#Japan-U.S. relations

[trendynewsnow]

The Unique Diplomatic Relationship between Donald Trump and Shinzo Abe

The Unique Bond Between Donald Trump and Shinzo Abe During the initial term of Donald J. Trump, few world leaders could claim to have a direct line to the then-president like Shinzo Abe, the former Prime Minister of Japan. Tragically, Mr. Abe was assassinated in 2022, leaving behind a legacy as a key figure in U.S.-Japan relations during a tumultuous time. He was often regarded as a master at…

[tmarshconnors]

Abe Shinzo: A Great Leader Two Years On

Two years have passed since the state funeral of former Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo, an event that marked the end of a remarkable era for Japan and the world. As we reflect on his legacy, it’s clear that Abe was not only a transformative figure in Japan’s modern history but also a significant player on the global stage. His death in July 2022 was a tragedy that shook the nation and left an indelible mark on the international community.

Abe Shinzo: A Visionary Leader

Abe Shinzo served as Japan's longest-serving Prime Minister, holding office from 2006 to 2007 and again from 2012 to 2020. His second term, in particular, was marked by a strong vision for Japan's future, rooted in a philosophy that combined economic revitalization with a more assertive global presence. Abe's economic policy, commonly referred to as "Abenomics," sought to pull Japan out of decades of stagnation through bold monetary policies, fiscal stimulus, and structural reforms. Although controversial at times, Abenomics reshaped Japan's economy, focusing on growth and international competitiveness.

Abe was also a leader with a strategic vision for Japan’s place in the world. His efforts to strengthen Japan’s military and revise its pacifist post-war constitution reflected his deep understanding of the evolving security dynamics in East Asia. He recognized the growing threats from North Korea and China, and his leadership ensured that Japan became a more active and respected player in international diplomacy. His work in cementing the U.S.-Japan alliance as a cornerstone of regional stability is perhaps one of his greatest foreign policy achievements.

The State Funeral: A Nation’s Farewell

Abe's state funeral, held on September 27, 2022, was a sombre and grand affair, attended by dignitaries and leaders from around the world. The ceremony, held at the Nippon Budokan in Tokyo, was a moment for Japan to bid farewell to one of its most significant post-war leaders. The funeral sparked intense public debate in Japan, with some questioning the cost and the very idea of holding a state funeral for Abe. Yet, the outpouring of grief and respect from world leaders underscored the global impact of Abe’s legacy.

For many Japanese citizens, the state funeral was an opportunity to reflect on the stability and prosperity that Abe’s leadership had brought to the country. His tenure was far from uncontroversial, yet there was a recognition that Abe had brought Japan through difficult times with a steady hand, leaving behind a legacy that will be remembered for generations.

A Missing Presence on the World Stage

As we look back two years after his death, one cannot help but feel that Abe Shinzo’s absence is still felt on the global stage. In a world increasingly marked by geopolitical tensions, his diplomatic expertise and strategic thinking are sorely missed. Abe was a bridge-builder, known for fostering strong relationships with the West while maintaining open lines of communication with countries like Russia and China. He understood the delicate balance of power in the Asia-Pacific region and navigated these waters with skill.

One of Abe’s most lasting achievements was the creation of the Quad, a strategic security dialogue between Japan, the United States, Australia, and India. This alliance, aimed at countering China’s growing influence in the Indo-Pacific, is now a cornerstone of regional security and a testament to Abe’s foresight.

Remembering a Giant

As the world continues to face new challenges, from the rise of authoritarianism to the shifting global economy, the kind of leadership that Abe exemplified is sorely needed. His commitment to democracy, his respect for Japan’s rich history and culture, and his willingness to stand firm in the face of global challenges set him apart as a leader for the ages.

In remembering Abe Shinzo, we must not only reflect on what he accomplished but also on the values he stood for. He believed in a strong, independent Japan that was an active and engaged member of the global community. His leadership inspired both admiration and criticism, but there is no denying the lasting impact he had on Japan and the world.

Two years after his death, we miss Abe Shinzo not just as a leader but as a voice of reason and stability in a world that desperately needs both. His legacy lives on, not only in the policies he enacted but in the continued importance of Japan on the world stage. Abe’s Japan was a country that could look forward with pride and confidence, and that is the legacy we must carry forward.

[determinate-negation]

“As Houthis vow to fight on, U.S. prepares for sustained campaign

[…] Officials say they don’t expect that the operation will stretch on for years like previous U.S. wars in Iraq, Afghanistan or Syria. At the same time they acknowledge they can identify no end date or provide an estimate for when the Yemenis’ military capability will be adequately diminished. As part of the effort, U.S. naval forces also are working to intercept weapons shipments from Iran.

[…] Officials said that ideology, rather than economics, was a chief driver of Biden's decision to mount the current campaign.

While the attacks have so far taken a greater toll on Europe than the United States, which relies on Pacific trade routes more than those in the Middle East, the Houthi campaign is already beginning to reshape the global shipping map. Some firms have chosen to reroute ships around the Cape of Good Hope off southern Africa, while major oil companies including BP and Shell suspended shipments through the area.

The officials said Biden believed the United States had to act as what they described as the world's "indispensable nation," with a powerful military and an ability to organize diverse nations behind a single cause. Nations including Canada, Bahrain, Germany and Japan jointly issued a statement on Jan. 3 decrying the Houthi actions.

[…] While U.S. lawmakers have been broadly supportive of the strikes in Yemen, they said the administration has yet to outline a clear strategy or endgame, and suggested the strikes have not eliminated concerns about an escalating Middle East conflict. Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, told reporters following a meeting with Secretary of State Antony Blinken in recent days that the administration's plan for addressing the threat appeared to be "evolving."

Legislators also voiced fears the operation could become costly and prolonged. Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.), chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, noted that some of the missiles employed to date could cost $2 million apiece. "So you've got this issue that will be emerging of how long can we continue to fire expensive missiles," he said.

[redmyeyes]

Fellow Travelers Timeline

(as comprehensive as i can make it. corrections/additions welcome)

1919-20 (?) - Hawk is born

based on tennis trophy which shows year 1936, and hawk's statement that he and kenny were on the tennis team in 11th grade (16/17 years old).

also date on the paperweight (1937) that hawk says kenny picked out on their senior trip. spring or fall though? if spring (usual for a senior trip, just before graduation), it would mean hawk graduated HS in 1937, b. 1919. (thanks, @lestatscunt!)

June 6, 1930 - Tim is born, on Staten Island, NY

birthdate/place shown on army application in ep 5

Gemini, with moon in Libra

>>> With a Gemini Sun Libra Moon, emotional equilibrium is hard for you to maintain in a world of constant flux and tension. Since you are not responsible for the woes and upsets of those around you, you should not feel so duty-bound to assuage their wounds or mediate every conflict that happens to come your way.

>>> your natural diplomacy, extraordinary perception and insight can all be applied creatively in such fields as politics, social work, and the mass media.

>>> your extreme open-mindedness would probably enable you to almost any life-style. You have a universal quality about you that transcends culture, religion, ideology, or any other barrier that divides mankind.

