World Cup Concert Charms Japanese

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World Cup Concert Charms Japanese

Many were moved to tears at a September 3 concert celebrating the Korea-Japan World Cup 2002 at Minato Mirai Hall in Yokohama City, the site of this year's World Cup finals. A symbolic number of 2,002 Japanese attended the concert.

In the grand finale, opera singers from both Korea and Japan stood hand in hand to perform the Korean song 'Season of the Hometown' followed by the Japanese 'Hometown,' with members of the audience waving their respective national flags. The scene was particularly touching to the many Korean-Japanese who were on hand to see the performance.

The concert was divided into two parts - cultural performances and opera. Traditional Korean instruments were performed to the delight of the crowd, such as the Kayagum (a twelve-stringed harp), played by renowned Korean musician Mook Jae-sook, and the Korean drums, which were played by Lee Chu-hee. Seven Korean and Japanese opera singers accompanied the Kanakawa Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Yamasita Katshumi.

From Verdi's 'The March of Triumph' to contemporary Korean music, the concert showcased a range of music and was an auspicious heralding of the Korea-Japan World Cup. A volunteer chorus, comprised of 200 Japanese, including some Korean-Japanese, sang at the event, after three months of preparation.

The concert was sponsored largely by the Yokohama Culture Promotion Foundation in cooperation with the Kanakawa Art & Culture Foundation.




by Kim Jae-seon

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