[GUCCI QUEEN]

I'm sure a lot of you knew about these singers/actors, but just in case I thought I'd post it here.
I felt that since these singers are KOREAN in some way or form, that it belonged in the Kpop forum.

Anyways, my main point is I HATE people who say "zOMG! Japanese music is the BEST! It's so much better than that crappy Korean music!" The reality of the situation is: Japanese music is heavily influenced in its own way by Korean music. Whether it's by acutal Koreans in the Japanese industry, or just a similar style it sports, it's true. Without Koreans, Jpop/Jrock fans wouldn't have their precious Miyavi of M-Flo. Japanese music is unique, but not THAT unique. There is always something like it out there, and Korean music, as well as culture, is more diverse than you may think.

And it kind of pisses me off that when a Japanese celebritiy reveals they're Korean or of Korean descent -- it's like they've just admitted to being a homosexual or an alcoholic. It's a shameful thing. But then again, I do understand, and it DOES make sense. There's tons of tension between Japan/Korea and there always will be; plus finding out that you're something else rather than what you've belived you were for all those years...it must be traumatizing.

Anyways, onto the singers.


[no image]
Misora Hibari - Debuted when she was 9 years old and has recorded over 1,000 songs.

[no image]
Wada Akiko - Very active in the Japanese entertainment business. Recently revealed her Korean ethnicity. Is 2nd Generation Korean descent Japanese singer.


Matsuda Yusaku - Half Korean; Very well known actor, was in "Black Rain," however, passed away shortly after.


Matsuda Ryuhei - Quarter Korean; Matsuda Yusaku's son, played "Ren" in the Nana movie.


Matsuda Shouta - Quarter Korean; Matsuda Yusaku's second son, played the part of Soujirou in "Hana Yori Dango."


Tomoyasu Hotei - Guitarist; Recently revealed his father is Korean.


M-flo's Verbal - Is of Korean descent but was born in Tokyo, and has done many collaborations with various Korean artists.


Igawa Haruka - Ethnicity is Korean but nationality is Japanese. Has appeared in many dramas and movies.


Ito Yuna - Half Korean; Played "Reira" in the Nana movie, great singer and also does modelling work in Korea.


Crystal Kay - Korean American, but was raised in Japan.


Sonin - 3rd generation Korean, a singer in Japan and played the role of "Mika" in "Heaven's Tree."


Miyavi - He is 3rd generation Korean. In an interview he stated, "Yes, this is the first time I've said this but I'm 3rd generation Korean. According to the blood line, I'm not mixed. My grandparents are from Jejudo, an island known for tourism, and I think they stayed there then moved to Japan. Even in my granparent's time, it was allowed to become nationalized (귀화(歸化), so my Dad's citizenship is probably Japanese." According to that interview, I believe that he IS mixed. I thought he looked mixed anyways...he looks like he's everything haha.


Romi Paku (Pak/Park) - 3rd generation Korean, first to become a voice actor. Also uses her Korean name.


Kan Hanae - Acted in "Nobody Knows."


Towa Tei - 3rd Generation; a well known DJ and has collaborated with Kylie Minogue.


Lee Young Ae (*NOT* the actress) - 3rd Generation Korean; Part of TOKYO ETH MUSICA.


Youn Ha - 100% Korean but lived in Japan, great singer!


K - Also 100% Korean, but does many activities in Japan.


BoA* (The blogger didn't mention her, but I thought I would since she's pretty important) - 100% Korean but has studied Japanese for many years, lived in Japan with a host family, fluent in Japanese, English, Korean, has topped the Oricon charts many times (was the first Korean singer to top the Oricon charts), has come out with many Japanese singles and albums, etc.

There are also many more unmentioned. Ryu Shi Won, Park Young Hwa, that also does activies in Japan.

Additionally, a member from Heyx3 and SMAP are either mixed, or 2/3rd generation Korean.
There has been rumours that X-Japan's Yoshiki's grandmother is Korean...Same with Takeshi Kitano.

And also, Ayumi from SUGAR who was raised/born in Japan but is originally Korean...or her grandmother is Korean or something. I forgot.

Credits: http://blog.naver.com/leehero_v/100025651635, Wikipedia.com, & http://boutiques.livejournal.com/ (조아라) & GUCCI QUEEN for reposting & reuploading pictures & editing

[Special Ed]

I think we should just let them be who they wanna be. We can't force them to be who we want them to be.

And plus, japanese music is more universal and they have MANY other 100% japanese singers than just those mentioned above, so we can't say its because of those singers up there that japanese music exist.

What I mean in universal is that they have hip hop, pop, rap, metal, rock, dance, techno, ballad, etc. All of these music styles are popular in Japan. Not one stlye truly dominates. Korean music style is different cuz mostly hip hop and pop is popular. We don't see any korean rockers.

Plus since Japan has more universal music and don't really apply looks into music, its easier for ppl who want to be singers to begin as singers in Japan.

For ex., Younha, she auditioned for SM but was rejected. In my opinion she has a better voice than Boa. Since she couldn't make it in Korea at the time, she went to Japan and signed with Sony Music and thus shot to fame with Houki Boshi, the ending theme for the anime Bleach. Same thing with K. He got well known in Japan for singing Over, the ending theme for the j-drama H2.

