As you walk down the street in any bustling city, you may often hear K-Pop playing in the background. People everywhere are already becoming a part of the growing entertainment phenomenon known as K-Pop music. Even if you are not yet a fan of K-Pop, give it a try, you just might find it fascinating like millions of people all over the world already do. It is extremely popular and, as it continues to spread around the world, people are quickly becoming fans of its upbeat and energetic tempo.
With that being said, let’s take a look at some countries that show their immense love for K-Pop music:
Indonesia- with Indonesian K-Pop fans spending at least 24 hours each month listening to K-Pop and they are definitely the most enthusiastic. Wherever you go in Indonesia, it’s very likely that you will hear K-Pop music. In many K-Pop videos on YouTube, Indonesian fans contribute to views significantly.
Thailand- with Thailand in the second position, it seems that Southeast Asia is the most supporting region for K-Pop music. Fans in this country also visit South Korea regularly and there are also many local idol groups in Thailand that are inspired by this music. On average, Thai fans spend more than 22 hours per month enjoying K-Pop music.
Vietnam- K-Pop music is well known in Vietnam. Vietnamese fans are very enthusiastic, and many Korean idols visited the country. Fans spend 11 days each year or 22 hours each month on K-Pop content.
Malaysia- Malaysia is the fourth Southeast Asian country in this list and fans in the country have been showing their ardent support. With their relatively strong purchasing power, Malaysia is an ideal tour destination for many K-Pop artists and idols. Fans in Malaysia spend about 20 hours per month listening to K-pop music.
Brazil- K-Pop music is also making its way into the South American market. In Brazil, K-Pop idol groups are making deep impressions among fans who are extremely passionate. They spend about 17 hours each month watching and listening to K-Pop music. As one of the most populous countries, Brazil is contributing to K-Pop music views on YouTube.
Russia- as a country located in both Europe and Asia, Russians are exposed to the cultures of both worlds. There are also many K-Pop fanatics in the country as well. Various concerts have been held in the country and like India, they also spend 16 hours per month enjoying pop Korean culture, on average.
So, is this to say that K-Pop music is not enjoyed in the US or the UK? Not at all. In fact, the number of fans is so much higher in these countries that we had to leave them off of the list to ensure these other countries had an opportunity to show their love and support for K-Pop music. K-Pop has become one of the fastest growing musical genres in the US since the introduction of pop music back in the 50’s and 60’s.
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—-Julie Luong
The talk of the town during this year’s Chuseok (Korea’s most important traditional holiday akin to Thanksgiving) was definitely Na Hoon-a, a singer-songwriter in the Trot genre. His concert, with no spectators on the site, aptly devised for this ‘untact’ or ‘lockdown’ period the whole world is going through, was on television on 30th September. It was his first TV appearance in 15 years.
The term Trot obviously comes from Foxtrot, although it is not so obvious when you actually listen to it. It seems to be an addition of distinctly Korean-sounding music to the post-WWII crooners’ music of jazz and standard pop, which was popular to some extent in Japan and Korea also; rather than giving way to rock-n-roll, like in the West, it retained the typically male crooner’s soloist singing and customized to regional tastes.
Na, known as the Emperor of Trot music (and even Korean music in general), says that Arirang is a better-suited name for the genre, because it has become so embodied in Korean style and sentiments that appeal to the older generation. It is either joyful or sentimental, with usual topics of love and different attitudes and philosophies of life. Trot has become much more popular recently through various television contests and audition shows.
Following this recent boom of Trot music in Korea, a concert by a legendary singer like Na Hoon-a came at the right timing. Many Koreans aged 50 and upwards have long been fans of Na’s, but perhaps the best result for Na is that his recently televised concert was a huge success in appealing to the younger Koreans who have been more or less unaware or not much interested in his music.
Na was born as Choe Hong-gi in Busan, Korea’s second major city and biggest port, supposedly on February 11th 1947. He made his debut as a singer in 1966. Na is known to be registered as being a couple of years older than his actual age, because as a young singer just making his debut back in the day, he strove to avoid being taken advantage of by the entertainment industry.
Over the decades, Na has accumulated over 120 hit songs and numerous prestigious awards. He is credited with having written more than 800 songs.
Na has been married and divorced three times – his second marriage was to the Korean star actress Kim Ji-mee in 1976, an older woman in his life. Their marriage and divorce created sensation in the Korean media. Then Na had two children with his third wife Chung Su-kyung, who was also a singer. The couple divorced in 2016.
Allegedly, Na has refused a concert in North Korea because he wanted no part in performing in a State-driven project. In a similar incident, Na refused to sing for the Samsung family because of how he defined himself as a singer of popular music that sings for the populace. These stories have helped to build Na’s public image of integrity and willpower.
Na’s solid vocal powers as well as creativity in music and performance have always been well-known to the general public, but often through hearsay rather than experience. This is because Na has been something of a veiled artist, in contrast to many other Korean entertainers who have regularly appeared on reality programs and other commercial projects. It’s no surprise, then, that many people besides his faithful fans have never seen his concert until recently.
In his September 30th concert, Na gave out messages of hope, and reminded his viewers that it had always been the people, the public, that have overcome difficulties rather than the leaders of the nation. While some of the phrases used could be interpreted as political (in a way not favorable to the current government), his sincerity has touched the hearts of many. It looks like Na’s highly successful career is going through a renascence.
J.Chung.
*Could you introduce yourself to your international fans?
Hello, I am singer Do Hyuna. I made my debut in 1997, when my song featured in a Korean TV drama. Since then, I released several albums and am currently working as a radio DJ at TBN Jeju broadcasting station.
*”Just Trust Your Noona” which was released in August has an EDM sound that feels youthful. Was there a reason for you to release a new style of music?
The song was written by myself a year ago. I composed and wrote the lyrics. At first it was a acoustic guitar folk ballad but I thought the public would want something more uplifting due to the coronavirus pandemic, so I switched the song to EDM music that the younger generation would enjoy.
I usually mix in bossa nova, rock, jazz and other genres of music when writing songs and always try to think of renovative ways to compose music. I had a lot of trouble writing “Just Trust your Noona” which was the first time I ever implemented EDM genre. I got to meet Starchild team who won the world’s EDM contest that helped to produce the song which resulted in such a sound full of energy.
*You wrote the song yourself. What led you to compose and write lyrics?
