2010, The Year Korean Pop Burst Japan

Korean pop isn’t new to the Japanese music scene. It’s been around for years now, but in 2010, it hit big in Japan in a major way. But what does that say about video games?

In the early part of the last decade, Korean popstar BoA made a big splash in Japan with her poppy tunes and power ballads — even appearing in game soundtracks. She songstress didn’t sing in her native Korean, but in Japanese and even popped up on Japanese talk shows and variety programs, speaking fairly fluent nihongo. In the wake of a strong interest in Korean television dramas, male acts like Tohoshinki (or Dong Bang Shin Ki as they’re known in Korea) also made a splash in Japan.

http://lastchance.cc/188531/boa-hot-but-not-hot-enough-for-lumines-ii%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E

But in 2010, Kpop truly exploded in Japan with groups like Kara, 4Minute and Girls’ Generation releasing chart topping tracks. Not all the singers have a strong command of Japanese, even if they recorded entire albums in the lingo. Male and female Japanese fans alike support these groups, creating a dialogue. It might not be the most substantial and deep dialogue, but hey, it’s talk.

Historically, the relationships between the two countries has been strained. There is so much in common, linguistically and culturally, but there are so many things that are different. The blow back from the brutality of colonization still lingers. One of the big reasons why PC gaming is so big in South Korea is because Japanese products were banned for decades. While not entirely cultural, the ban, originally was instated to help insulate and build South Korean industry, ended in 1999.

Nintendo registered a Korean subsidiary — apparently a shady operation — but finally set up an official Nintendo of Korea, releasing the Nintendo DS in 2007. The Nintendo DS was a hit, and later, Kpop group Girls’ Generation appeared in DSi ads. And if Girls’ Generation can sell Nintendo products to South Korea, then the group can probably sell Korean pop to Japan. And it is.

http://lastchance.cc/189866/nintendo-clueless-about-korea%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E

Back in The Land of the Rising Sun, the group’s hits “Genie” And “Gee” have Japanese versions — make that smash hit Japanese versions. Fellow Korean act Kara isn’t only making waves in Japan with its songs, but also for its sexy dance moves. Ditto for 4 Minute.

https://lastchance.cc/if-girls-generation-was-8-bit-5649576%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E

For all those years of tension and strife, it looks like the relationship between South Korean and Japan can be soothed with Nintendo hardware and hot pants. Who’d a thought?

[Pic, Pic, Pic, Pic]