An association of Japanese singers and its South Korean counterpart have signed a friendship agreement in a deepening of cultural exchanges in the wake of Seoul's decision in June to further ease its ban on cultural imports from Japan.
Speaking at a news conference Tuesday at a hall in Tokyo's Nakano Ward, Yoshio Tabata, a well-known singer and president of the 430-member Japanese association, said, "I am glad that the signing was realized, as I always thought the roots of Japanese songs are in South Korea."
Kim Kwang Jin, who heads the 2,000-member section for singers in South Korea's entertainment association, said, "Anti-Japanese feelings remain among some generations in South Korea, but we would like to break such walls by singing in both countries and touch off cultural exchange between the two countries."