Korean singer engages in friendship circle with Japanese women

By Satoshi Iizuka

FUKUOKA —

A third-generation Korean singer in Fukuoka Prefecture has been teaching Korean songs to a local choral group of Japanese women interested in Korean pop culture, with a view to enhancing cross-cultural understanding.

‘‘I’d like to contribute to making good friendships between Korean residents and Japanese people using my professional skills,’’ said Pae Yu Hyang, 29, whose circle of local middle-aged women get together at a studio in Fukuoka City two evenings a month.

Pae, who majored in singing at university, is a member of ‘‘Fukuoka Chosen Kamudan,’’ a singing and dancing group run by the Fukuoka office of the pro-Pyongyang General Association of Korean Residents in Japan, or Chongryon.

The group usually puts on performances of traditional Korean culture at wedding ceremonies or school events in and around the Kyushu area of southwestern Japan.

Itsuko Fujii, the 59-year-old leader of the singing circle, was caught up with many other Japanese housewives in the South Korean pop culture boom, the so-called ‘‘Korean wave,’’ sparked by the TV drama series ‘‘Winter Sonata’’ which hit Japan in 2003.

She joined a class to learn the Korean language and made friends there with other middle-aged and older women interested in Korean culture.

‘‘We fell in love with Kamudan after seeing one of their performances in 2007, and have become groupies,’’ Fujii said, adding it was through contact with the members of the group that they developed the idea of forming a choral circle to sing Korean songs together.

They choose easy Korean traditional folk songs and translated version of Japanese songs like the theme of the popular TV cartoon ‘‘Doraemon’’ so that those who cannot speak Korean will also be able to follow the tunes.

After every lesson, which begins with abdominal breathing and vocal exercises, Pae and the group go for dinner at a Korean restaurant nearby.

‘‘I think this may be the main purpose for the members,’’ noted Fujii, saying the group members are on very good terms as they can talk about anything just like a real family—from gossip about Korean actors to private problems.

While some of the group members dream of being able to join in a performance by Kamudan as guest singers, Fujii said, ‘‘I never imagined that we could develop such a good friendship with Korean residents. Not only singing, but general cultural exchange is important. So I am very happy to have met Yu Hyang.’‘

Pae said, ‘‘I am very surprised to know that Mrs Fujii and other members feel there is no distance between them and us. As a Korean born in Japan, I must continue to nurture this precious relationship all my life.’‘

Although born in Japan, Pae herself has South Korean nationality as her father chose that in order to be able to visit his relatives in South Korea.

‘‘I hope North and South Korea will be unified in the future. I have visited both countries and appreciate both in many ways. So I want to be called just a ‘Korean resident of Japan,’‘’ she said.

Pae said her family settled in Japan after her grandfather was forced to come to Japan as a worker from the Korean Peninsula during World War ll. She was born as a third-generation Korean resident and went to Japanese schools until she moved to a Korean school in the second year of junior high.

Although she did not speak Korean well shortly after changing school, singing Korean songs improved her ability.

‘‘Through my own experience, I believe songs can be the best way to learn about language and culture,’’ said Pae.

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8 Comments

marklie at 01:27 PM JST - 12th January

Really nice story. Thank you.
Wottock_Hunt at 10:20 AM JST - 14th January

Third generation? Meaning he was born here and his parents were born here? But he's "Korean"?

Nice little set-up they got here, eh?
Ericthered at 02:44 PM JST - 15th January

"Nice little set-up they got here, eh?"

What on earth does that mean?
Jdudeo at 12:00 AM JST - 16th January

It said that her grandfather went to Japan during world war II so there's her grandfather's generation, her parents' generation and her generation, 3 generations.
Howardtheduck at 03:55 PM JST - 16th January

It means for someone born and raised in Japan and speaking Japanese, they should be considered Japanese.
youkie at 09:36 AM JST - 17th January

Lot of Koreans who born and raised in Japan are keeping their nationality as Korean.
seesaw at 11:49 AM JST - 17th January

Lovely news. I wish it happens here in Tokyo too....:)
ReexJax at 12:35 PM JST - 20th January

Lot of Koreans who born and raised in Japan are keeping their nationality as Korean.

My understanding is that it is not their choice.