Fall 1937 - Spring 1941 - Hawk attends "Penn", presumably the University of Pennsylvania. (assuming hawk b. 1919)

(this is very very long, the rest is under the cut)

December 7, 1941 - bombing of Pearl Harbor, US enters WWII

??? - Hawk joins the army (along with Kenny), and is sent to Europe. Kenny is sent to the Pacific.

June 1, 1944 - The fall of Velletri (where Hawk got injured), which Hawk talks to Tim about in ep 3. (thanks @doodlingawaits!)

from wiki: The 36th U.S. Infantry Division commanded by General Fred Walker spotted a flaw in the German defenses on Mount Artemisio between Velletri and Valmontone. Between 30 and 31 May 1944, the 142nd and 143rd regiments penetrated the German defenses at Monte Artemisio, and on June 1 Velletri fell.

January 9 – August 15, 1945 - Battle of Luzon, where Kenny dies.

September 2, 1945 - Japan surrenders, US exits WWII

February, 1949 - Hawk starts working at the State Department

Hawk says in 1x04 (Dec 1953) that he's been working at the State Dept for "four years and ten months".

"I came out of the war with four assets: degree from Penn, a hero's war record, no particular political ideology, and a passing acquaintance with three languages. Throw in a talent for prevaricating and a taste for travel and fine clothes, you have the makings of a competent, mid-level Foreign Service bureaucrat."

Fall 1948 - Spring 1952 - Tim attends Fordham University, graduating with a degree in political science and history.

1951 - Hawk starts work for the Bureau of Congressional Relations

Tim mentions Hawk's been working there for two years during their meeting on the bench.

1952 - Tim works "the New York campaign" (presumably for Eisenhower).

1952/3? - Tim interns for three months at the Star, in the mailroom.

November 4, 1952 - Election Night, Eisenhower (R) wins the presidency. Tim/Hawk first meet and are instantly smitten. (ep 1)

February 16, 1953 to March 10, 1954 - McCarthy Hearings, part 1.

The first consisted of a series of hearings conducted by McCarthy, as the subcommittee’s chairman, throughout 1953 and early 1954 in which McCarthy alleged Communist influence within the press and the federal government, including the State Department, the U.S. Army, and the Government Printing Office.

March 5, 1953 - Stalin dies.

Late March, 1953 - Hawk/Tim second meeting

After Hawk meets Tim at the park bench, he attends a hearing where Marcus says Cohn has brought David Schine on, and then later at their lunch Senator Smith says, "McCarthy is sending Cohn and his sidekick to Europe..." This article, dated April 19, says that Cohn and Schine have been in Europe for two weeks.

Hawk mentions that it's near the end of the month, police need to make their quotas.

April 27, 1953 - Executive Order 10450 signed. Hawk goes to Tim's apartment and tells him about Kenny. (ep 1)

June 6, 1953 - Tim's 23rd birthday (Hawk 'misses' it because they weren't talking for 4 weeks. belated celebration in ep 3.)

June 15, 1953 (?) - date of the newspaper Tim is reading just before he goes to visit Hawk in ep 2, where Hawk makes him write the letter to Mary. I'm choosing to believe this is a mistake on the show's part, because this would mean that Hawk has already missed Tim's birthday.

June 19, 1953 - Julius and Ethel Rosenberg's execution. Hawk comforts Lucy about this at the end of ep 2. So, likely Hawk and Tim had their big fight very shortly before Tim's birthday, and weren't talking from end of May - end of June.

End of June, 1953 - at the end of ep 2, Tim says it's been 4 months since his last confession, making his last (proper) confession the end of Feb or beginning of March. (ie, before he meets Hawk again on the park bench).

End of June or beginning of July, 1953 - weekend trip to Rehoboth Beach (ep 3)

November 1953 - G. David Schine drafted into the army (ep 3)

Christmas 1953 (ep 4)

March 16 to June 17, 1954 - Army-McCarthy Hearings (part 2) (ep 5)

The second phase involved the subcommittee's investigation of McCarthy’s attacks on the U.S. Army. Known as the “Army-McCarthy hearings,” they were broadcast on national television and they contributed to McCarthy’s declining national popularity. Five months later, on December 2, 1954, the Senate censured McCarthy.

June 6, 1954 - Tim's 24th birthday

June, 1954? - Tim/Hawk break up, Hawk proposes to Lucy (ep 5)

I believe this happens at the tail-end of the Army-McCarthy hearings, so before June 17th. Unclear when the proposal actually happened though.

Fall, 1954 - Sen. Smith's funeral

based solely on fall foliage in this screenshot:

Late Nov / Early Dec, 1954 - Tim enlists in the army

based on army application: birthdate 6/6/30, age: 24 years, 6 months

Late Nov / Early Dec, 1954 - Hawk/Tim last meeting in the tower

based on the radio program Tim is listening to, which says, "Chief Counsel Roy Cohn has resigned from the committee. And Senator McCarthy, his approval ratings plummeting, faces censure or even expulsion from the Senate." (McCarthy censured Dec 2).

Tim leaves for Fort Dix, for training, but is later stationed at Fort Polk, in Vernon Parish, LA. (thanks, @jesterlesbian!)

December 2, 1954 - the Senate censures McCarthy.

Summer or Fall 1956? - Tim's letter (that lucy burns) (ep 6)

Flashbacks, for context:

"Since he's giving up his apartment, Hawk insists on having a lair in the woods." // "I'm surprised that he finally agreed."

Lucy lets contractor go. // "Give me a baby."

Hawk is reading the Bristol Daily Courier, a paper located in Bristol, PA, a town in Bucks County, outside Philadelphia. I can't find any info on the one headline I can read though ("Heath Carlson breaks arws deadlock, locals proud"), so can't date this properly.

Lucy cleaning out Hawk's apartment, finds paperweight, sees Tim drop off letter. (did she start clearing out the apartment only after the cabin construction was complete? or before?)

"I went into the Army to get away from you. I thought time and distance would help. But it hasn't." If Tim sends the letter in summer 1956, it's been a year and a half since he enlisted.

Biggest question here: did lucy ask for a baby before or after she read Tim's letter??? the flashbacks don't answer this definitively.

October, 1956? - Lucy becomes pregnant with Jackson (see note under April 1957)

October 23 – November 4, 1956 - Hungarian Revolution of 1956

October 23, 1956 - April 30, 1957 - Hungarian Refugee Crisis

November 8, 1956 - Operation Safe Haven commences

President Eisenhower declared that 5,000 Hungarians would be awarded visa numbers remaining under the 1953 Refugee Relief Act

Spring 1957? - Tim sends telegram. It looks like 05-??-???? to me, which doesn't really make sense if McCarthy died on May 2nd, but it's hard to make out. or maybe telegrams used the date format dd-mm-yyyy.

April 1957? - Tim/Hawk first meeting, Lucy at least 5 (or 6? or 7?) months pregnant

You should feel your baby's first movements, called "quickening," between weeks 16 and 25 of your pregnancy. If this is your first pregnancy, you may not feel your baby move until closer to 25 weeks. 

25 weeks ~= 6 months, and it still seems novel to her, so let's say she's approx. 6 months pregnant here.

May 2, 1957 - Joe McCarthy dies.

May 6, 1957 - McCarthy's funeral. Tim's first visit to Hawk's apartment (ep 8)

June 6, 1957 - Tim turns 27.