I think it was due to desperation. I’ve been through the past where I lost everything while being a singer and hit rock bottom. So, it is a challenge for me to try out something new each time.
*How are you spending time during lockdown?
I’ve been affected by the coronavirus due to the current state of public performance and the various. Artists are trying ways to perform online and I, myself am trying to communicate with people through my radio program. Just because the station’s in Jeju, it doesn’t mean the listeners are all from there. I really enjoy the two hours of talking to an audience who can connect through an app.
*Tell us how you spent your hiatus before making a comeback.
I had lost my voice due to depression and panic disorder. So, I couldn’t get booked for any broadcasts. My depression and panic disorder got worse and I stayed at home, not going out-of-doors.
Then one day, I got a phone call. A producer who was a fan of my music asked if I would be the DJ for his new show. I declined, but persuaded me for 2 hours so I accepted in the end. He taught me everything about broadcasting. We’ve broken records of receiving the most text messages on the show. I got offers from other stations and spent 8 years DJing. But during the time, I had to watch my peers singing and I really wanted to sing so badly that I would cry by myself.
I started to play music in my room and practice singing and trying to find ways to sing again. I was then able to gradually regain my voice and got to release new music in 9 years.
*How do you release stress normally?
I release stress through working out and meditation.
Through having been suffering from depression and panic disorder, I learned ways to overcome things in my own way. I try to calm myself by meditating and taking time on my own. If you sweat and work out a lot, you’ll notice a difference in your body as well. You’ll then gain confidence and be able to get rid of stress. I worked out at the fitness center a lot during my hardships. I was awarded second prize at the competition held at the fitness center. I learned how to box and ways to calm myself down through meditation and yoga. I was then able to regain my strength back to normal and was healed of my anxious mind.
*What did you dream of becoming before you became a singer?
My dream, when I was younger, was to become a Korean traditional dancer. A teacher recognized my potential talent during a dance class, so I was given lessons by a professional after obtaining permission from my parents.
I won awards at competitions and was awarded the gold prize as the representative at an international contest. But not long after that, my mother passed away and I became the head of the family and had to give up dancing. If that hadn’t happened, I might have become a professional dancer and be teaching students.
*How did you initially get into Trot music?
I sang a lot of pop and rock music when I was a vocalist in a band. Then I was spotted by a music director from a broadcasting station and that got me featured in an original soundtrack to a TV drama. Back then, music genres were separately broadcasted as it is now. I think it was from the late 90s that trot was separated as genre for adults. I was given songs and lyrics for adults, and was able to identify with trot music.
*What do you think about the current trend of trot music that is trending in Korea through music programs?
Trot music is on TV through every channel these days. It seems a tsunami of trot is coming out. I was pleased the trend is coming back at first. But at the same time, trot music seems to be all over the place, from all kinds of TV shows to auditions. I am a bit concerned that the trot trend will become tedious or distorted and be considered too light for the public.
*Which one of your songs is your favorite?
I personally like “Crying by Myself – 혼자 울고 있어요.” I went through some hard times when I was active in Japan briefly. I would sing the song to myself.
These days, I also like “As One –하나되어” and “Just Trust Your Noona – 누나믿고 나와” -the latter being the first song that I wrote, I like that a lot.
*Have you encountered any emotional incidences during your singing career?
I held my first ever concert after regaining my lost voice for 8 years and people from all over Korea came to Incheon for the show. I would never forget that.
And I recall meeting my school friend at Do Hyuna’s Music Story concert which was nice. What left a big impression on me was a fan who became my fan when I first appeared on TV came to my show 10 years later and congratulated me. That was something that I won’t forget.
*How do you want to be remembered?
Before, I wanted to be remembered as a star who had hit songs. But after going through many hardships, when I couldn’t sing anymore, I had no desire but to sing. When I regained my voice and was able to sing in front of an audience, I want to be remembered as a friend, a family member to them. I want my songs to comfort them in times of sadness, as Do Hyuna the person not just a singer.
*What are your plans for the future?
Because of the coronavirus, there has been many changes to the broadcasting world and performances in arts. I mean to press on ahead with my radio program. I get offers from other stations too but don’t know what the outcome would be right now, but I plan to keep communicating with my listeners.
I also plan to hold a charity concert for everyone who is having a hard time due to the coronavirus. I am currently active as a NGO ambassador, so I am ready to go overseas wherever I am needed.
*Thank you for the interview. Please leave one last word of encouragement to the fans.
I will always be singing around you. I would appreciate it so much if you would love me and my music always. I hope you’ll stay healthy and happy! I love you all! ^^
–J.Chung.
Topeka has a host of exciting, diverse offerings this fall, including more of their first-in-kind Front Row shows which create one-on-one connections between artists and fans.
Upcoming events include a workshop “Around the Kitchen Table” with Katianna & John Hong of The Culinary Institute of America on November 8, 2020.
Katianna Hong
November 8
Katianna (CIA ’05) & John Hong
Demonstration Date: Sunday, November 8, 2020
Doors: 4:45pm ET // 3:45pm CT // 1:45pm PT
Show: 5:00pm ET // 4:00pm CT // 2:00pm PT
Chef Katianna Hong has worked her way up in some of the best kitchens throughout the country, including being former Chef at The Charter Oak and former Chef de Cuisine at The Restaurant at Meadowood in Napa. During her time at The Restaurant at Meadowood, she was the only female Chef de Cuisine in a U.S. Michelin three-starred restaurant. She has been honored as San Francisco Magazine’s “Rising Star Chef” and one of Food and Wine Magazine’s “Best New Chefs.”
Chef John Hong realized he belonged in the kitchen after a short stint in college. After graduating culinary school in Chicago and working at three Michelin-starred Alinea, he made the decision to move west. When he landed in the Napa Valley, he worked his way up at The Restaurant at Meadowood, another Michelin-starred restaurant, to become the Chef de Cuisine. In 2016, he was honored by the Asian Business Association as “Chef of the Year.”
Ticket Purchase and additional information can be found HERE!
Topeka’s first-in-kind “Front Row” show experience creates authentic, one-on-one connections between artist and fan, offering the unique opportunity for ticketholders to engage with their favorite artists during the performance. Learn more about the Front Row Experience HERE.
