Korean drama ‘Winter Sonata’ was aired for the first time in Japan 10 years ago and has caused a sensation. Several sources have pointed to the decline of the Hallyu Wave now. Japan-Korea relations are cold now due to the issue of comfort women and Takeshima, demonstrations against Korea has been ongoing. I am tempted to ask the feeling of Hallyu fans. [Kobayashi Sachiaki, Yamada Michiko]
– Separate politics and culture
On April 2, 6 pm, about 50,000 people filled the Tokyo Dome concert venue. It is Korean idol 3-member unit JYJ first grand performance in Japan after 3 years.
On stage, Kim Jejung(27), Park Yuchun(26), Kim Junsu(26), the handsome trio appeared and began to sing, along with a flashy performance. Audience began to wave their red penlights and the dome seemed like a flower garden. Most have began humming the lyrics in Korean.
JYJ was from 5-member singing group Tohoshinki but due to conflict with management, the 3 members formed the group independently. After this conflict, rather than weakening, their popularity is still as strong as ever. “Time was what the 3 of us were most afraid of. But standing here on stage, I thought I was foolish (of thinking like that)…” Near the end of the concert, which lasted 3 hours, Jejung, speaking in Japanese, addressed the audience with a sense of unity and was engulfed by the cheers of the audience.
Before and after the performances, a long procession of mostly middle age women can be seen near the Suidobashi JR station. “I am very happy to meet these 3 people for the first time in a long while.”, said by a flushed 50-year-old female office worker who came from Osaka. We dared ask about the complicated relationship between Japan and Korea. “This concert has got nothing to do with that territorial dispute over Korea. It doesn’t matter to me because I like them.”
“Separate politics and culture”, said by a 64-year-old woman who came with her younger sister from Kyoto in response to the question. “Political problems should be solved by politicians. This is a cultural exchange.”
‘Winter Sonata’ was first broadcasted in April 2013 in NHK BS2 station in time of the Japan-Korea World Cup tournament. Bae Yoon Joon (Yon-sama) has captured the hearts of female viewers. Even then, dramas such as Jewel in the Palace were broadcasted. Tohoshinki debuted in 2005 on top of music charts. 3 Korean groups have appeared in NHK’s Kohaku Gassen – Tohoshinki, Girls’ Generation, and KARA.
Source: Manichi Shinbum
Translated by: Ruby of JYJ3
Shared by: JYJ3
Please take out with full credits.
Separate politics and culture”, said by a 64-year-old woman who came with her younger sister from Kyoto in response to the question. “Political problems should be solved by politicians. This is a cultural exchange.”
yahh this is daebak,smart answer
I hope this concert brings about the change for the two countries…& I think JYJ started that already. If people like the same kind of music, Politics has nothing to do with it.
I guess MUSIC is soul food.
All the best boys!! Hope to have more of JYJ concerts in Tokyo..
Good one. They shouldn’t stop liking someone just because of politics and territorial dispute.
Well done, amazing ambassadors!
JYJ, you guys are indeed strong & powerful idols.
Any other artistes will long forgotten if they absent from tv shows…they have to depend on their company’s influence.
But you guys…have a faith in yourself to handle this challenge.
JYJ sure will become a very big name in the future. Just keep moving forward!
Wow, it’s Mainichi Shimbun! It’s a serious newspaper, one of the largest and most prestgious newspaper in Japan. It’s really something to be reviewed by them.
This is a very thought provoking article.
Separate politics and culture…
Sounds simple but perhaps it is complex?
Maintaining or preserving your own Country’s culture might require political involvement?
Not an issue with jyj but with maybe economics?
Entertainment is a multi-billion dollar industry…
If a company from another Country has plans to take over and possibly control your Country’s ‘entertainment culture’ it might be not only an economic issue but also cultural preservation that should require government concern as it may be a serious issue?
A substantial sector of your economy held by a company from another Country is your choice?
…I may be off base but those thoughts I couldn’t help but wonder.
An article I read a while back stays in the back of mind. I’ll see if I can find it.
If it is a concern of that magnitude, hopefully jyj can be ‘grandfathered’ into any restrictions if any should happen upon the industry. I don’t know, I may be silly talking, over working imagination on my part?
I think the right word should’ve been, “seperate politics and entertainment”. Kpop companies and whatnot might like to think that they bring Korea’s culture into other countries, but they don’t. Kdrama is what shows Korea’s culture to viewers all over the world. Kpop is a 2nd wave of american-pop from the 90’s. When I see kpop, I don’t get a sense of Korea culture unless I watch these idols in dramas and perhaps variety shows.
In the matter of kpop “controlling” other country’s entertainment culture, that’s even more ridiculous! LOL. Why do I say so? For instance, when kpop groups enter the Japanese market, they learn the Japanese language, their ways, and even sing in Japanese. They don’t change the entertainment industry, instead they, the idols or kpop, is changed by the country they enter and they are assimilated into that country’s culture. That means kpop will never change J-pop into kpop, not when they are the ones that change themselves to fit the j-pop image.
