
Cosmosy takes big bite of New York
Rookie girl group Cosmosy left an impression on New York with a string of promotional activities, according to Sony Music Korea on Monday.
In a surprise rendezvous with American weather forecaster and social media presence Nick Kosir, the four bandmates of the girl group danced together to the tune of their debut single, 'Lucky=One.'
They took to Times Square for a flash mob along with a local dance crew, even making an appearance on one of the billboards at the city landmark.
The group also hosted an exclusive showcase in partnership with Spotify and performed a sample of the unreleased 'Baby Don't Cry=Breaking the Love.'
Cosmos, an all-Japanese girl group, debuted as a team of four in April with the single 'Lucky=One.' The music video for the tropical dance tune had attracted over 10 million views on YouTube as of May, as did that for predebut single 'Zigy=Zigy' in January.
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Korea Herald
11 hours ago
- Korea Herald
"The Summer Hikaru Died" Anime Reveals 2nd Main Trailer and New Casts
Unveils the Opening Theme Song "saikai" performed by Vaundy ~Streaming Worldwide Only on Netflix from July 5th~ TOKYO, June 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- CyberAgent, Inc. today has revealed the second main trailer and additional cast announcements of the television anime of up-and-coming award winning author Mokumokuren's "The Summer Hikaru Died" (original published by KADOKAWA, co-produced by CyberAgent and KADOKAWA, animation produced by CygamesPictures). "The Summer Hikaru Died" is a hit horror manga series about an ordinary high school boy, Yoshiki, who experiences various mysterious incidents in his life with Hikaru, a mysterious being who imitates his best friend Hikaru Indo. The story of "whatever it is" and the boy's madness has garnered significant attention, making it a must-see anime film. The newly revealed second main trailer features the opening theme song "saikai" performed by Vaundy which is also unveiled for the first time. Additionally, comments from the new cast members, Yoshiki Nakajima as Yuta Maki and Shion Wakayama as Yuki Tadokoro have also arrived. The Anime "The Summer Hikaru Died" will be available on Netflix worldwide from July 5th, 2025. We will continue to provide additional details. Second Main Trailer: The opening theme song will be performed by Vaundy, a notable artist leading Japan's latest music scene! "saikai" filled with inspiration from reading the original manga, can be heard in the 2nd main trailer. The opening footage of the main story will start broadcasting and distributing from episode 2, so don't miss it! "saikai" by Vaundy Music, lyrics and arranged by Vaundy (SDR / Sony Music Labels) This time, I wrote down the opening theme song " saikai " for "The Summer Hikaru Died". I made it into a song with the same uneasy feeling I got when reading the original manga, not knowing what would happen every time I turned the page. I hope it has become a song that challenges the music of anime in the future. Who would you want to meet again if you had the chance? A multi-talented 24 years old artist who handles all of his own lyrics, composition, and arrangement, as well as design, video direction, and self-production. He started posting songs on YouTube in the spring of 2019. With catchy melodies like "Tokyo Flash" and "Fukakouryoku" and a wide range of genre songs, he quickly became a hot topic on SNS. He has been attracting attention as a symbolic figure of the "Reiwa" era in streaming music, with 17 songs exceeding 100 million plays, setting a record for the most by a Japanese male solo artist. From February 2026, he will also be the youngest male solo artist in history to hold a tour in four major city domes (with an expected audience of about 300,000 in 6 live concerts). With his natural voice that catches the ear and becomes addictive at first listen, and his wide-ranging song sense that suggests extraordinary talent, he is leading the Japan's latest music scene. Yuta Maki (CV: Yoshiki Nakajima) Classmate of Yoshiki. A funster with a shaved head. I'm Yoshiki Nakajima, and I'll be voicing Yuta Maki. Maki shakes up the mood of the story—in a good way! He uses all kinds of tricks (laughs). In this "abnormal" world that clings to you like sweaty summer heat, doesn't the "normal" daily life of Maki and Yuki offer a refreshing contrast? Since the shocking first chapter of the manga, I've been drawn into this world. I hope I can share that feeling with you soon. Please look forward to the anime! Yuki Tadokoro (CV: Shion Wakayama) Classmate of Yoshiki. Childhood friend of Asako Yamagishi. When I first read the manga, I was completely drawn into its unique atmosphere—how it captures the abnormal side of everyday summer life, quietly existing right next to the normal. Even though the characters live like they're walking a tightrope and have long left "normal" behind, that same unchanged normal life is still waiting for them at school. I truly, truly love this world and its atmosphere. I'll do my very best to help bring that feeling to the anime. A hit horror manga series about an ordinary high school boy, Yoshiki, who experiences various mysterious incidents in his life with Hikaru, a mysterious being who imitates his best friend Hikaru Indo. The story of "whatever it is" and the boy's madness has garnered significant attention, making it a must-see anime film. In a certain village Since their childhood, they have grown up together. Yoshiki and Hikaru, childhood friends. the sun shining down on them the chirping sound of a crypto tympana facialis Ice cream on the way home Laughing over trivial things One day in summer, no different from any other day ...... You're not Hikaru after all, are you? Half a year ago, Hikaru went missing in the mountains. A week later, he came back on a whim. The voice, the figure, the thing that looked like Hikaru What was stirring inside... "Hikaru is no longer with us. ...... if that's the case." Starting the days with "something" in the form of a friend, The "same as usual" everyday life. But at the same time... Strange incidents begin to plague the village. Falling into the unknown "something" The curtain rises on a coming-of-age horror story. Original story: Based on the comic "The Summer Hikaru Died" by Mokumokuren, originally serialized in the YOUNG ACE UP published by KADOKAWA Director/Series Composition: Ryohei Takeshita Character Design/Chief Animation Director: Yuichi Takahashi DORODORO Animator: Masanobu Hiraoka Animation Production: CygamesPictures Copyrights must be indicated when posting or using the image materials. Original work information Title: "The Summer Hikaru Died Author: Mokumokuren Previously published: Volumes 1-5 (Kadokawa Comics A)