About Topeka: Created by Andy Levine, Topeka has enjoyed growing success since its inception, allowing artists and fans to connect face-to-face via live interactive video. Topeka’s innovative “Front Row” show experience creates the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for fans to engage with their favorite artists during the performance, building real, authentic connections. From mini-concerts and listening parties to private lessons, workshops, group Q&As and more, Topeka offers an array of experiences to form these personal relationships. Each Hang Session via Topeka supports their partnership with Circles Morningside, the Atlanta-based chapter of Circles USA, and their 12-week Apprenticeship Program. For more details visit topeka.live to connect, to share, to learn, to…peka. #meetyouintopeka
Watch an example of Topeka’s Hang Sessions HERE and visit Topeka.live for more information.
© AFP via Getty Images
For the first time, a female will become director-general of the World Trade Organization (WTO) – after it was narrowed down to two candidates – from South Korea and Nigeria.
“Our aim continues to be to encourage and facilitate the building of consensus among members, and to assist in moving from this final slate of two candidates to a decision on appointment,” WTO General Council Chairman David Walker stated.
Nigeria’s Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and South Korea’s Yoo Myung-hee are racing to become the next director-general of WTO. Between Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Yoo Myung-hee – one winner will be announced in November.
If things work out for her, Okonjo-Iweala would become the first World Trade Organization chief from Africa. She is a Nigeria’s finance minister, and served as a managing director at the World Bank.
Yoo is South Korea’s trade minister, who has had a 25-year career in the Korean government. She helped boost South Korea’s trade network through bilateral accords with China, the E.U., the U.K. and America. Yoo is the third Korean to run for the top post of the Geneva-based trade body.
Ambassadors to the WTO said that Tokyo and Beijing were likely to exercise a de facto veto against Ms Yoo because of political tensions with Korea, despite their claims that they will support the candidate with the most merit. Japan reportedly has been against Yoo’s bid to run for the top seat at the WTO.
The director-general of WTO serves a renewable term of four years. This position became available due to a resignation of Roberto Azevedo who held the job since 2013, until this past September.
J.Chung.
SG Entertainment, the first entertainment agency in Korea founded by two Europeans, today announced the release of Blackpink’s ‘ICE CREAM’ cover music video on their official YouTube channel.
Yelin Lee and Jiyeon Kim, the main trainees of SG Entertainment, as well as the new trainee, star in the music video. The video is reinterpreted in a colorful and bright way to convey the message of hope and happiness to the people around the world who are experiencing hard times due to the COVID-19 situation.
The beginner trainee is Jiyoon Kim, who has a unique talent for both vocal and dance skills. Her wide vocal range, trained through her extensive choir experience, as well as her powerful dance skills show great promise.
SG Entertainment’s CEO Joon-Hae Spielmann said: “Currently, four trainees are being trained in our own system, which is a fusion of the French and the Korean methods, and we are planning to recruit several more trainees for the upcoming girl group.”
SG Entertainment is recruiting several additional trainees with great talent and skills to perform on the global stage with their debut planned for next year.
The cover music video will be released at 1pm KST.
SG Entertainment YouTube Channel URL:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2EwtNO0YZNs
About SG Entertainment:
Part of SG Group, SG Entertainment is the first Korean cultural content production company founded by French producers. With a strong focus on creativity, SG Entertainment strives to produce engaging and appealing content to inspire the younger generations to develop a positive attitude towards their future and take their lives in their own hands. The company’s mission is to find, train and empower performers, creators, models and thought leaders to define the way forward so that everyone can find their place and envision a harmonious tomorrow for all. www.sg-ent.com
DREAMCATCHER is back with their second online concert, [Dystopia: Seven Spirits], accompanied by a Live band scheduled to be held on Saturday, November 7, starting at 10 PM KST.
DREAMCATCHER collaborates once again with MyMusicTaste; a technology-forward platform, that not only allows fans to request physical concerts of their favorite artists in their cities, but also provides the newly added feature of online streaming, which allows artists and fans to stay connected in the pandemic age.
This show comes after DREAMCATCHER’s successful comeback and completion of their first online concert which was also actualized through the overwhelming requests of fans on MyMusicTaste. In today’s reality of restricted travels and social distancing, this unique online concert will allow global fans of the Seoul-based group to experience their music and energetic performances from the comfort of their homes.
DREAMCATCHER debuted in January 2017, with the single “Nightmare” and quickly caught the attention of music critics with their unique “Young Metal” sound, and intoxicatingly enthralling choreography. Voted no.3 on Billboard’s Best New K-Pop Acts in 2017, the group’s worldwide fame has grown exponentially since; their title track, “데자부 (Deju Vu),” from their special mini-album Raid of Dream released in September 2019 entered Billboard’s World Albums Chart at no.10. Shortly after its release, Raid of Dream also topped the iTunes album charts of nine different regions—Argentina, Peru, Finland, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Norway, Singapore, Sweden, the United Arab Emirates—and entered the top five iTunes album rankings in ten additional countries, further solidifying DREAMCATCHER’s rapidly increasing K-pop influence.
Recently DREAMCATCHER made a very successful release of their fifth mini-album “Dystopia: Lose Myself”. This album continues the Dystopia trilogy, in which the members take the role of tree spirits living in a dystopian world. Once a Utopia, the world that they used to know has changed drastically due to the continuous spread of negativity. With their new title song “BOCA” (translated as ‘mouth’ from Spanish), DREAMCATCHER members proclaim that they will now try to fix the world by shutting out the hate. The title, [Dystopia: Seven Spirits], was inspired by the symbolic message that DREAMCATCHER continues to bring with their music by reflecting the modern “witch-hunting” that exists in today’s society.
[Dystopia: Seven Spirits] concert streamers are in for a special treat: this online concert will mark the comeback of DREAMCATCHER’s member, HANDONG, who wasn’t able to participate in the first show due to her activities abroad.
DREAMCATCHER is composed of seven female members: JI U, SU A, SIYEON, YOOHYEON, DAMI, HANDONG, and GAHYEON.
Tickets for [Dystopia: Seven Spirits] will go on sale starting October 16 at 10 AM KST, onMyMusicTaste.com
Further information regarding ticketing and the show itself can be found throughhttps://mmt.fans/iJQT or other social media channels of MyMusicTaste.
