‘Change Street’ Celebrates Youth and Musical Exchange Between Korea and Japan

The ENA variety show ‘Change Street,’ a large-scale project commemorating the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between Korea and Japan, continues to resonate with audiences, highlighting the power of musical connection. The program features leading artists from both countries immersing themselves in each other’s cultures and communicating through music.

New Lineup Takes the Stage

The 9th episode of ‘Change Street’ showcased the first busking performances of the third lineup of artists. Korean team members Kara’s Heo Young-ji, Astro’s Yoon San-ha, Pentagon’s Hui and HYNN (Park Hye-won) performed in Tokyo, Japan, while Japanese artists Miwa and Kanou Miyu busked in Seoul, South Korea.

Team Dynamics and Preparations

The Korean team’s first meeting took place at Fuji TV headquarters. Heo Young-ji and Hui quickly established a playful rapport, joking about their age difference. The four members then solidified their team spirit by shouting their slogan, “We are youth!” before embarking on their busking adventure.

Korean Team Performances in Tokyo

HYNN kicked off the Korean team’s performances with a rendition of Yoon Mirae’s ‘Touch Love,’ the OST from the drama ‘Master’s Sun.’ Her performance was met with enthusiastic applause from the audience. Heo Young-ji followed with Baek Ji-young’s ‘Don’t Forget’ from ‘Iris,’ showcasing her vocal strength and emotional depth. Hui then performed ‘To You, Me, To Me’ from the movie ‘Classic,’ while Yoon Sanha reinterpreted SS501’s ‘Given that My Hair is Bad’ from ‘Boys Over Flowers.’

Japanese Team Performances in Seoul

Miwa, a prominent Japanese singer-songwriter, began the Japanese team’s performances with Hikaru Utada’s ‘First Love,’ a song beloved in both Korea and Japan. Kanou Miyu then took the stage with Seiko Matsuda’s ‘Barefoot Season,’ bringing a bright and energetic vibe to the rooftop setting. Miwa returned to perform ZARD’s ‘Swinging Heart,’ evoking nostalgia for the 1990s.

Future Collaborations Hinted At

Following the performances, Manager Matsuda expressed a desire to see all the artists collaborate on a single stage. MC Shin Dong-yeop hinted that this dream might soon become a reality.

Broadcast and Music Availability

‘Change Street’ airs every Friday at 11 PM on ENA, co-produced by Forest Media Co., Ltd., Hangang Foret ENM Co., Ltd., and ENA. The show’s soundtrack, featuring unique arrangements and performances by Korean and Japanese artists, is released every Saturday at noon on major music sites. Full busking videos are available on the ‘Change Street’ official YouTube channel.