June or July, 1957 - Jackson born (based on dates above)

1958? - Kimberly is born. (estimated bc she looks the same age or older than Jackson, so assuming she's a year younger at most.)

August, 1965 - President Johnson signs a law making it a federal crime to destroy or mutilate [draft] cards. 

October 15, 1965 -David Miller publicly burns his draft card, becoming the first person to be prosecuted under that law and a symbol of the growing movement against the war.

May 17, 1968 - the Catonsville Nine took 378 draft files from the draft board office in Catonsville, Maryland and burned them in the parking lot. (inspo for Tim & co. thanks @brokendrums!)

November 1968 - ep 6. Hawk is 48-9, Tim is 38, Jackson is 11.

based on this newspaper screenshot when Hawk is talking to Marcus on the phone about Tim, which shows election results (1968 election took place on Nov 5th).

November 1968 - May 1970 (earliest) - Tim in prison. (he says in ep 7 he was in prison for a year and a half. this assumes he went to prison right away, but it could have been several months later if he was awaiting trial/sentencing.)

1970? - After prison, Tim moves to San Francisco and gets his counseling degree.

Mid-late 1970s - Tim earns his C-SWCM qualifications, requiring:

A Bachelor’s degree in social work from a graduate program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education

Documentation of at least three (3) years and 4,500 hours of paid, supervised, post-BSW professional experience in an organization or agency that provides case management services

Current state BSW-level license or an ASWB BSW-level exam passing score.

nb. because Tim already had his bachelors (from Fordham, majoring in history), I could see him entering a much-accelerated BSW program, transfering a lot of credits from his previous degree. That would give him maybe 2 more years of university, plus the required 3 years of post-BSW work = 5 years minimum before he earns that business card.

February 4, 1977 - Fleetwood Mac's album Rumours is released, including the 1970s Tim/Hawk anthem, Go Your Own Way

October, 1978 - Jackson dies

November 27, 1978 - Harvey Milk assassinated

May 20-22, 1979 - Tim on Fire Island (ep 7). Hawk is 59 or 60, Tim is 48, about to turn 49.

May 22, 1979 - Harvey Milk's (posthumous) 49th birthday (celebrated in ep 7)

1986 - ep 8

how long was Hawk in San Francisco? Timelines for the events below may be fudged in the show, bc I doubt he was there for 5 months.

March, 1986 - Roy Cohn's 60 Minutes interview, which the gang watches in ep 4.

April 15, 1986 - US bombs Libya. in the first episode you can hear reference to this on the radio, before Hawk leaves for San Francisco. (thanks @aliceinhorrorland93!)

July 27, 1986 - In California, Gov. George Deukmejian vetoes a bill that would have defined AIDS as a physical handicap calling for entitlement to protection under the state's civil rights laws.

August 2, 1986 - Roy Cohn dies (ep 8)

Late 1986? - the fundraising gala that Tim crashes, shortly after Cohn's death.

September 1986 - The State Legislature has passed another bill [in addition to the one vetoed on July 27]. Mr. Deukmejian, a Republican running for re-election, has indicated that he will probably veto the bill. (nb, this is likely the bill that Tim & co want to pressure the governor to sign).

October 11, 1987 - AIDS memorial quilt first displayed (ep 8)

--

this was a collaborative effort! many thanks to @ishipallthings for many of these details, as well as @startagainbuttercup , @alorchik, @itsalinh and others in the FT discord!

[pyrrhocorax]

Re: Sweden, Norway, and Denmark's Japanese dialects in Hetalia (and potential implications to their characterization) (with briefer notes about Fin and Ice)

Thanks to @nordickies for being the spark that lit the fire to write this post. This information also personally has informed some of my personal takes on the Nordic 5 for over a decade now, so I hope it is useful. A lot of this was more common knowledge back in the livejournal days of the fandom.

Disclaimer: my Japanese is limited and by no means do I claim to fully understand all of the cultural complexities surrounding this topic. I will try, where I can, to back up my claims with at least somewhat credible sources especially since I am someone who is not Japanese in origin either ethnically or culturally, however I DO know more than the average person would because I have lived in Japan, was exposed from my practical birth to the culture and language waaay more than is typical due to me living overseas, and I have studied the language on an elementary level in several academic settings. I am by no means an expert (I am a wildlife biologist by trade), but all of this is done in good faith, and if you do know more than me (especially since I am limited in my ability to get access to academic texts right now — nor am I going far out of my way to find those, as this is a meta post about Hetalia of all things and I am not going to do a whole giant thesis about this for one post), feel free to correct me and/or send me further resources, as I want to convey as accurate of information I can as possible. Part of my motivation for making this post was to spur conversation and hopefully have others who know more than me contribute to the ongoing conversation, to which, I encourage those who read this post to check the notes for any further updates. Another note that I also do not originate from a Nordic country, so there may also be additional layers people from those countries may be able to add. Thanks! Let's begin.

*********************************************************** Like several characters in Hetalia, the Viking Trio speak in unique Japanese dialects that further make them distinct and characterize them in Japanese. Sweden speaks in a Touhoku dialect, Norway in the Tsugaru dialect (which is a specific type of Touhoku dialect), and Denmark speaks in Ibaraki dialect. The Ibaraki dialect is sometimes seen as belonging to the Touhoku dialect group or the Kantou dialect group, and the classification is debated. Generally, Touhoku accents are characterized by slow speech, the slurring of words together, and the muttering of words — as well as being associated with rural country folk (Kumagi 2011, direct PDF download). This dialect is often translated into English as a redneck/hick accent and drawling speech — and as those who speak it are often characterized or stereotyped as unintelligent folks from out in the sticks. Kumagi cites Inoue (1977) as saying that Touhoku dialects are "degraded at the bottom in the Japanese language" scoring low on "intelligence and emotion-related associations." One American English rough equivalent (not localized, but in terms of reputation in U.S. culture) by my best estimations would likely be Appalachian dialects, which are also stereotypically characterized as being a hillbilly, unintelligent, and rural accent also featuring drawled speech and often truncated speech (source). Like many Touhoku dialect speakers in Japan, Appalachian dialect speakers often hide, mask, or reduce their accent, especially if they relocate someplace outside Appalachia, in order to seem more credible to others, as it is generally seen as an “inferior” dialect of American English in the wider culture (personal/family lived experience, but also a good radio piece on it here). The other way Touhoku dialects are translated in media are as Upper Midwest or Northern Plains dialects of American English (not the most credible source, but a lot that is on here that I can confirm to be correct). This characterization is likely a more accurate candidate for the Nordics (and may be why Hima chose this dialect group for them), as many immigrants from Nordic countries settled in the Upper Midwest/Northern Plains (source, personal experience living in this region for a lot of my life). Touhoku dialects are also a more northern dialect group, which geographically coincides with the Nordics being, well, northerners!