About this, “a substantial sector of your economy held by a company from another country is your choice?”, so far as the Japanese entertainment does not hand over authourity to SME or JYP (this two are in a merger, along with some others) like it has happenede in Korea, the Japanese will continue to rule over the entertainment sector of their economy.
At first I thought, I’d better not respond, it might turn out to be a book and you’ll think I’m really kookoo for sure. Then I started writing and at first wasn’t going to post, just wrote to clear my thoughts on the matter. But here I am back at should I or should I not and decided to post with a warning. This is very very long and please ignore if you get irritated at my drifting. I apologize in advance for being so long winded.
On the article,
I might be reading more into the situation than there exists. Perhaps it is a minor issue, and I’m just overly sensitive to anything involving jyj.
What led me to be concerned was articles I’ve read in the past, sometimes a statement from an influential individual sticks with you.
These are some quotes from an entertainment exec from Korea speaking of his company:
… “We’re currently succeeding in Japan and making moves in America and Europe, but but my primary goal is to make the Hollywood in China ours. In five years, we will surely become number one in Asia.”…
“… The markets of China and Asia will be bigger than the U.S. market. Thus, it isn’t really necessary to go into the U.S. In the near future, when a ‘Hollywood of Asia’ appears, the cultural center of the world will make a big shift to Asia. Asian songs are not well known in the U.S.? Totally irrelevant because Asia will soon become the center”…
I realize that was an ambitious statement on his part (in my mind, arrogant to state “totally irrelevant”) and perhaps if I did not have such a strong conscience of mistrust for that individual, my view on the articles would all have been minor. As an American I felt a bit slighted by that remark and more so because of that particular individual. What scares me is his devious mind and influence, what if he…
As a person who has had tremendous negative impact on jyj and influential enough to be able to speak at top US Universities such as Stanford and MIT, I felt a bit concerned. But perhaps I am overly suspicious of this individual?
From a personal standpoint,
I was taken by Korean drama and watched it over American shows. Then I found Kpop through Kdramas. It’s how I found jyj. One may lead to the other if singers continue to be cast in dramas. Which is fine but when a master plan is involved then… idk it bothers me. Whether Kpop or Kdrama, it’s Kentertainment.
My high school niece (in the US) is in her schools drama club, at one of their shows they performed a cover of (fx) with roles of each (fx) member. Listening to their music, looking at them as role models.
Many of my friends and relatives were swept by Kdrama also, but most are bored now.
But you are right. Has it taken over our culture or entertainment sector? No. Right now it is a very small wave. And others may also bore of it. If I hadn’t watched Heaven’s Postman, I might not have been concerned at all.
Growing up in the 60s and 70s I did witness British Musicians enter the US music industry. The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton to mention a few were tops in the US. It was a good situation, not a planned scenario… just a very nice blend. How much of an influence on American music culture did they have? What kind of impact did they make? I have no idea except from a personal standpoint, but that it led to my favorite (until jyj) group being from England. What kind of effect did that wave have? Again, I’m not sure.
I love Japanese culture and anything Japanese, but through Kentertainment, I have learned to have more respect and understanding for the Korean culture.
Where I grew up, Japanese were very courteous and gracious compared to Koreans, but perhaps it was just in the small state I grew up in. I liked Koreans but Japanese were most impressionable.
I love Japan and have visited many times because of my fascination, but have been to Korea only once. I loved it and thought I’d like to return one day but now, after my Kentertainment experience (jyj), I really really want to visit Korea again.
Although I still love everything Japanese, I now have a fascination with Korean culture.
Economic impact? No, not individually. Can there be an impact if the wave is big? Yes, but very small, almost insignificant? What would it take to make a bigger economic impact? Perhaps not enough to be concerned? When should politicians be concerned? Ignore that a company from another country has a plan to infiltrate your entertainment industry with a sophisticated scheme as minor? Alright, one question leads to another and another and I need to stop.
Ok sorry, I went off in another direction. But it all seems relative in some way to the entertainment industry and how important a role it plays in our lives even if on a minor scale.
I realize that you are probably right, how much of an impact can entertainment culture be? Ijdk I keep going in circles, I want to say yes yes yes you are right I’m such an idiot but then my mind goes off on another trail of am I one of many? How many? (I need to keep away from articles like those I mentioned above). Although I do not listen to any other Kpop and rarely watch Kdrama after reading those articles, as I refuse to be “controlled” by a plan from someone I despise, I do want more Korean culture awareness spread from a good source like jyj.
Like I said, I’m probably way off base and my wandering mind took me to wonder…land…again… my apologies for making an issue of my individual concern.
My ultimate concern is jyj and how it might impact them. I want the best for them in every Country including my own. I want their beautiful voices heard around the world with the pure love and innocence that they bring. I want them to get over the hurdle (being the planned takeover by some evil company) and win the world over as jyj.