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Korea Herald
a day ago
- Korea Herald
[Grace Kao] Don't be fooled by celebrity romance scams
The Federal Trade Commission of the US reported that in 2023, consumers lost $1.14 billion to romance scams. This is a substantial increase from $547 million in losses in 2021, and $304 million in 2020. What exactly are romance scams and why are people susceptible to them? Scammers pose as someone who has fallen in love with the victim and is desperately trying to travel to the victim so they can meet. However, one tragedy after another ensues. The scammers work in teams and are grooming multiple victims simultaneously. The carefully designed scripts come in a variety of genres. An extremely interesting variant of this scam involves celebrities. Here, victims believe they are communicating with a celebrity and eventually develop a romantic relationship with them. There are a number of YouTube channels that address this topic. For example, the YouTube channel @catfishedOnline investigates romance scams. Their findings are shared with the victim and often their families, and with the audience. It's tempting to dismiss romance scam victims as gullible individuals who should have known better. However, the pervasiveness of romance scams suggests that criminals are addressing common issues of isolation and loneliness. Victims might be single or married in unsatisfying relationships. Their limited mobility or caregiving responsibilities at home might make it hard for them to meet others. Some may just be socially awkward and have had very few healthy romantic relationships. On this channel, there have been victims that believed that they were in clandestine relationships with Barry Gibb (one of the members of the group Bee Gees), Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, actor Johnny Depp and Jennifer Aniston, singer Chris Brown, and comedian Matt Rife. Recently, a fake Jackson Wang (GOT7) made an appearance. Images and information about celebrities are widely available on the internet. Let's say you're a fan of Cha Eun-woo. You can 'like' or 'comment' on one of his photos on social media. Someone named Cha Eun-woo might interact with you in the comments section or direct-message (DM) you. Suddenly, you are chatting with one of your favorite celebrities. This type of contact can happen to any of us who are on social media. I was once friended by an imposter Hyun Bin -- I don't even follow him on any social media nor did I ever comment on any of his content, but I do post information about the Korean Wave. If I was excited to see fake Hyun Bin on my social media, can you imagine what my response might be if 'Jungkook' DM'd me? Once, a fake version of K-pop singer 'Eric Nam' asked me if I was married and if so, was my marriage happy? Yikes. The scammers work to convince victims that they are special. They send them photos and videos of the celebrity with personalized information about the victim added. An image might show your celebrity boyfriend holding a note that says, 'I love you, Grace.' The imposter divulges special secrets about their newest movie or concert. They eventually ask for help because their manager won't let them access their funds. Perhaps they are going through an acrimonious divorce and their assets are frozen. Eventually, they will be in a nearby town for a concert or other activity, so if you want to meet them, you can sign up for a 'meet and greet' which not only costs $1,000 but they also need your name, birthday and social security number -- all the information one needs to open a credit card account. Since you will soon be their partner, why not help them out? In fact, a recent video featured a 70-something year old woman who believed she was engaged to 29-year old Comedian Matt Rife. Over the course of more than a year, she sent him over $100,000. Even after she was provided clear evidence that this was not the actual comedian, she continued to send money. Why did she do this? By sending money, she prolonged the fantasy. In 2024, a North Carolina woman believed she was in a relationship with actor Ahn Hyeo-seop and that they were in love. She was offered the opportunity to meet him, but his 'manager' asked for expenses to arrange a meet and greet, and various other fees. Eventually, she sent him $67,000, more than her life savings. While many victims in the media are women, evidence suggests that there are more male than female ones. According to a November 2022 Javelin survey of 5,000 households, men accounted for 73 percent of the victims of romance scams. In a National Geographic investigation of romance scammers in Nigeria, they confessed that they target men because men were likely to have more money and that they were easier to deceive. So, what's the solution? We should all be in closer contact with our loved ones, especially those who may feel isolated. Also, it's probably safer to talk to your AI boyfriend than your celebrity one, but don't send money to either of them! Grace Kao is an IBM professor of sociology and professor of ethnicity, race and migration at Yale University. The views expressed here are the writer's own. — Ed.