(Map of Touhoku dialects regionally) I have not been able to find any information re: if Sweden speaks any particular type of Touhoku dialect (or if it is more broad), but I will talk a bit about how his speech was transliterated in early scanlations before moving on to the other two. Because of how slurred/more truncated/less intelligible Touhoku accents generally are (and remember, Den/Nor/Ice did not make their appearance until well after Swe/Fin did!), likely early translators decided to chop off letters/make Sweden's speech seem less intelligible in order to convey that to readers. Unlike Norway and Denmark, Sweden also often speaks in shorter sentences/phrases in Japanese, and given that Finland canonically says "it's just hard to communicate with him" (see Running Away with Mr. Sve) that is also likely why early Hetalia scanlators before official translations of the comics were available (note: god this is making me feel old as hell) made the decision to give him the speech patterns that they did, and that ended up spreading through the fandom. When the other Nordics with their regional dialects dropped, given how Sweden’s vocal trait got translated into English and then fandom ran with it to varying degrees of intelligibility, I think the decision was made to not translate Norway the same way to cause less trouble in fanworks, while the Ibaraki dialect did influence how Denmark was translated (more on that below.

Norway speaks in a very particular Touhoku-family dialect within the series that is generally not well-reflected outside of the source material at all. The Tsugaru dialect is spoken in the northwest part of the country, specifically in the western part of Aomori Prefecture — Tsugaru dialect is a particularly unusual dialect, even by Japanese dialect standards, by being one of the most difficult dialects in Japan to understand (source). Even within Japan itself, people speaking this dialect often have to be subtitled on television for other Japanese audiences to understand, and there have been occasions where the dialect has been displayed on television to marvel at how strange and unintelligible it sounds to other Japanese speakers. Sometimes speakers of this dialect have been characterized (or mischaracterized for comedic effect) as French in Japanese because the odd sound and unintelligability of the dialect (source). Kumagi (2011) also states that "[...] within the Tohoku [alternate transliteration of Touhoku] dialects, Aomori [prefecture in which Tsugaru is spoken] dialect is at the bottom [of the hierarchy]," meaning that even among the already disrespected Touhoku dialects, Tsugaru belongs to the worst of the bunch in terms of reputability and respectability in Japanese perceptions. The Tsugaru dialect is a source of fascination, comedy, and disrepute/low standing all at the same time. While we don’t know why Hima selected Norway to have this dialect, I have a few proposals. First, this gives him a similar flavor to the other members of the Viking Trio while keeping him distinct — while Ibaraki is a more southern dialect geographically (for the region), Tsugaru is spoken both more north and more west than it. So if you map their dialects out on a map, their geographical location to each other also somewhat resembles their actual locations as nations to each other in the Nordics! Which is neat!

Second, Hima characterizes Norway has being slightly otherworldly and unusual largely due to his fairy-friends and such. But I also think that he likely chose Tsugaru for him not only because that makes him seem like he’s out of this world, but also because Japan is kind of fascinated by that dialect in particular despite not holding it in high regards by it too — sure, it is a hick accent, but it is an interesting hick accent. I think the fact that Japanese speakers sometimes liken the dialect to French is interesting specifically because of how Japanese people often view the French — French culture something that is often romanticized and idealized, and given how Tsugaru dialect can sound French-ish to Japanese speakers, that may be why Norway is kind of designed as the “pretty boy” of the trio by the fandom? In the same way that “Paris Syndrome” is a thing, where Japanese who go to France are often shocked at how their idealized version of France does not live up to the realities of the country (trust me it's real there is a wikipedia page lol), I think you can argue that in-universe Norway can be seen in a lot of different ways depending on the preconceived notions of how you view the dialect. If you view it as French-like and think it sounds interesting, you may find it alluring/beautiful. If you think it is crass, you'll look at it with disdain and disgust. If you think it just sounds silly and stupid, it is. If you think it is nostalgic (as Kumagi states that this is the only positive association this dialect has) and has a close association with nature/pastoral life because of that, it is. I think Norway in canon is characterized on all four of those axioms at the same time (if you really wanna pull canon receipts I will at another time) which makes this make a lot of sense to me as to why that dialect was chosen for him. Third, I think that given Norway was largely the worst off of the three kingdoms for most of history, it makes sense to give him the worst accent in terms of reputation/status out of all of them, too. Note: specifically, re: how Norway uses "brother" in Japanese is also interesting when referring to Denmark. What he is saying is "anko" (あんこ), which literally means "young man/eldest son" directly translated and is specifically only used to mean that in northern Japanese dialects. A good way to put it is it is like people in the U.S. use "bro" as a catch-all term for a similar-aged guy you are trying to get the attention of kind of informally, in the same way you can say "nii-san" to both mean "older brother" and also "guy who seems older than me I am addressing informally" I guess?? Funnily enough, which I didn't know until researching shit, it apparently also means bottom (homosexual) in prison slang??? Which may or may not be intentional I guess on Hima's part, and could also influence your characterization of Norway as a result. Finally we move on to Denmark. The Ibaraki dialect is characterized by number of things, but for our purposes I think that the two most important traits are the general lack of polite speech and the slightly faster rate of speech (unfortunately, my only written sources I can point to are wikipedia and TV tropes again, but I have heard this orally from someone a long time ago - I looked for more credible sources but couldn't find any easily). Because of it being debated as to whether or not is a true Touhoku dialect or if it is actually a Kantou (more southern/eastern) dialect, I think you can also argue that makes sense given Denmark is kind of the "gateway" into the heart of Europe geographically. People have generally translated this as him being excitable and more casual in the way he communicates to other people. I have been able to find less resources on this particular dialect and how it is perceived culturally, so I will sadly have to leave it at that, but from my understanding he is generally translated appropriately in the manga from what I have seen, with the -in' instead of -ing and ya instead of you to have it seem more relaxed/familiar/casual.

Final notes on Finland and Iceland: I cannot confirm this personally, but from what I can hear from Finland, it sounds like he speaks pretty standard Japanese to me, but take that with a grain of salt since I am not the expert here. Which, dialect-wise, places him as the odd person out (which fits with Finnish being the linguistic outgroup of the five) and also puts him as the relatable “stand in” for Japanese people learning about the Nordics — reminder he is the one who introduces them all in that one comic (see The Nordic 5+a) and even earlier comics (see Running Away with Mr. Sve), and we’re viewing the Nordics from largely his perspective). Since Finland in this series is largely characterized (and often deemed a poor stereotype by Finns) because of the Japanese perspective on Finland/Finns, it makes a lot of sense Hima used him kind of as a self-insert for Japanese readers/viewers to understand the Nordics from, as of the Nordic nations, Japanese folks are likely going to have the strongest familiarity/connection to Finland because of the Moomins. Please take the following information about Iceland with heaping grains of salt, but from a memory, I believe he also speaks the Tsugaru dialect, at least some of the time???? This makes sense he shares the Tsugaru dialect with Norway, as he’s Norway’s in-canon sibling, but I have a vague memory of a meta post I cannot 100% confirm or deny exists re: him only speaking the dialect/the dialect coming out more when he’s alone?? This following is speculation since I cannot confirm/deny that right now with my current abilities, but if it is true, would also be an interesting level to his character and make sense — it puts further distance between him and Norway if he purpsefully doesn’t speak the same way as his brother when his brother is present, and it also is reminiscent of my own experience living with people with discriminated accents who then mask their “less desirable” dialects in their teens/20s so they don’t get discriminated against as they move up in the world. Kumagi (2011) states that "Therefore, young female native speakers of Tohoku [alternate transliteration] dialects feel ashamed of their dialects and hesitate to speak them in big cities such as Tokyo. They are made to feel inferiority complex about their dialects, which are stigmatized as unfeminine". Since Iceland is very much characterized as a teen in canon, I think that this makes sense to do in the broader context of Hima’s choices. The specific reason as to why I state that I believe he speaks Tsugaru some of the time but not always is because there are some panels he speaks without it and some where he does seem to have an accent (HWS Chapter 112, relevant screencap below, this is the only time he speaks like this from what I can find in scanlations/translations, but it has to be a deliberate choice). Would love more info on this from someone who knows more about Japanese than I can do.

