News On Japan

Korean Fans Embrace Japanese Singer Shigeru Matsuzaki

SEOUL, Aug 08 (News On Japan) - Shigeru Matsuzaki, a renowned Japanese singer, has gained significant popularity in Korea, shedding light on the intricate history and current dynamics between the two nations.

Last month, Matsuzaki's performance was featured on a major South Korean TV show, "MBN," and the video of his performance uploaded on YouTube has surpassed one million views.

In this popular singing competition where Japanese and Korean artists showcase their vocal talents, social media buzzed with comments such as:

‘Incredible singing ability!’

‘Like a well-aged whiskey.’

‘Who said Japanese can’t sing? We were frogs in a well.’

Historically, it has been rare for Japanese songs to be broadcast on Korean TV. Until around the year 2000, South Korea had legal restrictions on Japanese culture. Even after these restrictions were lifted, TV stations continued to self-regulate Japanese content due to lingering anti-Japanese sentiments.

Breaking this trend, "MBN" made a bold decision to air a program featuring Japanese music from April, achieving high viewership ratings.

How do Korean people perceive Japanese music today?

At a karaoke bar in Seoul, young Koreans sing Japanese songs. Approximately 20% of the songs sung at the bar are Japanese. The most popular Japanese song currently sung in karaoke is Seiko Matsuda’s 'Blue Coral Reef,' which gained attention after being performed by a member of the K-pop group NewJeans during a concert at Tokyo Dome.

Interest in nostalgic Japanese music has been rising as well.

A reporter observed, 'This is a café that plays Japanese hits from the 1980s.'

The café, which opened this year, is filled with young patrons enjoying the retro tunes.

A customer in their 30s remarked, 'It feels very emotional and warm, bringing back old memories.'

Another in their 20s shared, 'Listening on the bus ride home helps me unwind and organize my day.'

Experts attribute the acceptance of Japanese songs to the global success of K-pop.

Cultural critic Lee Mun-won commented, 'With the global popularity of K-pop, Koreans have gained confidence in their own culture, reducing the inferiority complex towards Japanese culture.'

It appears that Japanese music will continue to gain traction in South Korea.

Source: TBS

News On Japan
POPULAR NEWS

The Japanese government has decided to expand its tuition-free high school program this spring. Public high school tuition is now completely free regardless of household income, and starting next academic year, the scope of support for private schools will also be broadened.

Shuri Castle, a symbol of Okinawa's Ryukyu heritage, suffered extensive damage in a devastating fire in October 2019 that destroyed the main hall and many other structures. The cause of the blaze remains unknown.

A deepening labor shortage in Japan’s construction industry is beginning to impact homebuyers, with some experiencing delays of more than six months before construction can even begin due to a lack of available carpenters.

The Imperial Household Agency launched an official YouTube channel on April 1st to introduce the activities of Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako.

Japan's new fiscal year began on April 1st, with companies across the country holding entrance ceremonies to welcome new employees.

MEDIA CHANNELS
         

MORE Entertainment NEWS

Perfume delivered a dazzling dance performance at the NTT Pavilion, showcased in a groundbreaking 3D live experience at the Expo site.

The highly anticipated film Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid: The Lonely Dragon will open in theaters on June 27th.

Today we're exploring eerie and mysterious stories from Japan, sourced from Reddit discussions. It includes tales of an anonymous donor who sent a damaged fortune to the Ehime prefectural government, the enigmatic "Heart Man" photographs of a costumed figure appearing in various public locations, and a haunting lost video of a 2011 tsunami victim seen moments before the house she was in was swept away. (Sakura Stardust)

Kyoto’s signature spring event, the "Miyako Odori," held its final rehearsal on March 31st ahead of its official opening. Performed by around 50 geiko and maiko at the Gion Kobu Kaburenjo Theater, the annual dance performance undergoes its final run-through, known as the "ozarae," before opening to the public on April 1st.

In this video, we take a look at the different types and subgenres of kabuki plays. (Kabuki In-Depth)

She Taught Me Serendipity is a poignant coming-of-age romance that explores how a chance meeting can change the trajectory of two young lives.

After finding her way into Vegapunk's laboratory, Bonney learns more about her father's past. (Netflix Anime)

Let's have a look at Kawatake Mokuami's masterpiece Gosho no Gorozō ("Gorozō the Gallant"), written for the actor Ichikawa Kodanji IV in 1864. (Kabuki In-Depth)