Once again I have written to a point I know 99% of readers did not make it this far with my rambling on, but if you did, thanks and sorry for my dramatic viewpoint on how and why (all the little things adding up) I concluded as I did. And @loveunchanged, I honestly and truly hope you are right and that I’m a lol idiot for my questions. 🙂
Much love and success for jyj…
I don’t think you’re an idi_t or anything like that.*Harshword* But I think you don’t need to worry that much at this point. There’s too much flaw in K.ent for them to continue to expand successfully into the world. Mark my words. If they don’t fix that glaring flaw, where they misuse their artists and throw them away after they squeeze them dry, Hallyu wave will come to a stand still. The more people (as in countries) they invite to take a look at their entertainment world, the more they reveal to the world what that entertainment world is made of. Fans that grows attach to these korean idols will soon come to know the injustice that persist in this industry and they will become increasingly dissatisfied and dissillusioned with the Korean entertainment world. They say “all that glitters is not gold”, and Kpop sure glitters, and it sure as heck is not gold. Soon enough, instead of brinking pride to their Country, the “Hallyu wave” will expose the shameful misdeeds of its country. So far as the entertainment sector remains a bully, monopolistic and unjust. They need change, if they are unwilling to change they will collapse. Like a building built on poor foundation, no matter how beautiful it is, it will soon collapse.
I admire your optimism and am ready to board your ship. I hope the world will know, like you said, of the injustice and how jyj are the saviors. I hope the temporary gold in the pockets of the evil will turn to dust. And finally, I hope jyj can continue on the noble road they are on and show the corrupted how it is done properly.
Much love and hope for the noble jyj…
thats the way it is. i hope for fans at least. you love them cause you love them. forget the politics etc. i still love all 5 members but i respect what has happened and just love them regardless of sm or any other crap happening. the dome was fantabulous and JYJ are a precious group i would not want to do without in my life. they are sunshine to me–essential and good for the mind and body. let the poiticians etc rot and die for lack of pure happy sunshine. they are the ones missing out.
I couldn’t connect “Winter sonata” with JYJ’s comeback in Japan. Where’s the connection coming from?
@loveunchanged, the connection is the halyu wave and its popularity among Japanese. The drama is still well known even after 10 years and the halyu wave is about to die down in Japan. But because of JYJ Tokyo Dome concerts, the halyu wave is rising again.
In my opinion, music is universal and neutral. Music is not taking sides.
I wish I had been there to answer their question. First of all, JYJ are not really Korean in the sense they are talking about. The lived in Japan, learned the language, ate the food. That is the only way they were able to enter the Japanese charts. Otherwise they would have been on the foreign charts. They came to Japan and in many ways were assimilated into Japanese culture. That is why Jae’s greeting was “tadaima” which means, I’m coming home. That was the meaning of the fan’s signs. They didn’t say welcome. They said welcome home.
I wonder how many Japanese citizens gave $1 million to the earthquake victims in Japan. JYJ did at least that. $600,000 together as JYJ + unknown personal donations + 2 charity concerts.
And even though they have Korean citizenship, Korea has cooperated to ignore and block them to the point they almost don’t exist in Korea. They only exist over the internet, which isn’t under any nation’s domain. Whenever they do talk about them, it is “hallyu wave”, never JYJ. So why are they there as Koreans?
Don’t get me wrong. I love Korea. I know JYJ love Korea. But I don’t think they deserve such a limited definition of who they are. They really are international citizens, beyond borders. They love people as their own, no matter who. That’s why they are so loved all over the world. Not just because of their music.
“Artists without borders”? LOL but so true. JYJ should not be lumped in with “the Hallyu wave” and the “Hallyu” should not take credit for anything JYJ has accomplished since it’s done everything in it’s power to destroy JYJ. The Korean Hallyu does not deserve JYJ.
However I don’t want to say “Korea has cooperated to ignore and block them”, instead I would say “Korean entertainment broadcast stations have cooperated to ignore and block them”. To me JYJ will not be standing tall and straight if it weren’t for the incredibly dedicated Korean fans that stood by them and fought for them. JYJ didn’t dissappear into the background because these Korean fans (backed by the international fans, ofcourse) were there to make sure that whatever JYJ did succeeded. And I know you know that ^__^. Sometimes I feel like when we don’t make the distinction between KENT BCS and Korea as a whole, we sound a bit ungrateful towards the Korean JYJ fans who stood by the boy’s side.
You are absolutely right. K fans have fought like crazy for them.
However, I think that the blocking goes further than just the ent. cos. The court case seemed pretty ridiculous that SM got away with what they did, and I think the oversight of the media has been one of turning a blind eye to what they are doing. I have always thought that a whole lot of people in power have stock in SME and kpop in general, so they have a personal interest in SME’s success. But that is just theory. The fact is, as a nation, JYJ is still being blocked.
Your theory is very interesting. I never thought about personal interest in stock involvement but I did read sme in 2012 received government investment (National Pension Service) of 6.2% into the company. This made me ill…….. Now, if ranking officials (individuals) also have a vested interest it could be more corruption. Oh here I go again. I’m off before I start another book. It just sickens me.
On a positive note, I also agree that K fans should get credit, they have put Junsu and Yoochun on a pedestal, I’m not sure about Jaejoong, but herose and melite sound like they are totally awesome.