The term 'Hallyu' is now a part of everyday Korean vernacular, but its international influence is exceeding what anyone had ever expected. Glimpses of the Hallyu wave can now be seen regularly on the streets of Tokyo, Japan.
For starters, Jang Geun Suk's recent concert at the Tokyo Dome drew 45,000 fans, causing much commotion on the streets. His fans eagerly bought devil-horn headbands to symbolize their fandom, and promotional posters for the concert were well-scattered on the streets of Ginja as well as Tokyo.
Not only that, billboards promoting 2PM-2AM's joint concert were visibly seen from the major streets of Okasaka, Ginja, Rokbonki, and more, informing fans of the boys' January show. One fan named Toyota remarked, "I personally like INFINITE. The more 2PM and 2AM-like boy bands that gain popularity, the younger K-pop fans seem to get."
A billboard of girl group After School also hangs from a department store building in Rokbonki with a Christmas promotion in Shibuya, and actress Kim Tae Hee's endorsement advertisement can be easily spotted in the Japanese subway stations. In Japan, Hallyu stars often seem to be idolized more than Japan's own top stars.
As such, Hallyu is proving to have a significant impact on the Japanese lifestyle, to the point where an organization understandably protested Korean TV in front of the FujiTV building.
But the Hallyu-effect is proving to change not just entertainment in Japan, but the way the Japanese think about Korea.
A tour guide who has been living in Japan for over fifteen years remarked, "Even just ten years ago, the Japanese resented and belittled anything from Korea. But ever since actor Bae Yong Joon catalyzed a Hallyu boom [with dramas like Winter Sonata], the wave has been sweeping Japan since."
Source & Image : enews24 via Nate via allkpop
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