received several awards in India and in Asia.

While performing and learning Mohiniyattam, Hiromi also completed a short term course on Mohiniyattam from Kerala Kalamandalam, Cheruthuruthy, in Thrissur.

After this, she joined C.V.N. Kalari Sangnam, Thiruvananthapuram for learning Kalarippayattu -- the traditional martial art of Kerala.  She has immense respect for her Guru: Prof. Kalamandalam Leelamma, one of foremost Mohiniyattam exponent of India.

Hiromi performed her Arangetram at Rishimangalam Sree Krishna Temple, Vanchiyoor, Trivandrum.Hiromi has given us several Mohiniyattam Performances Abroad, some of them being; At the Karthika Thirunal Theater, Fort, Thiruvananthapuram, Organized by BEAM & SPARK, At the Soorya Dance & Music Festival, At an Indo-Japan Cultural Evening (Organized by IJFA), the Nritha Upasaki Award program (Organized by Prenavam Kelasaavhana Singapore, at the Hyderabad Indo-Japan friendship Association, at the Nasik Indo-Japan Friendship Association Nasik  Award program (Organized by Fujiganga).

“ZENPod” is a Podcast series that features trailblazers from different walks of life, with a purpose to build an empowered eco-system where learnings and experiences from these enlightened professionals, will be available within “arms reach of desire” for those who aspire to scale higher and wish to contribute, in their life’s pursuit.