Just my opinion.

[tokyoseoul]

Yeah, my reply isn't going to contribute any new info or anything, but just wanted to say that I really appreciate this topic for a number of reasons & think that it's important to let everyone know. =)<3

[GUCCI QUEEN]

^ Naw I'm not saying that these singers are bad or anything....
I myself LOVE Crystal Kay, M-Flo, Ayumi (SUGAR), but I'm just saying that people should realize that Korean culture is a lot more diverse and popular than people may think. (And of course I understand that admitting you're Korean is hard, after many years of believing that you're 100% Japanese)

I mean people worship Japanese music as if it's really that unique. It is, but there's always something else like it out there. Korean music is pretty diverse in my opinion. Groove/techno/lounge romantic music, as well as hip hop and r&b, is just as popular as pop/kpop in Korea. And there are a lot of rock and roll groups/singers in Korea, it's just that the majority of them are either underground or unknown to Korean-Americans and Americans/non-Koreans. Real Korean music is really diverse, its just not advertised as much as SM Town's crap and etc.

And I didn't post this topic to start up controversy on which race is better, I just wanted to let it be known that Korean culture has is really deversified, and has roots in more places than you think.

[COUNTERACT]

HEY! It's you!! Hahaha, I didn't know that you were going to post this here! XD;

[GUCCI QUEEN]

^ ARA DONGSENG!
Yeah I thought it needed to be known!
Don't worry, I totally credited you <333


Thank you for the topic, btw.
It really made a light go off in my head. Hahaha.

[driftwood023]

Miyavi is Korean? ?? I'm confused.. 3rd generation Korean....?

[sweetddalki]

I didn't know Verbal was Korean. Awesome. No wonder he has so many songs with Korean artists Crystal Kay is awesome :] 1/2 Korean and 1/2 Black :DDDDD Mixed people! Hehee... It's so cool how she's been raised in Japan and such. She has such an amazing voice! I used to think she was 1/2 Japanese.

[COUNTERACT]

By the way, some of the information might not be 100% correct because all my resources are from the blogger and comments people made so...^^;


BY THE WAY - IN THAT INTERVIEW, HE DOES SAY HE IS MIXED. I accidentally read it wrong. XD;

[driftwood023]

Oh...I think Miyavi is mixed~ ^^; I read in a site that he is most likely mixed/not 100% Japanese. xD

[sheart]

im glad you made this topic to clear some things up but i really disagree with your statement that japanese music *IS* korean music. but yeah. go them!

[ahyoung]

japans got great music.. so does korea;;

i think its just that here on this site..,; people only mostly pay attention to singers from big labels like sm, jyp, dsp.;; stars that are popular to the young people;; like in the pictures forum i only see like dbsk/boa..etc
there is a lot of good music that isn't known very well to places like here...

japanese music gets more attention 'cause of anime/ and a lot of people are into japan in general;; i don't blame them though.. jpop/rock is really good!

[atel]

i couldn't connect the dots until now that ryuhei's and shouta's father was yusaku matsuda... lol

yeah some of this info i've heard about, others are the first time (especially tomoyasu hotei ).

[tokyoseoul]

^ Naw I'm not saying that these singers are bad or anything....
I myself LOVE Crystal Kay, M-Flo, Ayumi (SUGAR), but I'm just saying that people should realize that Korean culture is a lot more diverse and popular than people may think. (And of course I understand that admitting you're Korean is hard, after many years of believing that you're 100% Japanese)

I mean people worship Japanese music as if it's really that unique. It is, but there's always something else like it out there. Korean music is pretty diverse in my opinion. Groove/techno/lounge romantic music, as well as hip hop and r&b, is just as popular as pop/kpop in Korea. And there are a lot of rock and roll groups/singers in Korea, it's just that the majority of them are either underground or unknown to Korean-Americans and Americans/non-Koreans. Real Korean music is really diverse, its just not advertised as much as SM Town's crap and etc.

And I didn't post this topic to start up controversy on which race is better, I just wanted to let it be known that Korean culture has is really deversified, and has roots in more places than you think.

Yeah, this definitely should not be a question of who's music is better. I agree that "Korean music does not equal Japanese music just because they are part Korean." That kind of mentality in itself is mixed up, except in cases such as YounHa who MOVED TO JAPAN to pursue music, and not BORN/RAISED in Japan. (Big differences, right?)

[mikanpuriname]

Yada Akiko - Very active in the Japanese entertainment business. Recently revealed her Korean ethnicity.

I checked out the blog that you're getting this info from, but I have to point out that you got this one wrong. Yada Akiko, the actress, (whose picture you've posted) is Japanese. The blog that you're referencing informed that WADA AKIKO is 2nd Generation Korean descent Japanese singer.

My main point is: I HATE HATE HATE people who say "zOMG! Japanese music is the BEST! It's so much better than Korean music!" Japanese music *IS* Korean music. Without us, Jpop/Jrock fans wouldn't have their precious Miyavi or M-Flo.