Again, please check the original post and/or notes for any future additions that I will add/edit accordingly (with notes as to where/when that happened) if any other relevant information surfaces, but I hope that was at least a little informative and interesting to read. I consulted a bunch of other resources too (read a bunch of papers I could find online), but a lot of those I read several months ago and no longer can find :x otherwise I would list them here.

Let me know if there are any typos/things are unclear, b/c holy shit this took a lot more effort and time for me to write up than I thought it was going to, and I am too tired to proofread it after spending several days on it. X_X

[simply-ivanka]

Kamala Harris: Mystery Commander in Chief

How would the Vice President keep America safe in a dangerous world? The voters deserve some answers.

The Editorial Board --- Wall Street Journal

Kamala Harris is all but telling Americans they’ll have to elect her to find out what she really believes, as the Vice President ducks interviews and the media give her a free ride. This is bad enough on domestic issues, but on foreign policy it could be perilous. The world is more dangerous than it’s been in decades, and Americans deserve to know how the woman aiming to be Commander in Chief Harris would confront these threats.

Ms. Harris this week tweeted a photo of her sitting next to President Biden in the White House situation room discussing the Middle East. The point is to suggest she’s a co-pilot on Biden foreign policy.

This isn’t the credential the Harris campaign thinks it is, and the voters should hear directly from her what she thinks about the 2021 Afghanistan withdrawal, the failure to deter Russia in Ukraine, the Iranian nuclear program, China’s island grabs in the South China Sea, and more. The matter is all the more important because Ms. Harris conspicuously declined to choose a running mate who might lend foreign policy experience to the ticket.

Ms. Harris has given a few hints about her own views on the Middle East, and those aren’t encouraging. Her team spent much of Thursday walking back whether she told an anti-Israel group she’d be willing to ponder an arms embargo against Israel. She skipped Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech to Congress when our main Middle East ally is under siege. Did she pass over Josh Shapiro as her running mate because he would have enraged the anti-Israel wing of the Democratic Party?

To the extent she has revealed a larger instinct on national security, it’s been wrong. She told the Council on Foreign Relations in 2019 that she’d rejoin the Iran nuclear deal as long as “Iran also returned to verifiable compliance.” But Iran didn’t comply and is now on the brink of a nuclear breakout.

Her 2018 Senate vote to “end U.S. involvement in the Saudi-led air campaign in Yemen,” as Ms. Harris put it in a tweet, also hasn’t aged well. The Houthis the Saudis were fighting are now targeting commercial ships in the Red Sea almost daily and putting U.S. naval assets at risk. Does she think this status quo can persist—and what would she do differently?

Ms. Harris will surely argue that she and Mr. Biden reinvigorated the North Atlantic Treaty Organization after Vladimir Putin’s invasion in Ukraine. But absent a change in U.S. political will, the war in Ukraine isn’t on track to end on terms favorable to American interests. Her past enthusiasm for banning fracking—which her campaign is trying to walk back—also suggests she isn’t serious about checking Mr. Putin’s main source of war financing.

Ms. Harris would no doubt also tout the diplomatic progress the Biden Administration has made in Asia with Japan, the Philippines and others. Yet she whiffed on one of the single most important diplomatic questions in Asia: She opposed Barack Obama’s Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal that would have excluded China and boosted America as the region’s premiere trading partner.

Most important, will Ms. Harris build up the hard military assets required to deter China’s Xi Jinping and a consolidating axis of U.S. adversaries? “I unequivocally agree with the goal of reducing the defense budget,” Ms. Harris said as a Senator in 2020 after voting against a Bernie Sanders proposal to slash the Pentagon by 10%. That vote needed no explanation, but Ms. Harris wanted to make sure the left knew she was sympathetic. Does she still want to slash the defense budget?

Donald Trump often shoots from the hip on these subjects, and his favorable comments about dictators are witless. But his first-term record, especially on Iran and the Middle East, is far stronger than the Biden-Harris performance.

Americans shouldn’t have to read tea leaves to figure out if Ms. Harris would keep the country safe in a treacherous world.

[whatevergreen]

Korean Atomic Bomb Victims Cenotaph, Hiroshima - 샷타임 2023

A memorial to the 10,000s of Koreans injured and killed by the American atom bombing of Hiroshima in 1945.

Estimates vary but there were around 70,000 Korean victims of the attack, at least 35,000 of whom died. Days later 10,000s more suffered a similar fate in Nagasaki.

Over 10,000 of those killed were slaves, forcibly taken from occupied Korea to work in Japanese industry.

These bombings were a war crime which indiscriminately killed Japanese civilians and 10,000s of the victims of Imperial Japan's own war crimes.

Another view, by 'Real Equator', May 2022

An old (1993) but still relevant article by WISE:

"Japan is the only officially recognized country to have been subject to bombings with nuclear weapons. However, the victims of those bombings were not just the Japanese. There were some Allied Forces who were prisoners of war in both cities at the time, along with many Chinese and Koreans from Japanese-occupied countries who were also victims. In fact, nearly 10 percent of the total victims were immigrant Koreans."

... "A citizens group for Korean victims estimates the number of Korean victims at Hiroshima to have been seventy thousand, of whom thirty-five thousand died. At Nagasaki there were thirty thousand victims with fifteen thousand dead. Although everybody faced equal risks at the time the bombs dropped, most Koreans found the aftermath much harder than the Japanese. For example, many of them had no place to evacuate to without any relatives to go to, thus they had to return to the contaminated and devastated cities. Even people who had evacuated were forced back to the cities to help with the cleaning up there. If medical teams found that a patient was Korean, he or she had to stand at the end of the lines of people seeking help.

On 15 August 1945, Korea finally became independent and Korean people in Japan were free. But they lost everything in Japan as well as their homeland. After they returned to Korea, they had to start their lives all over again from nothing. To add to the losses and the agonies of radiation disease, poverty and discrimination, the Korean War broke out soon afterwards. Some of those arriving in Korea had been born in Japan or lived so long a time there and spoke little Korean. Many of them had no opportunity or access to education and training for a good job so that they could only get jobs subjecting them to terrible physical conditions. One side-effect of the Korean War was that the diseases and after-effects caused by the radiation were hardly known in Korean until the 1960's. If a victim had money to go hospital, doctors put the name of disease as something else. One man whose fingers and toes swelled abnormally was thought to have leprosy and he had to leave his village with his family.

The answers to a questionnaire by the citizens group for Korean victims in 1979 shows that 80% of them are suffering from various illnesses, though just 19% of them can afford to go hospital. One third of have no jobs and 80% live in poverty."