About MyMusicTaste:
MyMusicTaste is a fan initiated live event making service that brings fans, artists and promoters from all over the world together in one place to create a valuable and meaningful concert experience for everyone involved. MyMusicTaste puts the power in the fans’ hands, allowing fans to request their favorite artist’s concert in their city. With the mission to connect and amplify the voices of fans all over the world, MyMusicTaste successfully promoted concerts of artists such as EXO, GOT7, MONSTA X, The xx, Machine Gun Kelly, and more in over 57 different cities. With the simple idea–empowering fans to bring their favorite artist’s concert in the city of their choice based on fandem and–MyMusicTaste is challenging the $27 billion concert market through cutting-edge technology and sophisticated, user-friendly service. Currently, www.mymusictaste.com supports more than 30 countries and offers 15different languages.
About DREAMCATCHER COMPANY:
Established in 2008, DREAMCATCHER COMPANY is a South Korean record label and entertainment agency founded by the prominent production duo E-tribe. Since the debut of its first artist Nassun, the company has grown in size over the years, producing artists and idol groups under its own name. V.O.S, Dalshabet, and DREAMCATCHER are the major artists that are currently associated with the label. Recently, the company also launched subsidiary labels HF Music Company, Dreamcatcher Company, and D1CE Entertainment and is garnering much attention and recognition from the public as the rising creator of future K-pop artists.
Japanese mannequin rap duo FEMM made waves when their track ‘Fxxk Boyz Get Money’ was picked up by influencers in the United States, Europe and around the world. Now they are back with new song ‘Chewing Gum Cleaner’, which hit digital stores and streaming services on October 16, along with a cool new sci-fi anime-influenced music video on YouTube.
FEMM – ‘Chewing Gum Cleaner’ music video:
FEMM – ‘Chewing Gum Cleaner’ download/streaming:
https://FEMM.lnk.to/ChewingGumCleaner
The track was produced by KiWi, who has previously released music on Diplo’s record label Mad Decent and collaborated with 88rising. KiWi is associated with a dark, anarchic sound, resulting in the bass-heavy Gothic horror of ‘Chewing Gum Cleaner’.
The music video was made in collaboration with visual director Midori Kawano, creator of the RGB_Light fashion lighting product (which is used to cool effect in the video) and who also worked on the music video for ‘Fxxk Boyz Get Money’.
The video incorporates footage from FEMM’s 2018 live performance event ‘DOLLHOUSE’, giving a sneak peek into this innovative multimedia art show that ran for one month in Tokyo. During the show’s run, visitors had their bodies captured and modeled in CG by FUTURE REAL 3D AVATAR LAB, resulting in an eye-catching dance scene in the ‘Chewing Gum Cleaner’ video where around 700 CG avatars of real FEMM fans groove together in a virtual space. The 3D CG work includes visual production from BRDG members Keijiro Takahashi, Ken-ichi Kawamura and Kota Yamaji.
The costumes in the video were created by GM Atelier, a Japanese costume and special-effects makeup house that has exhibited at Paris Fashion Week. FEMM’s bold and stylish power suit outfits are inspired by anime masterpieces such as ‘Ghost in the Shell’ and ‘Neon Genesis Evangelion’, bringing the world of Japanese sci-fi animation to life.
‘Chewing Gum Cleaner’ is accompanied by a bonus track, ‘Dead Of Night’, which is a dark electro hip-hop tune with romantic melodies and deep lyrics. The song was originally produced as part of FEMM’s groundbreaking AR live performance at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, USA, in 2018. The duo recently posted a clip on Instagram featuring voguing and finger-tutting dance routines in typically mechanical FEMM style.
FEMM – ‘Dead Of Night’ (Instagram)
https://www.instagram.com/tv/CGEzJwshAZz/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
See below for links to more info on FEMM, and check out sticky new tune ‘Chewing Gum Cleaner’ today!
FEMM links:
Official website: https://femms.jp/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/femm____/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FEMM____
# # #
Images: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/kj3d0ayt29bmkmq/AAAphElNdzUJxDQxvQ8g-5r2a?dl=0
For further inquiries, please contact: pressrelease@av.avex.co.jp
Many Koreans state that they put on weight during lockdown.
According to a survey when interviewing 5,016 adults – 44 percent said they gained weight in 2020, during the lockdown. 24 percent said they lost weight – while the rest stated their weight stayed the same.
30 percent said they’ve gained more than 3 kg, 29 percent between 2 kg and 3 kg, and 28 percent 0.5~1 kg.
They were also asked about the main reason for their weight gain. 56 percent said it was due to more time spent at home, 37 percent less exercise, 27 percent overeating and 21 percent more time spent watching TV. 65 percent of women and 50 percent of men said they attempted to go on a diet.
Korea has one of the lowest obesity rate in the world, but the rate of obesity is fastly increasing in the country. According to the National Health Insurance Service, about 4 percent of the adult population is obese in Korea, and about 30 percent are overweight. In Korea, individuals are considered overweight when their body mass index is 25 or over.
Obesity is also on the rise among younger generation of people. The obesity rate among men has surprisingly reached 45.7 percent, and Korea has seen the number of extremely obese people with a BMI of more than 30 almost double in the last 20 years.
J.Chung.
Chie Izuno works full time at an office Branch. Though she’s 30, she’s very young at heart and kind of innocent. She tries hard to go into the dating field but finds herself struggling due to her weight and self-esteem issues. She meets up with one of the company’s investors, Jin Harada, a super sucessful and young business man. However Jin has a severe lack of social skills. Chie strives to make a deal with Jin in order to aide her in her goal to lose weight and gain confidence, she tells Jin she can help him with his own flaws. Where will this agreement lead them to, and can two total opposites and flawed individuals overcome their personal demons?
Have you ever wanted to explore the world of k-pop trainees? But more than just research, you wanted to walk a day in the kicks of an idol in training? Now you have your chance thanks to Jessica Jung, an inside source in the industry.
Jessica Jung was a member of Girls’ Generation (which needs no introduction), a solo artist, actress, creator of a fashion line and now, author. She just released her first young adult novel, Shine, through Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. Considering Jessica’s experience, what better topic to write on than that of a k-pop trainee in the making? If you’ve ever dreamed of living life as an idol and wondered the ins and outs of the trainee world—now is your chance to fully immerse yourself from home!
Shine follows a Korean-American named Rachel, working hard to get her shot at stardom as a trainee at one of Seoul’s largest k-pop labels. Of course, this involves blood, sweat, and tears. Rachel starts to fall for the dreamy, established idol at her label and must navigate the waters of romance amidst the stress of hoping to debut. Will Rachel survive the hustle life and make it into the luxe, high-stakes world of the k-pop industry? Only one way to find out!