I understand your frustration with people who insist that the music of their preference is the best, while belittling your music preference. But on the other hand, the statement that "Japanese music *IS* Korean music," is an extreme exaggeration. Japanese music is not Korean music. Just in comparing the very mainstream, "well-advertised" crap, current mainstream Korean pop takes a lot of its inspirations from the current US hip hop, R&B, pop scene. Mainstream Japanese pop does not so much, it can be more likened to 80's pop, pop-rock, etc.

And it kind of pisses me off that each time these Japanese singers reveal that they're of Korean descent -- they're ashamed of it...as if they're saying that they're homosexual or an alcoholic or something.

I also don't think this is true. Verbal, Crystal K, Sonin have never hidden the fact that they're from Korean Heritage. Although they do not wear a button that says "I am of Korean Descent!!" I don't feel that we are at a position to criticize them just because they do not make a big deal of their family background. After all, they're just music artists, not politicians, I don't see a need for them to advertise their background.

Misora Hibari and Wada Akiko are people who started out in an entirely different generation with an entirely different political climate than today, so I really don't think it's up to us to judge their decisions that they made. Like you said, there remains tension in the Korean-Japanese relationship, and we ought to sympathize with them rather than feeling irritated.

Furthermore, M-Flo is not end-all of J-Pop and Miyavi is DEFINITELY not the end-all of J-rock, far from it.

Just like how you want Korean music to be respected as being diverse and not thought of as just "well advertised SM Town's crap," you should give the same respect to J-pop, because there's a lot of awesome musicians from there as well.

Again, I understand your frustrations, but I just had to reply because your post represents a very slanted view on J-pop.

[tokyoseoul]

^Thank you. You did that MUCH BETTER than I did. lol.

[payachan]

Ahh, I only know that Yuna Ito, Verbal and Miyavi are half-Korean. Thanks for all your infos.

Maybe its because of the "Korean wave", Korean music industry has to provide more and more of the catchy music and its good though.

[ahyoung]

Just in comparing the very mainstream, "well-advertised" crap, current mainstream Korean pop takes a lot of its inspirations from the current US hip hop, R&B, pop scene. Mainstream Japanese pop does not so much, it can be more likened to 80's pop, pop-rock, etc.

ok;; yea i kinda agree with you there!!! but still not all mainstream kpop is influenced by the U.S.
eh;; i miss kpop from the 90's and early 2000s.. it was the best 'cause it was mostly pure korean music..! i think people here look at kpop through the mainstream artists;;; music from the not-so popular artists on soomp! is popular in korea;; they've got awesome artists too!

jpop doesn't seem inspired that much which is really good!! but aren't there a lot of U.S. raggae/hip-hop/rap style artists?

& miyavi may be korean but hes still a j-rock artist; for those who are dissapointed hes korean.....
i know there may be a few out there!!

but i wish korea would stop trying to break into the U.S. market!!! i think kpop/hanryu is gonna lose popularity if they keep taking inspirations from the U.S.... they need to realize that its korean music that people were interested in... not these u.s. influenced music... but there are a lot of real kpop still out there!!

-edit- i'd get frustrated too... if i heard "jpop is better than kpop";;; i think that they're equally good.. yea they've got some differances;; but similarities at the same time!

[GUCCI QUEEN]

im glad you made this topic to clear some things up but i really disagree with your statement that japanese music *IS* korean music. but yeah. go them!

Haha when I said "Japanese music *IS* Korea music," I was over-exaggerating out of anger, of course.
But you have to understand how frustrated I am with the "JAPANESE MUSIC IS SO MUCH BETTER THAN KOREAN MUSIC!" people... Jpop and Kpop actually do have a lot in common, and while both offer different things -- a lot of it has common root.

mikanpuriname - I just copied & pasted from the American blog. I didn't even bother reading the Korean one. Thanks for clearing it up though. And I don't hate Jpop. I don't know if I came off like I hate it, but I'm actually a huge fan. I like all the greats: M-FLO, Miyavi, Gackt, Hyde, Crystal Kay, Utada Hikaru, Melody, L'arc~en~ciel, Ayumi Hamasaki, Koda Kumi, Zeebra, Mika Nakashima, W-inds, Lead, Beni Arashiro, Namie Amuro, SweetS, SOULHEAD, Do As Infinity, Olivia, NEWS, DOUBLE, Tsukiko Amano, etc. Japanese music is one of my favorite genres, no doubt, however -- this is not about the music itself...but the perception of Japanese media in the eyes of fans (especially those who are neither Japanese or Korean). A lot of people believe that Japanese music is the most unique form of music out there, and that it has no relation to Korean whatsoever -- it does. Even before I found out this information, I felt that Kpop and Jpop had its similiarities. And I wanted to in a sense, PROVE, to those who may dislike Korean culture/music/etc, that what they're actually listening to is bits and pieces of Korean influence in the music they love so much.

[COUNTERACT]

mikanpuriname - i posted this on my personal journal and had no idea it was going to be posted on soompi, so i apologize for the mistake! i translated her name from the korean translation to english on google, and that's what they "corrected" it to...^^;;