This article also mentions that when the monument was originally built in 1970 it wasn't allowed to be situated in the Hiroshima Peace Park, but was erected in a street. Even in 1993 it hadn't yet been moved to it's current location in the park after years of protest.

A related recent news article:

"Yoon is the first South Korean president to meet with the survivors, a presidential spokesperson said.

As many as 100,000 Koreans suffered during the U.S. bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, half of them dying that year while about 43,000 returned to the South and 2,000 went to the North, the Korea Atomic Bombs Victim Association says.

Of the 2,261 victims registered with the association, fewer than 2,000 were still alive by late 2021."

[melatonin-melanin]

menhera as a movement and how it can connect to race

most members of the menhera subculture tend to have one goal in mind, and it's to be able to improve their mental health one way or another. for those unaware, menhera is a mental health movement originating in japan, where the term was originally defined as "someone who seeks mental well being." you can learn more about it here.

a large aspect of the menhera subculture is creating art in order to vent your struggles. this art is expressed most commonly through mediums such as fashion, painting, and music. any topics are acceptable to create vent art from, and often there will be motifs related to the author's trauma. however, over time, menhera has been watered down to containing mainly medical motifs in creations, as opposed to the original intention of being an outlet for a vast majority of issues that people may struggle with. of course, this doesn't mean that people no longer use it to vent; there are still many active members of the community, at least overseas.

you might be thinking, "that's nice to learn about, but what does this have to do with race? isn't this about mental health?"

well, your race can directly impact your mental health in multiple ways. when it comes to race, it's important to keep in mind that it's not just the color of your skin. race, as it is defined in society, is also your hair texture, facial structure, culture, and traditions. race is ultimately a social category, as it is fluctuating throughout history and is solely determined by people in power. think about it: for those growing up in the U.S., did you ever have to fill out forms for mandated tests? do you recall that, as time went on, more and more racial categories were added as options to check off when asked for your race?

with all of these factors taken into account, it's no wonder that race can affect mental health. whether it's from racial discrimination in multiple communities and institutions, cultural-specific struggles, or trying to find one's own place inside and outside of race-based communities, any and all of these issues can be mentally draining and have someone questioning their self-worth. added to all of this, it can be more difficult for someone to receive help for these troubles when they're not surrounded with people who understand. not every person of color is going to understand what a person with a mental illness goes through, and not every person with a mental illness is going to understand what a person of color goes through, either. depending on the people around them, a person of color struggling with mental illness may feel much more hesitant about reaching out to others because of this.

menhera as a movement was created in order for people to express all kinds of feelings without needing any particular label for what they're struggling with. it lets you wear your heart on your sleeve, and embrace aspects of yourself that you have trouble accepting. you can be beautiful, despite everything. you can be beautiful despite having traits that you've felt so insecure about for the longest time, whether it be skin color, hair type, face shape, cultural significances; none of that makes you any lesser, regardless of what you may feel or what others may have told you. my own race has tied into many of my experiences with my self-image, and my struggle with that view is part of why i identify with the menhera subculture. for anyone reading this who feels similarly, this is sort of my way of saying that you aren't alone!

i feel that, although the medical association is most likely here to stay, the majority of the menhera community can also work beyond only acknowledging certain facets of mental illness. this isn't only referring to the acknowledgment of racial issues, but other intersecting traits that affect people's experiences with mental illness. gender, class, physical disability, orientation; all of these undoubtedly influence each individual's views on mental health, and the community should strive to be more open towards all of these different experiences no matter how messy or uncomfortable they get. after all, the purpose of menhera is to tell ourselves that we're pretty, cute, handsome, gorgeous, and all of those kinds of adjectives despite how our troubles make us feel!

[guess-how-i-stole-this-body]

I live on an island where USA military is all we are. Nearly every man in my family is/was related to the military. My grandfather is a war veteran. Yet none of them can vote if we stay here (Guam). Cost of living is high and is getting higher, most highschools have to do half days because of poor conditions, and our language and culture is dying. These problems don't exist if you live on base. Andersen base is known for their low priced goods, Naval hospital's lobby rivals our hotels, and the military kids get their own private schools just for them (complete with opportunities not open to the rest of the island last I checked.)

Yet we're told we are supposed to be grateful that the U.S is here. People had the audacity to say the military families, the people who could afford nice houses on and off base, should get supplies first before the locals during SUPERTYPHOON Mawar. And for a while, this made sense to me. Of course we should be grateful. It could be worse. We could be under the rule of Japan, after all they were the ones who put us into concentration camps. During WW2. Things were so bad that CHamorus back then used to sing for America to come back. They saved us out of the goodness of their heart.

So then you can imagine how frustrated I am at this narrative as I watched our """saviors""" bomb another indigenous population who are put into concentration camps. You can imagine my conflicting emotions when I see posts about gay veterans/military members. I don't understand why anyone, let alone a queer, would be proud to serve this country. A country that wouldn't lift a finger to fight for our queer rights. A country that would leave our people to rot in torture camps if it weren't for the fact our land is close to Asia. I don't understand at all.

[centrally-unplanned]

In case anyone wants some scholarly data on the bombing-growth impact, I can provide some good ones. The "bombing didn't impact growth in Germany & Japan" is too well known to bother with; I find this Vietnam paper better, as Vietnam was poorer, bombed more intensely, and most importantly bombed very regionally due to weird political factors; its the best 'experiment' of the impact of bombing on wealth, health, education, etc. And its all zeros; the capacity of humanity to survive the worst modernity can throw at them and rebuild is truly marvelous.

I will also share my favourite results ever in a paper; the areas of London that were bombed during the Blitz are generally the richest areas of London, as the need to rebuild wiped away NIMBY stakeholders and allowed, taller, better buildings to be constructed. London *would be poorer today if it had not been bombed during WW2* is a galaxy brain take that is actually correct, amazing:

I think the last one is illustrative, though - all capital is temporary. When people talk about the "agglomeration of capital", it can invoke ideas of building stocks of factories and tools and vaults of gold or whatever that generate wealth indefinitely, but that doesn't happen. Those factories shred, degrade, become outdated, need to pivot, etc in a matter of years. The economy has to be perpetually worked to generate value. "Agglomeration of capital" is not a stock of permanent wealth, its a stock of present wealth that gives you the power to dictate future wealth and its construction. And most of that wealth is the human capital, the org structures, the commercial relations. The buildings and tools are always cheap in comparison to those. Which is why bombing doesn't impact long run ecomic growth.

[meruz]

hi im putting all my asks in one post again. these are from like the past month and a half approx? some digimon thoughts some tmnt thoughts some art musings u know the usual

@waywardistics YAYY thank you so much for ordering! I'm glad it got to you & that you are enjoying it!

this is kind of a missive to everyone who ordered but: I am very nervous about pre-orders whenever I do them... nervous that not very many people will order, nervous that there will be supply chain or production dilemmas and I won't be able to get copies out to people in a timely fashion, nervous about having people's money but having an indeterminate amt of time where i have not yet "held up my part of the bargain" etc etc SO. THANK U GUYS...FOR ORDERING and being patient and im so glad it got to y'all

@seanonthemoon (idk why i cant tag u BUT) interesting... i gotta be honest I don't think abt the crests that much. i agree that they're very much like heres the "girl" crest heres the "nerd boy" crest etc to the point that it becomes almost meaningless. but i think what makes them even more meaningless to me, and is probably the reason they kind of designated girl/boy crests etc is that i think like the digivices they're toys and merchandise more than they are actual narrative tools LOL. I wouldve loved something with cody and mimi! theyre both so deeply empathetic and sensitive.. theres a lot they share but i think because they look so different on the surface it would make it difficult to market that merch...booo capitalism boooo toy marketing its all sexist bullshit at least here in the u.s. idk if japan is that different though.