The question on most minds is how much is this novel based on Jessica’s personal experience? In an interview with Variety, Jessica in regards to this question said: Rachel and I are very similar, but I did fictionalize everything. But I hope it will be an Easter egg hunt for people. I want them to find clues along the way, figure out who’s who, what’s what, have fun with it and enjoy it. That will certainly be enough motivation to pick up a copy of Shine, especially for fans of Girls’ Generation!
This novel touches on some of the controversial issues within the industry. Bullying because of competition between trainees and mistreatment of female stars versus male ones is explored within the pages of Shine. Jessica incorporates this into her fiction work as a way to let readers know what goes on behind the scenes and to raise awareness of the issues that exist in the k-pop world. In her interview with Variety, she talks about this in stating, “Koreans in general, they’re very conservative in every way, so it’s not easy to really speak up. It can be very sensitive. But I think I was brave enough to do that.” 1
Another unique feature of Shine is the use of Korean. The author purposefully left some words untranslated, knowing k-pop fans would enjoy the authenticity and opportunity to learn words in Korean. She wasn’t wrong! Part of the fun of k-pop is learning a new language along the way, and it’s awesome that Jessica considered this when composing her novel!
Jung is one of the first K-pop stars to write a novel based on an idol career. In writing this book, she mentioned wanting the reader to walk away with a positive view of their dreams. It’s okay to fight for yourself and work hard to achieve your ambition. Let character Rachel Kim inspire you to find your voice and be dedicated to your goals! Devouring this book in one sitting is totally acceptable. Live your dreams!
—-Ellie Boyd
Songpyeon is a traditional Korean dessert which is usually eaten during the Korean autumn harvest festival, Chuseok. Historically, records of songpyeon date from the Goryeo era.
Songpyeon is a half-moon shaped rice cake that often contains sweet or semi-sweet fillings, like soybeans, chestnuts, jujubes, dates, beans, sesame seeds, or honey – then steamed over a layer of pine needles.
Ingredients
Basic white dough
Sift 1 cup of frozen rice powder
3 tbsp of boiling hot water
Pine needles
Cold water
Sesame oil
Mugwort powder
Blueberry juice
Strawberry Jell-o powder
Green dough
1 cup of frozen rice powder
1 tsp of mugwort powder
3 tbsp of boiling hot water
Pink dough
1 cup of frozen rice powder
A pinch of strawberry Jell-o powder
3 tbsp of boiling hot water
Purple dough
1 cup of frozen rice powder
3~4 tbs of cooked blueberry juice
Fillings
1/2 cup of roasted sesame seeds
2 Tbs of honey
1/8 tsp of sea salt
Instructions
To make the filling:
Grind the sesame seeds in a blender for about 20 secs. Transfer ground sesame to a bowl and mix in brown sugar and a pinch of salt.
To make the dough:
Prepare 3 cups of rice powder and sift into a large bowl.
Divide the rice powder into 3 bowls. Each bowl should equally contain 1 cup of rice powder.
To prepare the basic white dough, add 3 tbsp of boiling water to the rice powder and mix it with a spatula. When the dough is cool enough, knead for about 5 mins. Wrap with cling film and set aside.
To prepare the green dough, add 1 tsp of mugwort powder and 3 tbsp boiling hot water to the rice powder and mix it with a spatula. When the dough is cool enough, knead for about 5 mins, then wrap with cling film and set aside.
To prepare the pink dough, add a pinch of strawberry Jell-o powder and 3 tbsp boiling hot water to the rice powder and mix it with a spatula. When the dough is cool enough to handle, knead for about 5 mins, then wrap with cling film and set aside.
To prepare the purple dough, add 1/4 cup blueberries and 1/4 cup water, then blend in the microwave for 45 sec then strain.
To assemble the Songpyeon:
Tear off the dough enough to make 1-inch ball. Make a well in the ball with your thumb, and stretch the dough outwards with both of your thumbs to expand the opening. Fill the well with tsp of filling, then seal tightly by squeezing the edges together. Squeeze the whole rice cake lightly in your and shape it to resemble a half moon.
Prepare a steamer by bringing water to boil over high heat. Place a thin layer of pine needles on the steamer insert. When it starts to steam, place the rice cakes on the steamer insert without the pieces touching. Cover with a thin layer of pine needles. Cover and steam for 20 mins.
Prepare a big bowl of cold water, then remove the rice cakes from the steamer with a tong or a spoon. Immediately immerse then into cold water for a quick rinse, removing all the pine needles. Then transfer the rice cakes to a colander to drain. Lightly rub the oil on the rice cakes. Serve warm.
–J.Chung.
We would like to thank Kim Ye-hyun of Fit & Hill Fitness for giving us a great interview. We wish him all the best in the future!
Hello, thanks for taking the time out for a KCrush interview. Would you introduce yourself to our readers?
Hello, my name is Kim Ye-hyun – I am the representative of Fit & Hill Fitness and a sports entertainer. I was a fencer since I was at school and currently work as a personal trainer and sports model.
Please tell us about your sport for those who may not be aware.
Fencing is a sport that two players combat each other by stabbing or contacting with swords. It is also a fitness sport that helps to create a balanced body structure.
Do you have any advice for beginners?
To eat, sleep and work out diligently. Most of all, it is best to make a habit of working out continuously.
How many hours do you train a day?
I do cardio excercise and weight training – 2 hours each, daily.
Is there a secret to being great at a certain sport?
Doing various routines in order to find the right sport for you is key.
What do you like to do for leisure?
I enjoy going to see musicals, plays and movies.
What would be your fav food/berverage?
I like everything except chicken breast. I especially like yukhoe, salmon, burgers the most.
Name a movie, book or a musical that you enjoyed recently.
Musicals – Laundry and Jekyll and Hyde.
Where do you think is the best place for travelling in Korea?
Gwangalli.
What are your future plans and goals?
My goals are to take care of more bodies of others and become a natural sports model through many activities as a sports entertainer.
J.Chung.
Quarantine… We have officially stepped into another month of social distancing and all-around move-and-work limitations. For some, it feels like we have been this way forever while for others the thought of living like this since March or even earlier seems unimaginable. The news and the media have been flooded with all kinds of information regarding politics, health organizations, economy… the list goes on and on. The tension grows by the day so we’re here to tell you to take a deep breath and just relax. Even if it is just for a moment. We can talk about something that almost always brings joy – “what is happening inside of our K-Pop world?” More precisely, today we will not be focusing on persons on the big screen, today we will talk about how are those feeling who are watching everything. Today it is all about our loving people inside the K-Pop community!
