Visiting Tokyo’s most famous Jesuit university, my friend and I immediately noticed this guy, and we both assumed he must be Korean. Why are we so quick to assume that very good-looking, masculine guys are Korean? He probably is!
Jealous and anonymous rumors circulated that Korean rapper Tablo faked his Stanford credentials, leading to much drama for this adorable singer. I love how this video merges rap with emo whining and boy band preening. There’s definitely a young gay undertone, and as one NPR commenter shrewdly observed, it’s amazing that the cars get so close and don’t dirty the outfits or make-up.
I guess that’s called “special effects.” Mostly, I’m surprised that there’s such sexy graduates of that geeky and fashion-challenged university.
Shinee (샤이니, pronounced “shiny”) is a Korean boy band that will be making its Japan debut in June, 2011.
There’s always seems to be yet another K-pop boy band whose dancing, fan service, and fashion exceed anything Japan’s Johnny has ever imagined. If it weren’t for the Japanese husband, I wonder if maybe I shouldn’t be studying Korean. Well, in Tokyo, at least we have Shin Okubo to enjoy a bit of Korea without getting on a plane.
FuckYeahBlondKoreans: “Because they are even hotter when they go blond” A collection of blond (mostly male) Korean pop stars, including plenty of Jaejoong (aka, Tohoshinki’s Jejung or ジェジュン) and G-Dragon.
Shibuya-Nights: Blog by young European woman chronicling sexual adventures with gyaruo, hosts, yakuza, and many more.
What are your favorite Asia blogs?
Hilarious blog post about “how to pick koreans from other asians just by looking at them.” One of the indicators, of course, is the shaggy men’s hair-do. Although I must stay that looks like many young Japanese men’s fashion. And probably Taiwanese too (^_-)
The blog is called Ask a Korean. Discovered via Twitter’s alexanderchee.
A frenzy of cellphone camera wielding ladies, young and “not-so-young,” were going crazy in the Omootesando subway yesterday. I was innocently going from one business meeting to the next when I saw swarms of women excitedly photographing these dewie images of their favorite Korean boy band plastered on the columns outside the fare gates. Two security guards, one with a bright red megaphone, implored them to not obstruct JR Metro passengers.
The band is called Tohoshinki, and they are 5 super-young looking Korean boys who are doing a two day concert at Tokyo Dome entitled “Stand by U.” I was startled when two fans explained that the band has existed for four years. I wondered if the boys, who barely look pubescent now, had started before the age of 10. No, I was assured, they are now in their early 20s. One middle-aged fan was there with her son, who looked mildly embarrassed. The female fans hugged the posters, vamped, and were completely crazed!
Later the same day, I saw a crowd of several hundred Japanese women lined up to see Korean movie star Park Hae Jin making an appearance at Shinjuku’s Kinokuniya bookstore. In both events, not a single male fan was present. I wonder if this female adoration for Korean stars translates into Japanese women romancing or marrying real Koreans. Or is this fantasy merely for “idols” and not for reality? Is it like Boys Love, a fantasy and displacement that is never fulfilled? I *almost* felt sorry for Japanese men.
More photos after the jump.
Korean pop sensation Rain competes with comedian Stephen Colbert in a hot dance-off. Not quite relevant to this blog, but amazing!
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Tokyo Moe 