I'm actually a little frustrated with how often 02 and 02 related media squanders cody in general lol. he feels like a parallel of izzy, joe, and TK(season 1 tk) while also being kind of none of those and suffering through lackluster characterization as a result... and then once ken joins the team it feels a little redundant. there's a couple cody-centric eps of 02 I remember really liking but then i think abt how he's been used since in like post-series content and 02:the beginning where they made him type on the computer even though obviously that's yoleis thing but because he had nothing else to do and aghh... my blood boils. i feel like the youngest but most serious anime achetype even at its bare bones is actually rly interesting idk why they don't play it up. UM. Once again my opinion is that he should be taller LOL and maybe they should play up his kendo martial arts honorable training stuff more idk. tallest + youngest + most serious just seems like a recipe for success for me. well. theres still time. and theres always fanfic.

THIS IS SO NICE TO SAY and not the first time someone has said it but i appreciate it everytime because i really admire the mm art style so much. It's like part of why I got really into the movie because I really recognized my own artistic sensibilities and aspirations in the way they stylized everything.

UM And i feel like since watching the movie and looking at all the concept art and making my own art i do feel like its only become more obvious how much my own art is lacking LOL LIKE when you see something that feels so similar I think the differences only become more stark. those artists are definitely on a different level than me. But it's nice to hear people say it doesn't look so different from their pov. thank u ^^

thank u!!!!!!! i love mundanity and naturalism... there's something so beautiful abt it to me lol... I feel like my anatomy needs work actually but ive been feeling better abt it this year so it's good to hear! thank you!

DLKGDSGDLALSNDF WAS IT TOO FAR..?? firstly, yeah I was thinking late teen/young adult ages for both of them ie 18-19ish, definitely not the age the kids are in the movie lol.

but also they arent DOING anything in that pic it is literally just a confrontation + some innuendo... I think teens should be allowed some less than subtle innuendo.. its like one of the top 3 classically teen pastimes...

this is such a funny ask to get because i feel like i haven't been able to do thin lineart until like. this past year or two maybe LOL. UM having a line-centric art job helped I think. I started on craig of the creek back in 2022 and thats a show where we spend a lot of time inking so I had a job where I was constantly moderating my line weight 40 hours a week every week for over a year. disappointingly, much of improvement is simply horrendous amounts of practice.

Here's a tip though: I think a lot of thin lineart boils down to confidence. I think instinctively we read thick, bold, fast lines as confident but theres actually a lot of obscuring you can do with a thick line. if you're not sure whether the nose on the face or a browline should be a little more left or a little more down you can hide that with a thick line and pretend its a shadow. or hide it with a bunch of quick lines and the eye can kind of approximate where looks best among the mass.. whereas a thin line is rly singular and stark and hides nothing, it needs to be precise. so anytime i know i want thin lineart i spend a LOT of time sketching, making sure i know exactly where i want my lines to go. so im not second guessing by the time im inking...

ok thats kind of a broad tip lol... here's one thats more applicable: IF POSSIBLE, lower your pressure sensitivity on your device. most devices have some way to edit your pressure sensitivity curve. I use a surface pro at home and this is what my pressure curve looks like most of the time.

When I work on a wacom it looks even more like a reverse L shape LOL. I'm naturally a really heavy-handed artist and I use a "light" or "hard" pressure curve to compensate for how hard I'm always pressing on the pen lol. if you're like me and you struggle with going too hard with the ink too fast... this will probably help a lot!

SFHASLDFH I LOVE THIS ASK this is like the type of question a person gets asked when chalk drawing on the sidewalk at recess LOL. but i understand because I've been struggling also for like. months. I think I'm finally starting to nail it down though so here's some of my observations.

[feel free to save this img but **please do not re-post it or share broadly**. my biggest fear in the world is to spend 30 min on some notes and become a widely proliferated art tutorial im not even kidding. i made it low contrast and difficult to read on purpose.]

my other tip is to just look at and study a lot of reference because that's all ive been doing. the tmnt are really cartoony so its difficult to use like actual anatomical reference unless ur going for that look BUT theres been so many adaptions in so many different styles that there's a real treasure trove of stuff to look at for how to simplify, stylize, and dissect these characters while keeping the recognizable essence. so theres lots to pull from.

If you want to expand further, it's also good to have 5) something sci-fi 6)something fantasy 7)something mundane/slice of life. a bedroom is a really good go-to. And of course some bgs can be two or more of these things at once.

I've definitely answered asks abt bg tips before but here's one specifically for if you want to do bg design for a job:

Your portfolio should probably have at least one of each of the following 1) an interior 2) an exterior 3) a cityscape 4) a nature scene. Just to cover kind of the basics of what you'd be asked to draw on any given project.

I actually feel like I don't have that many cityscrapes in my portfolio... this is something I'm gonna try to work on in the coming year LOL. OH ALSO. This is a very basic tip and people will tell you it all the time but its worth repeating: look up portfolio websites of artists who have the job you want. An easy way to do this is to go onto imdb for any cartoon or movie you like and to find the names listed as "bg/background designer" or whatever then just google that name +"art" or "animation" most artists have some public facing internet presence so it's not hard. spend time studying their work and hold those images in your head! it's a good way to get a good idea of what "industry standard" looks like and comparing ur own art to it... I know people sometimes get bummed comparing their art to others but if you can keep your head up lol.. it'll help you figure out what you need to work on!

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ok thats all i have to say sorry for typing so much. happy new year everybody who read this far LMAO!!!!!

[cosmosbeelover]

The History of Korean Female Soloists from the 20th Century: Episode 3.5/?

This episode continues the narrative of Yun Sim-deok, focusing on the events following her death and the legacy of her music. It is important to note that this instalment is intended for a mature audience, as it will address sensitive themes related to self-exit.

"행복 찾는 인생들아 너 찾는 것 허무" (To those who seek happiness, your search is in vain) - Yun Sim-deok 'Hymn of Death'

Suspicion of death

During an album recording in Japan, Yun Sim-deok encountered Kim Woo-jin, who was preparing to study abroad in Germany. On August 3, 1926, the two unexpectedly boarded the Tokuju Maru, a ship bound for Busan. The following day, they vanished from the vessel, leading to significant media attention as it was reported as the first 'love affair' (情死) case in Joseon, although the true nature of their relationship remains uncertain.

Three key facts are established: first, both individuals boarded the same ship on August 3; second, on the morning of August 4, their cabin was found empty with only their belongings left behind; and third, a subsequent review of the passenger list revealed their absence. Despite media speculation about a possible suicide pact, no will or evidence was confirmed by family or friends, and no witnesses were present at the time of their disappearance. Consequently, the search for their bodies in the expansive ocean proved futile.