BTS online concert
In the spirit of all that, we have made a little survey and short interviews with K-Pop lovers all around the world. We gathered 7 quick questions and asked our friends to share their thoughts. Even though the questions are quick, we told them not to limit themselves and answer in a way they find most suiting. Not to keep our readers waiting any longer, here is the list of our questions:
1. What do you miss the most in the K-Pop world since the lockdown?
2. Online concerts vs Live concerts: in your opinion, what are the biggest pros and cons?
3. Since there are no meet and greets, promotions etc… how did you stay connected with the idols?
4. How do you think the agencies are handling the world pandemic?
5. What do you think, how are the artists feeling now that they cannot perform?
6. What did you learn during the pandemic? (Doesn’t have to be K-Pop related)
7. And for the end, what’s your message to the other fellow K-Pop lovers?
At the end of this article, you will find two interviews – one from Milica (Serbia) and one from Tina (Greece). They both send their greetings and wish for everyone to stay safe during these trying times. But until we reach the ending, we will use this spare moment to discuss the survey results.
Most of the K-Pop lovers feel really worried about how everything is affecting their biases. As performing and promoting live is a big part of their career, this must have been a big shock to them all. Luckily the companies made a way to meet everyone in the middle – the solution being online concerts, events, promotions and so on. Of course, the charm of actually seeing the idol is gone. That is one of the biggest flaws of online communication. Especially when it comes to idols. The magic of being in their presence is what every fan looks forward to the most. The stage, the minutes before the show, the actual show, the idol-fan interaction, the costumes, the performance. Everything about it has its own magical charm. In those moments people get so overwhelmed with happiness and that is the moment when happy tears fall down. In that moment we all forget about our worries and just live and savor the moment. It is something that no online concert can bring to life. We all miss it. But hopefully, things will go back to normal soon.
BTS online concert
To light up this article, not all is dim and covered in grey shades. A lot of stans stated that they are happy that our idols now have time to properly rest – as that is something they rarely do.
“Comebacks are happening on the weekly basis so they must be feeling extremely exhausted, now they can take time and enjoy their own life without feeling the pressure to preform so frequently”, said Alice (United Kingdom).
Other cheerful news – BLACKPINK’s new album dropped and since it is their first full album, fans all around the globe are thrilled and excited. In my humble opinion, it was just the right medicine. The new music video is phenomenal as the stans say and the songs are straight fire.
Cover for BLACKPINK’s new music video “Lovesick Girls”
The one – maybe most surprising – is “Bet You Wanna” which is featuring Cardi B. Cardi B and BLACKPINK, huh? Who would have said that those would cross paths? But the collaboration is here and it’s worth every compliment it gets!
“THE ALBUM” by BLACKPINK
Not to make you wait any longer, meet Milica and Tina! They are two wonderful girls who were very excited to respond to our interview. Enjoy!
Interview with Milica (Serbia):
1. What do you miss the most in the K-Pop world since the lockdown?
Their music and dances are all I need to survive and that is what I got, soooo nothing really.
2. Online concerts vs Live concerts: in your opinion, what are the biggest pros and cons?
In my opinion live concerts are so much better, because when you are actually there you can really see them and feel their energy and that’s something that online concerts can’t replace. On the other hand, online concerts made it possible for anyone in the world to join the concerts. So now people who live in smaller countries don’t have to travel and spend lots of money just so they could see their favorite group.
3. Since there are no meet and greets, promotions etc… how did you stay connected with the idols?
Through their music of course. I, honestly, didn’t really go to meet and greets, so pandemic in that way didn’t affect me.
4. How do you think the agencies are handling the world pandemic?
I think they are handling it fine. I know for BlackPink it’s definitely great – we didn’t get this much comebacks from them since their debut.
5. What do you think, how are the artists feeling now that they cannot perform?
I think it’s good rest for them, but for now only. I think we all need that idol-fan interaction and live connection.
6. What did you learn during the pandemic? (Doesn’t have to be K-Pop related)
I learned new dancesssssss 😆
7. And for the end, what’s your message to the other fellow K-Pop lovers?
I love yaalllll 😍😍🥰🥰
Interview with Tina (Greece)
1. What do you miss the most in the K-Pop world since the lockdown?
I feel like the one thing that kpop fans and me included miss the most is probably the live concerts and interactions between the fans and their fav groups. And because of the lockdown we aren’t able to experience that like we used to.
2. Online concerts vs Live concerts: in your opinion, what are the biggest pros and cons?
The biggest pros of live concert is getting to hear your fav artists sing and dance live in front of you of course but also, I feel like fans can meet other people in concert who enjoy the same artist/group as them, and become friends. Now for the cons of live concert, to be honest I don’t think there is any? Maybe waiting in line for a lot of hours if the venue is big or maybe getting hurt if the fans try to get through so they can be closer to the stage but besides that I can’t think of something else. Now for the pros for the online concert, I think that it’s a great alternative for now, since we are all in quarantine with not a lot of things to do and locked up in the house, getting to watch an online concert is very exciting and fun experience for the fans since they can’t see them live. The cons are probably that the fans can’t get closer to each other through an experience like that and the idols probably feel bad for not being able to see their fans as well.
3. Since there are no meet and greets, promotions etc.. how did you stay connected with the idols?
As far as the promotion goes, we did get to see idols perform their songs although the fans couldn’t attend, we at least got to support them and see them through social media. I stayed connected with them by watching the content they put out such as vlogs or other videos of them playing games or stuff like that. Of course, I got to listen to their new songs and watch the mv’s they put out. A lot of them are doing lives so they can talk to us which is nice. We can also stay close to them through social media and such.
4. How do you think the agencies are handling the world pandemic?
I think agencies are trying their best to keep the idols safe but also finding ways to let their artist stay connected to fans by making online concerts possible. So I think they are handling it okay.
5. What do you think, how are the artists feeling now that they cannot perform?
A lot of them have expressed through social media they feel very sad and heartbroken since they can’t visit their fans all over the world and perform for them their new music. But at the same time they are aware of the situation and that they cant do anything to fix it so they try their best to stay positive and cheer their fans as well.
