Singer Park Hyun-bin to attend Enka Festival in Japan

Singer Park Hyun-bin [Inwoo Business Production]

Korean trot singer Park Hyun-bin will perform at one of Japan’s biggest music festivals set to open in February, according to his agency Inwoo Business Production on Monday.

Inwoo announced in a press release on December 27 that Park will make his Japanese debut at the 2011 Enka Matsuri (/Festival) set to open in the five cities of Osaka, Nagoya, Saitama, Fukuoka and Sendai starting February of next year.

Enka Matsuri is considered one of the biggest music events in Japan that attracts over 100,000 viewers and features only the best enka singers in the country such as Ryotaro Sugi, Mori Shinichi and Shimizu Aya.

As Park has yet to make an official debut in Enka field, his participation in the latest event is considered a rare opportunity for the singer.

Park plans to perform some of his hit Korean trot songs translated into Japanese such as “Shabang Shabang” which will go on sale in Japan on April 6, as well as other original Japanese enkas.

His performances will take place in Osaka on February 16, in Nagoya on February 27, in Saitama on March 2, in Fukuoka on March 5 and in Sendai on March 9 in Sendai, two times at each city.

Park, 28, is one of the top young trot singers in Korea who debuted with the single “Ppari Ppa Ppa” in 2006.

He has released six singles and two full-length albums since then, producing hit songs such as “Shabang Shabang” “Just Believe in Oppa,” “Gonddurae Manddurae” and “Ouch It’s Hot” as well as remake versions of classic trot songs by other singers in Korea.

Last October he signed a contract with Irving Co., one of the largest K-pop management companies based in Tokyo.

Reporter : Heidi Kim heidikim@
Editor : Lucia Hong luciahong@