Osaka’s America-mura emanates a lively atmosphere, reminiscent of a blend of Seoul’s Hongdae and Itaewon in South Korea. Amidst this vibrant scene, the shopping mall “Big Step” stands out as a landmark in America-mura. The mall hosts a variety of unique stores, with King Kong being one of its distinctive features. “Vinyl Record Store in America-mura’s Big Step” King Kong ...
The 1980s university song festivals saw the birth of many iconic songs. Particularly, within the 1980s festival, one can find a diverse array of memorable tunes. While the song “Dream Dialogue” that won the grand prize is famous, it’s intriguing that songs like “Must” and “After the Play” which won the silver prize were also born from the same competition. ...
The Japanese game company Koei has been creating a series of games based on the Chinese historical novel “Romance of the Three Kingdoms.” They first introduced “Romance of the Three Kingdoms 1” to the world in 1985 and have continued releasing the series, with the latest being “Romance of the Three Kingdoms 14.” The game series has evolved and undergone ...
Yoo Jae-ha, a singer-songwriter, is hailed as the pioneer of Korean pop ballads. Despite leaving the world at the young age of 25, having left behind only one album, his contributions to the history of Korean popular music are highly regarded. His debut and masterpiece, “Because I Love You,” had a significant impact on the direction of the Korean music ...
In a world where finding band music is increasingly challenging in South Korea, it’s comforting that in Japan, the realm of band music is still vibrant. However, many Japanese bands often face a common challenge – their vocalists might fall short. While their instrumental performances excel in precision, the final touch, the last 2%, often seems lacking. Enter “Official HIGE ...
The 1970s in Japan is renowned as the heyday of City Pop. It was an era before the burst of the economic bubble, marked by material abundance, and Japan’s status as the world’s second-largest economy. City Pop encapsulates the atmosphere of that period. Among the notable City Pop tracks, “Stay With Me,” known as the debut song of Miki Matsubara, ...
Slam Dunk, the legendary manga that captured a significant fan base during its initial run, continues to maintain its popularity. Recently, it even saw the release of a new theatrical version, garnering considerable attention from devoted Slam Dunk fans. Although it’s been quite some time since I watched the Slam Dunk movie, the track “Until the End of the World ...
Near the Torokko Arashiyama Station in Kyoto’s Arashiyama, you can find a small pond. Known as “Ogurai Pond (Oguraike),” this is a modest pond that you may encounter on your way to take or disembark from the Torokko Train. “A Small Pond in Kyoto’s Arashiyama, Oguraike” In reality, it’s not a particularly noteworthy place, especially when compared to the bamboo ...
Every summer in Incheon, a rock festival takes place. Held in Songdo, Incheon Metropolitan City, from July to August each year, the Bellie Rock Festival, which was organized by CJ E&M and took place since 2018, has not been held. Consequently, the Pentaport Rock Festival is considered one of the largest rock festivals in South Korea, alongside the Busan International ...