6. What did you learn during the pandemic? (Doesn’t have to be K-Pop related)
To appreciate live contact so much more, I think that is something we have all learned during these times.
7. And for the end, what’s your message to the other fellow K-Pop lovers?
I hope all the kpop fans can stay patient until this pandemic is over so then we can go and see our idols live. Until then I hope everyone is doing okay and can still cheer up for the idols and enjoy the music.
—-Jasmine Avulovic
On September 15th, police said on that they are investigating two members of a K-pop boy band for their alleged involvement in illegal overseas gambling.
Jung Yoon-hak and Kim Sung-je were booked by police for illegal overseas gambling while in the Philippines between the years 2016 and 2018.
The two made a statement that they did not visit the Philippines to gamble, but “accidentally stumbled upon it” while they were there.
One of them, is said to have also gambled on an illegal website.
SV Entertainment apologized on behalf of them, by saying, “We’re sorry for causing trouble to you fans with the bad news about the careless behaviors of Yunhak and Sungje,” adding the two members deeply regret and are reflecting on their actions.
Yoonhak was tested positive for the coronavirus earlier this year in April, after coming in contact with a hostess who works at a bar. He explained that he came in contact with the hostess, but he did not meet her at a bar.
–J.Chung.
BTS’s new album “BE” will be released on November 20th, as announced by Big Hit Entertainment via the group’s online fan community BTS Weverse. “BE” will be BTS’ second album of 2020 – following MAP OF THE SOUL : 7 – the fourth studio album from the group.
“This album is made more special by direct involvement from BTS in not only the music, but from the concept and composition to design. You will discover throughout the album the thoughts, emotions and deepest reflections of BTS while experiencing an even richer musical spectrum.” The announcement said. “BE” album is stated to be a special record by BTS members, but the announcement did not elaborate on other details.
From this Monday to Friday, the super group will appear on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” for a weeklong special of “BTS Week.”
Pre-orders of “BE” will start at 11 a.m. Monday, according to Big Hit Entertainment.
J.Chung.
#BTS #Newalbum #BE
After successfully captivating audiences all over the world, and faithful to their will of always staying connected to their fans, ATEEZ will be holding their second anniversary concert; ATEEZ 2ND ANNIVERSARY ONLINE CONCERT: Port of Call on October 24 starting 15:00 KST.
This show comes to celebrate ATEEZ’ successful 2 years since debut, in today’s reality of restricted travels and social distancing. This unique online show will allow global fans of the Seoul-based group to experience their music and energetic performances from the comfort of their homes.
ATEEZ’ online show was made possible by a technology forward platform, MyMusicTaste, that not only allows fans to request physical concerts of their favorite artists in their cities, but also provides the newly added feature of online streaming, which allows artists and fans to stay connected in the pandemic age.
Debuting on October 24 2018, ATEEZ kept themselves busy and continually challenged their creative impulse by releasing over 5 mini albums and 1 full album in a span of two years.
After wrapping up their epic Treasure saga early this year, ATEEZ shook the world with the first album of the new era ATEEZ ZERO: FEVER Part.1 on July 29. The album confirmed the group’s musical and visual superiority by breaking its precedents records of physical album sales, and its lead song “INCEPTION” entering the top 10 of multiple local and international music charts.
ATEEZ global power was proven as early as 6 month into their debut, after they sold out their first world tour “THE EXPEDITION TOUR” in a matter of minutes. The performances powerhouse then upgraded from a thousand capacity theater shows to arena shows for their now postponed world tour ATEEZ World Tour The Fellowship: Map The Treasure
The band’s well-crafted performances and producing skills received worldwide attention, both from the fans and the media by being featured on Billboard, MTV, The Grammy, DAZED, and many more outlets around the world.
ATEEZ current line up consists of Hongjoong, Seonghwa, Yunho, Yeosang, San, Mingi, Wooyoung, and Jongho.
Early bird tickets sale for ATEEZ 2ND ANNIVERSARY ONLINE CONCERT: Port of Call started on September 29 15:00 KST, on MyMusicTaste.com, YES24 Ticket and SKIYAKI. Fans will then enjoy the concert exclusively via MyMusicTaste.com.
Further information regarding ticketing and the show itself can be found throughhttps://mmt.fans/iz79or through other social media channels of MyMusicTaste.
About KQ Entertainment :
KQ entertainment is a global music content company with artists of a wide range of musical genres. The company flexibly responds to the rapidly changing domestic and overseas markets. Based on a label-specific operating system that takes into account the characteristics of musicians, KQ Entertainment continues to discover and support high-potential labels and talented musicians, thereby enabling idol groups and artists to coexist and positively influence each other.
About MyMusicTaste:
MyMusicTaste is a fan initiated live event making service that brings fans, artists and promoters from all over the world together in one place to create a valuable and meaningful concert experience for everyone involved. MyMusicTaste puts the power in the fans’ hands, allowing fans to request their favorite artist’s concert in their city. With the mission to connect and amplify the voices of fans all over the world, MyMusicTaste successfully promoted concerts of artists such as EXO, GOT7, MONSTA X, The xx, Machine Gun Kelly, and more in over 57 different cities. With the simple idea–empowering fans to bring their favorite artist’s concert in the city of their choice based on fandom and–MyMusicTaste is challenging the $27 billion concert market through cutting-edge technology and sophisticated, user-friendly service. Currently, www.mymusictaste.com supports more than 30 countries and offers 15different languages.
About CJ E&M (Division of CJ ENM)
CJ E&M is one of Korea’s largest entertainment and media contents companies. It is also known as Asia’s No.1content and media company and the leader of cultural trends. Along with encompassing diverse platforms like TV and films, it is also Korea’s largest producer, investor, and distributor of music. It has also produced and promoted hundreds of concerts a year. As a global media group, CJ E&M has established itself as a key player in promoting Asian pop culture across the world.
Animal influencers are on the rise in South Korea.
For this article, I picked out 5 youtubers who feature their pets on their Youtube channel. This list is not in a particular order for ranking.
Rupong’s House
Subscribers: 560K
This channel is all about two pomeranian dogs: Rudy and Pongki. Their owner takes super good care of them and the videos show their daily routines, like swimming in the pool, bathing, getting massages and the likes.
Subtitles are available and these dogs have fans all over the world for their cuteness.
