Mai modeled for Tecmo/Koei at E3 2012 helping to promote the upcoming game Dead or Alive 5. Mai has modeled at E3 for 4 years and we were lucky to catch up with her for a quick chat about her experience.

Q. Tell us a little about yourself - where did you grow up and how would you describe yourself?

Oh definitely a tom boy geeky type for sure. Played video games all day, was in all honors classes, never wore make up, super shy ... yea. Very different from how I am now haha. But I was also in competitive cheerleading too for several years. Getting thrown in the air, backflips, yea I did those too.

I came from Japan at a very young age. Other than that I've been in Orange County my whole life. I love it here. Beach, great weather, great people, what more could a girl ask for?

Yes I have. I try to make it out there are often as possible but as of late it's been harder and harder to find time to go back with all the gigs and school. So hopefully I'll be able to make it back out there soon. My family lives out there and I miss them.

To be honest, no. I don't think I'm all that great looking. Lol. Call it being modest, low self esteem. I don't know. It was all very unexpected. I got out of high school, cleaned myself up a bit and started go go dancing and modeling all within the same year by recommendations from my friends. It took a while for me to break out of my shell but now I absolutely love it! I embrace it.

Probably being in the spotlight. I love being on stage, being in front of the camera, and I love the artistic quality of it as well. Overall it's just a lot of fun. You meet a lot of amazing people in the industry and seeing the work that can come out of you and photographers is just amazing.

I've been doing E3 for about 4 years now. At first it was for KOEI, but then they merged with TECMO so ... now it's been with "Tecmo Koei". Lol. They're an amazing company to work with. They've become like my little E3 family, I love them. Every year I feel like E3 just keeps getting better and better. The games get better, the technology, the people. It's awesome. This year has been one of the best by far.

Wake up, get ready, take pictures with fans, run around in awe around E3, play the newest games while on my lunch break, then industry parties after. Lather, rinse, repeat until E3 is over lol.

Probably meeting people new and old! It seems like it's always like a little reunion every year. I get to see and hang out with people that I have the honor of seeing generally once a year so it's nice. Also getting to see and demo all the new games isn't half bad either. Haha.

Funniest is probably things that guys will say to you. I swear I need to make an "E3 guys say the darndest things" twitter or something because I've had my share of ... "interesting" to say the least, experiences from E3. Lol. I'm sure my fellow models would love to contribute.