BoA to break hallyu silence in Japan

BoA

• Published Nov 16, 2015 3:57 PM KST
• Updated Nov 16, 2015 3:57 PM KST

Singer BoA is about to break the four-year silence of hallyu singers at Japan’s major annual music festivals.

She has been invited to perform at the 2015 FNS Music Festival hosted by Fuji TV.

Three major music festivals in Japan -- FNS Music Festival and those hosted by NHK and Yomiuri TV -- have not invited Korean singers since 2011, even though Koreans have topped the Oricon music charts.

Koreans have not been invited because of tension over Japan’s refusal to admit its sex slavery of Korean women during the World War II.

SM Entertainment said BoA would participate in the festival on Dec. 2, when about 70 Japanese artists will perform.

Korean singer “K”, active in the J-pop market, will also perform.

In 2011, hallyu bands Girls’ Generation, KARA, TVXQ and 2NE1 were invited to the three festivals.

BoA was invited to major Japanese music festivals every year from 2002-2007.

She made her debut in the J-pop market a year after her Korean debut in 2000, and she has had numerous No.1 hits in Japan.

She will release her new Japanese single “Lookbook” on Dec. 16, and will hold a concert “BoA Special Live: Nowness in Japan” on Dec. 11.