CreamHeroes
Subscribers: 3.75M
CreamHeroes is a channel about a butler and her 10 cats. The channel initially started off with 7 cats but a mother cat with her two kittens were also added to the family recently. DD, TT, Momo, Coco, Lala, Chuchu, Lulu, Nana, Dodo and Toto have fans worldwide who love to monitor their every move.
Other than the two CreamHeroes channel, the butler owns two other channels with similar content – Kittisaurus and Claire Luvcat.
SHU AND TREE
Subscribers: 1.52M
This channel is run by a couple who own a pet beauty salon. The main stars are two dogs (Shu and Namu) and a kitten called Ann. The videos often show dogs getting makeovers done and groomed.
Spoonful of Ragdolls
Subscribers: 104K
Spoonful of Ragdolls stars 11 ragdoll cats: mostly related to one another who all live under the same roof. Amber had kittens a few months ago so, the videos show Gucci, Giselle, Google, Gemma and Goofy learn and adjust to life.
SoonMoo Cat
Subscribers: 99.1K
Soonmoo is a Scottish Fold cat that is named that way because of the color of its fur. Soonmoo means “turnip” in Korean. This cat likes to laze about like most cats do, but still doesn’t fail to attract the viewers with its charm.
–J.Chung.
K-pop’s biggest annual music awards show, Mnet Asian Music Awards (MAMA), will be held virtually – minus any audience in December. CJ ENM revealed that the award show will be held online on December 6 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The year-end music show that stars leading Korean pop artists has usually been held as a multiday event staged across various venues in Asian countries.
“MAMA has grown throughout the years while constantly innovating itself. We believe this year’s contact-less event will also provide a new opportunity to transform the show,” a CJ ENM representative stated.
Mnet Km Music Festival was launched in the year of 1999, and the event was rebranded as MAMA in 2009 as the show expanded itself globally. MAMA has been held outside of South Korea between 2010 and 2017 and airs internationally.
–J.Chung.
“The challenge of building a new future is one that we’re excited to tackle. This has been such a year of change and we, like the entire world, are reshaping our perspective on how we connect. We’re pleased to introduce SXSW Online as part of our program for 2021, and regardless of platform, we will continue to bring together the brightest minds from creative industries worldwide.” – Roland Swenson, CEO and Co-Founder
How do you build the future from scratch? At SXSW we’re known for being the world’s foremost gathering of creative professionals, and although so much is different, that is one thing we intend to stay the same.
Today we’re excited to announce SXSW Online as part of our 2021 offerings. We’re working hard on a digital experience in March that brings you the benefits of sessions, film festival screenings, music showcases, networking, and exhibitions. The dates for SXSW EDU Online are March 9 – March 11, 2021 and SXSW Online will take place March 16 – Saturday, March 20, 2021.
Entries for the 2021 online event will open on Tuesday, October 6 with PanelPicker® proposals for SXSW and SXSW EDU, as well as Film Festival Submissions. In lieu of the standard showcase application process, the Music Festival will be curated by programming staff with priority given to showcase presenters and artists who were scheduled for the 2020 event.
SXSW is working with the City of Austin and public health authorities on plans for a 2021 physical event, and we will provide updates as more information becomes available.
We hope you’ll join us in 2021. Stay tuned for more details!
FIRST SINGLE SUNG ENTIRELY IN ENGLISH PRODUCED BY BRUNO MARS
VIDEO FEATURES STUNNING VIEWS OF TOKYO
Legendary J-pop band ARASHI are debuting their new single “Whenever You Call,” a sleek, groovy pop ballad produced by Bruno Mars. The track marks the band’s first single sung entirely in English; listen/share HERE and watch/share the official video HERE, shot with the beautiful Tokyo skyline in the background.
“Personally, I have been a huge fan ever since his mainstream debut, and have attended his live shows multiple times,” Jun says of working with Bruno. “We originally intended to go to Los Angeles and work under his vocal direction in recording, but alas with the current COVID-19 situation that was not to be…Through many discussions and his advice on how best to handle the nuance of the vocals, we were able to finish it anyway. It was a fantastic experience to be able to learn from his unique and incredibly talented singing style.”
Sho remarks, “When we first heard the song, it was in the recording studio and the five of us listened to it together…it felt clearly that this was a song created through really digging deep and getting to know who ARASHI really is…It is a message of love, but one that imparts bravery too.”
“It is a love song that uplifts with the sense of beauty and emotion that only the melody and lyrics of Bruno can impart, straight from the heart,” Aiba says, while Nino describes, “I was surprised. I couldn’t believe that [Bruno] would write this song for us…I was totally moved.” Ohno praises Bruno, “It is an honor that he would produce this song for us…He put so much of what we’re going through now and his own thoughts into the creation of this incredible song.”
“Whenever You Call” follows the release of previous single, “IN THE SUMMER,” produced by Rami (Selena Gomez, Ariana Grande, Lady Gaga), which saw widespread success in both the U.S. and global markets.
ARASHI continue to see extensive critical acclaim as they make their U.S. debut. Beyond the streaming success of “IN THE SUMMER,” the band also participated in their first ever Twitter Q&A, hosted by @TwitterMusic, around the release. The event saw over 4.9M views, 490K likes, 129K retweets, and 45M impressions.
Pop sensation ARASHI are Japan’s biggest J-pop band, dominating the scene for over two decades and breaking records across the board. In 2019 the iconic group’s 5×20 All the Best!! 1999-2019 became the best-selling album of the year globally, putting them in the top spot over BTS and Taylor Swift. The career-spanning compilation album, which celebrated the quintet’s 20th anniversary, sold a record-breaking 3.3 million copies globally, earning the band a Guinness World Record.
Their 5×20 anniversary tour broke records as the largest scale tour in Japanese history, seeing over 2,375,000 attendees and spanning 50 shows in 5 dome venues. The historic J-Pop group is now taking on the U.S. audience, actively working their singles in America for the first time in their two-decade long career. ARASHI is Masaki Aiba, Jun Matsumoto, Kazunari Ninomiya, Satoshi Ohno and Sho Sakurai.
The group has seen unparalleled success, having sold over 41 million records and performed for 14 million people during the duration of their career. ARASHI, whose name means “force of a storm,” formed in September 1999 in Honolulu and released their debut single that November. In 2007, the release of hit single “Love So Sweet” gained the band commercial success by becoming the theme song of popular drama Hana Yori Dango 2 and turning ARASHI into a household name. By their tenth anniversary in 2009, ARASHI had become one