Korea Herald
2 days ago
- Korea Herald
K-Musical Market opens with focus on global collaboration, financial sustainability
The fifth edition of the K-Musical Market kicked off Monday in Daehangno, Seoul's vibrant small theater district, launching a weeklong program aimed at strengthening Korea's position in the global musical theater ecosystem. Opening with a forum titled 'Evolving Factors Behind Box Office Success in the Global Musical Market,' the event brought together leading producers, licensing executives and cultural policymakers from Korea, the US, the UK, Japan and China to exchange insights on international trends and sustainable growth strategies. 'Korea has been a growing territory for at least 20 years and we look forward to more growth here. We look forward to learning more about unique Korean musicals that can find a wider audience in the rest of the world and we look forward to representing more,' said Sean Patrick Flahaven, chief theatricals executive of Concord Theatricals. He also emphasized the qualities that make musicals successful in licensing markets, with the example of 'Maybe Happy Ending,' a Tony-nominated musical adapted from the original Korean work. 'It's not so much dependent on being a Korean story as it is a more universal story. So I think that's an important aspect to have — that a compelling specific story can have universality as well — and that kind of universality speaks to success in future licensing.' Erica Lynn Schwartz, vice president of theatrical programming for ATG Entertainment, echoed the need for a broader vision by sharing her experience in producing "Moulin Rouge" at Colonial Theatre in Boston about 10 years ago. "The interest really was coming from the UK and Asia," she said, opening her eyes beyond Broadway. Both Flahaven and Schwartz acknowledged the financial challenges on Broadway, leading many producers to seek opportunities beyond Broadway. Referencing "Moulin Rouge" and "Suffs," she said, 'What I'm looking for is: What is the actual market to where we're going to be able to take these shows beyond Broadway … so it has to have a life on Broadway, but it also has to have a life beyond Broadway, or at least an audience where I know that there will be a sustainable financial model.' Presentations from Japan by ePlus and China by Star Space highlighted their unique musical markets. In his presentation, Daisuke Yokoyama, a senior executive from Japan's largest ticket platform ePlus, pointed out both structural differences and emerging synergies between the Japanese and Korean musical theater markets. He noted Japan's unique strength in producing "2.5-dimensional musicals" — shows adapted from anime, manga or games — which now make up about one-third of Japan's musical market and resonate especially with younger audiences. Meanwhile, original Korean musicals are gaining momentum in Japan, particularly in midsized venues of around 1,000 seats, aided by the global popularity of Korean content, including webtoons and streaming content. He proposed that Korean dynamism and Japanese delicacy in direction could lead to powerful co-productions, especially if paired with Broadway and West End business know-how. In a presentation on China's performing arts infrastructure, Jai Xuening, vice general manager of Shanghai Star Space Theater Management, introduced an ambitious, government-supported initiative that transforms commercial buildings and historic sites into clusters of small, modular theaters. Since its 2020 launch, flagship complexes like the Asia Mansion have housed up to 19 theaters under one roof, attracting over 70,000 ticketed audience members annually. Beyond presentations, the K-Musical Market includes musical pitching sessions, showcases, global meetings and over 300 business appointments, running through Friday. The K-Musical Market is presented by the Korea Arts Management Service and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.