"My Song Is a Farewell to My Grandfather": Interview with Sensational Korean-Japanese Rapper PM Kenobi [Japan Insights]

"I Never Expected Such a Response... In Turn, I Learned"

"Japanese Society Is Changing... I Want to Sing About Differences"

"My grandfather is from Jeju Island, though I’ve never been there myself."

With a cup of the drink "Bong Bong" in one hand and a bowl of instant noodles called "Jjashulang" in the other, a young man continues his rap. In the midst of Japanese lyrics, the familiar word "Jeju Island" stands out clearly to Korean ears. This one line drew attention to the Korean-Japanese rapper, and the music video quickly spread on social networking services (SNS). The version with Korean subtitles surpassed 800,000 views within just two weeks of its release.

A scene from the music video "Haraboji & Aboji" by third-generation Korean-Japanese rapper PM Kenobi. The Korean subtitles were separately added by the music channel. YouTube OxxO.

The song tells the story of Korean-Japanese identity passed down over three generations. There is the grandfather, who left Jeju Island for Japan because of the 4·3 Incident; the father, who was born and raised in Japan; and the artist himself, a third-generation Korean-Japanese. Those from Jeju who moved to Japan settled in Ikuno Ward, Osaka. Ikuno, once a place where people gathered to survive, has now become a representative Koreatown.

On March 15, I met PM Kenobi, the third-generation Korean-Japanese rapper who has become a sensation, at a cafe in Shinjuku, Tokyo. In contrast to his energetic performances, he spoke calmly and thoughtfully. His speech was naturally colored by the Osaka dialect.

Rapper PM Kenobi is being interviewed by The Asia Business Daily at a cafe in Shinjuku, Tokyo. Photo by Jeon Jinyoung.

- Please introduce yourself.

▲I’m PM Kenobi, a musician. I was born in 1994 in Toyonaka, Osaka. My grandfather was a first-generation Korean-Japanese, my father is second-generation, and I am third-generation. On weekdays, I work as an office employee while also pursuing music.

- Your song "Haraboji & Aboji (Grandfather & Father)" has become quite a sensation. Did you expect this kind of response? Are you feeling your popularity?

▲Honestly, I didn’t expect it even ‘1mm’. These days, I’m grateful that more people are recognizing me. That even happened in Shin-Okubo, Tokyo’s Koreatown, and just yesterday, someone who recognized me as a Korean-Japanese approached me on the street to say hello.

- Have you checked out the reactions from netizens?

▲I’ve read the comments diligently. There were many warm messages, like "Come visit Jeju Island." There were a few hate comments, such as "Go back to your country," but I just laughed them off. In fact, I learned from reading these comments. Someone wrote that my rap reminded them of the novel Pachinko. That was the first time I’d heard of it, so I started reading it now.

- Your lyrics reveal a lot of thought about identity. Jeju Island and Osaka’s Ikuno Ward are deeply connected to Korean-Japanese history. Did your grandfather or father ever share stories about that history with you?

▲When I was young, I didn’t really hear much. At school, a teacher once assigned us to talk to our grandparents about their experiences during World War II and write about it. I called my grandfather to ask, but he just said, "I don’t know, I’ve forgotten everything," and immediately hung up. I was flustered, so I asked my father, and he told me he remembered everything but it was too painful to talk about.

So, there are many things I only learned as an adult. My grandfather spent his childhood in Japan and returned to Jeju Island around the end of the war. That’s when the 4·3 Incident happened. Some family members were taken and executed, so he fled back to Osaka.

- What kind of people were your grandfather and father?

▲I only understood after becoming an adult, but they were both very strict. Our family was a bit different from most Japanese families; there was a distinctly Korean atmosphere. I always had to use honorifics with my grandfather and would be harshly scolded if I made a mistake. He believed that studying hard and going to a good university would lead to happiness for his children. My father is now the mentor of my life and the person I respect most. He often gives me advice about work as well.

Rapper PM Kenobi is being interviewed by The Asia Business Daily at a cafe in Shinjuku, Tokyo. Photo by Jeon Jinyoung.

- In your lyrics, you mention that your girlfriend’s parents showed discomfort because you are Korean-Japanese. Have you experienced such pain in Japan?

▲Yes, there’s more to that story in the lyrics. My girlfriend’s parents had just come back from grocery shopping and brought kimchi from Tsuruhashi, Osaka’s Koreatown. It made me feel happy and a sense of familiarity, so I mentioned, "My father’s family is from that area (Korea) too." My girlfriend was flustered and tried to stop me. Later, I asked why, and she said, "My father doesn’t think about it positively."

I was about 16 or 17 at the time, so it was a real shock. When I got home, I shared the story with friends I’d known since childhood. But my friends responded, "It doesn’t matter if you’re Korean or Japanese, you are just you," and "We’ve always treated you as yourself, so what’s the problem?" Hearing that actually made me feel much lighter.

- From your grandfather’s and father’s generations to your own, do you feel Japanese society’s perception of Korean-Japanese people is changing?

▲I think it’s changed a lot. My father used to tell me not to reveal that I’m Korean-Japanese, and he lived that way himself. Because of the poverty and discrimination he experienced, it was the only way to survive in Japan at the time.

The current generation is completely different. From the time of the drama "Winter Sonata" and the rise of artists like BoA and TVXQ, I could feel the atmosphere changing. By the time I was in high school, people who made negative comments about Korea in public were in the minority. People my age now consider traveling to Korea totally normal.

- What kind of music do you want to make in the future?

▲I want to make music about differences. I find it fascinating that everyone is different, and I think it’s moving when those differences are accepted. So, things I once saw as shortcomings, I now embrace naturally and speak about confidently. I want to convey that kind of change through my music: being able to accept things like being slow to act or being short, and living with pride. I want to deliver the message that you can turn something negative into something positive.

- Finally, do you plan to visit Jeju Island, which you’ve never been to?

▲I plan to go soon. Actually, I’ve been talking with a friend about visiting since last year. The thought of going to my grandfather’s hometown feels strange.

As we wrapped up, he said, "I even know the exact address where my ancestors lived," and pulled out his phone. On the screen was a map of Jeju Island with a pin at the top. It was Sinheung-ri, Jocheon-eup, Jeju City, Jeju Island—the place he had saved.

"Here it is. My grandfather said it’s a village right by the sea."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.