Rika Woo's Double Life as J-Pop Idol and Cantonese Opera Singer

TaiwanPlus News

Hong Konger Rika Woo doubles as both a J-pop idol and a Cantonese opera performer, advancing popular culture on the one hand while keeping tradition alive with the other.

Transcript

00:00Both a J-pop idol and a Cantonese opera singer,

00:11Hongkonger Rika Wu lives something of a double life.

00:15I hope to become a bridge between the two cultures,

00:19so that people can appreciate the beauty of traditional culture

00:23and try to get in touch with pop culture.

00:26Wu is part of a J-pop group,

00:29which formed in 2017 and performs in Hong Kong.

00:36Often, upbeat pop music that attracts younger fans.

00:40At the same time, she can transform into a much more traditional kind of artist.

01:10I can sing, dance, act, and do martial arts.

01:15These are all things that I want to learn.

01:21Cantonese opera dates back centuries,

01:23some say to China's Song Dynasty,

01:26influenced by many different styles of Chinese opera.

01:29Actors apply elaborate makeup

01:31to help audience members read their expressions,

01:33performing stories often set in historical times.

01:40The art form soared to popularity in Hong Kong,

01:43where Cantonese is spoken in the 1950s and 60s.

01:46But since then, it's been in decline.

01:48Still, Wu decided to pursue it,

01:51inspired by her grandfather, who worked on opera sets.

02:11Now, she's introducing her younger fans to the art form,

02:14helping to keep it alive,

02:16with many following along on her journey.

02:33Embracing both modern music and ancient art forms,

02:36Wu is straddling two worlds —

02:38advancing pop culture while keeping tradition alive.

02:42Fu Hua Hong and Keans Karante for Taiwan Plus.

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