Upon the media's initial coverage of the incident, they reported that "the two individuals embraced and leaped into the sea after leaving a will," a narrative that has persisted over time. The families of Kim Woo-jin and Yun Sim-deok vehemently refuted claims of an "affair," likely motivated by concerns for their family’s reputation. They even contested the notion of suicide itself, further complicating the public's understanding of the events.

At that time, Kim Woo-jin had distanced himself from his family due to a conflict with his father and was in Japan, preparing for his long-desired studies in Germany. On August 1, he submitted his play, <Wild Boar>, to a magazine, expressing optimism about his future endeavours. Meanwhile, Yun Sim-deok was diligently working to fund her younger sister's education in the United States, with her sister's departure scheduled for August 5. After her sister arrived in the U.S., she learned of Yun's tragic death. Additionally, Yun had reached out to a friend in Tokyo, indicating plans to meet soon, raising the critical question of whether the two were indeed lovers, a topic that was only speculated upon in the media following the incident.

There is no concrete evidence to suggest that Kim Woo-jin (김우진) had romantic feelings for Yun Sim-deok (윤심덕); rather, any such inference is speculative and primarily drawn from his literary works. Jo Myeong-hee, a friend of Kim Woo-jin, dismissed the notion of their relationship as mere rumour, indicating it was not significant. Even if they had been lovers, the possibility of separation or remarriage exists, and there is no compelling reason to believe they engaged in an affair. The circumstances surrounding their departure to Joseon raise questions, particularly since they left no testament and informed no one of their journey. This has led to various theories regarding their fate, including the 'survival theory' suggesting they faked their deaths, the 'accident theory' involving a slip, and the 'murder theory.' Their dramatic demise fuelled speculation that they might have relocated abroad, especially concerning Kim Woo-jin's alleged affair, with claims that they staged their deaths to escape together. Additionally, there are claims that Yun Sim-deok may have conspired with her record label to fake her death to promote her album. Notably, no witnesses were present at the supposed suicide, and the bodies were never recovered. However, the passenger list did indicate residences matching those of Kim Woo-jin (김우진) and Yun Sim-deok (윤심덕), and both were 29 years old at the time, confirming their presence on the ship, albeit under the names Kim Su-san (김수산) and Yoon Su-seon (윤수선).

There were persistent rumours suggesting that the two individuals did not perish but instead escaped to Europe. Allegedly, they bribed the sailors aboard the ship to fabricate a suicide narrative, subsequently traveling to China and adopting Chinese identities to reach Europe. As the popularity of <Ode to Death> remained strong, these rumours proliferated. In 1931, speculation arose that an Asian couple operating a general store in Italy were, in fact, Kim Woo-jin and Yoon Sim-deok, with specific names and locations being cited. Kim Woo-jin's younger brother sought verification from the Japanese embassy in Italy through the Governor-General's Office, which reported that no such individuals were found in Rome but would continue their search. In 1934, a man claiming to be the grandson of Kim Ok-gyun asserted he had encountered Kim Woo-jin and Yoon Sim-deok, who were purportedly musical instrument dealers in Rome. However, this claim was later debunked as false. Ultimately, the notion that they faked their deaths lacks credibility, as it would have been more logical to use their real names rather than pseudonyms.

In examining the case of Kim Woo-jin, Professor Yang Seung-guk from Seoul National University deemed the likelihood of an affair to be minimal, attributing more credence to the theory of suicide, which he posited was likely impulsive and possibly induced by Yun Sim-deok. The prevailing narrative within recent literary analyses categorizes Kim Woo-jin's death as either a suicide or an accident, while music critic Kang Heon has introduced the notion of murder, implicating Nitto Records, the label that had acquired Yun Sim-deok's album. This company, a subsidiary of the Japanese state-run Nitjiku, was relatively obscure at its inception in 1926, especially compared to more prominent labels like Columbia and Polydor, and it ceased operations by 1928. Notably, the song "Sa-ui-hyeomi," (사의혜미) which became the album's lead track, was not initially intended for release by Yun Sim-deok; her brother, who accompanied her on piano during the recording, refuted claims that she had requested it, suggesting instead that it was an unexpected addition. This has led to speculation that the circumstances surrounding her death may have been orchestrated by the Japanese company to enhance sales of records and gramophones in the Joseon market.

This is a newspaper clipping about Yun Sim-deok published in 1973 February 14th. 演藝手帖半世紀(연예수첩반세기) 歌謠界(가요계) (8) 尹心愿(윤심덕)의 情死(정사) 「광막한황야 달리는人生(인생)」,愛人(애인)과 현해탄에죽은뒤 [死(사)의찬미 」流行(유행)----日業者(일업자) 크게致富(치부) 한국에 들어온 日本(일본)의 레코드資本(자본)을 크게 도와준것은 익살맞게도 尹 心悳(윤심덕)의 「死(사)의 찬미」 였다. 「玄海灘(현해탄) 激浪(격랑)중에 青春男女(청춘남녀) 情死(정사)」 「藝術(예술)에 共鳴(공명)되야 八年(팔년)전사랑의 싹」 一九二六年八月三日(일구이육연팔월삼일) 관부연락선 「德壽丸(덕수환)」에서 발생한 美人(미인)가수 尹心愿(윤심덕)과 극작가 金祐鎭(김우진)의 세기적 情死( 정사)사건을 당시 신문들은 이렇게 連日(연일) 대서특필했다. 尹心愿(윤심덕)과 金祐鎭(김우진)은 이날오전十一(십일)시 [시모노세끼」를 떠 나는 「德壽丸(덕수환)」에 올랐는데 이날 오후四(사)시 배가對馬島(대마도)근해 를 지날 무렵 현해탄에 몸을 날려 자살했던것이다. 土月會(토월회)의 멤버였고 同友會(동우회)의지방공연에서 갈채를 받았던미모 의 新女性(신여성) 尹心愿(윤심덕)의 난데없는 죽음은 사회에 큰충격을 주기에 충분했다. 一八八九年(일팔팔구년) 平壤(평양) 태생인 尹心惠(윤심덕)은 平壤女高普(평양여 고보)와 京城女高普師範科(경성여고보사범과)를 마친후 江原道(강원도)에서 잠 시 교편을 잡았다. 一九一七年(일구일칠년) 총독부의 官費(관비)유학생으로 東�� 音樂學校(동경음악학교)를 마친후 모교인 京城女高普(경성여고보)(현재의京畿 女高(경기여고))에서 음악교사를했지만 곧 그만두고 聲樂(성악)연마와 레코 드취 입을 하는한편가끔 京城放送局(경성방송국)에 출연하기도했다. 그녀는 正統(정통)코스를 거친 순수음악인이었지만 니또레코드 京城支店長(경성지점장)을 겸하고 있던 朝鮮蓄音機商會(조선축음기상회)주인李 基世(이기세)의 끈질긴 설득으로 유행가를 취입하기에 이르렀다. 취입을 승낙한 尹心愿(윤심덕)은 七月十七日(칠월십칠일) [니또] 레코드本社(본사)가 있는 「 오사까」(大阪(대판))로 갔다. 이때의 레코 드는 앞뒤에 한곡씩 녹음하는 것이었는데 취입하는 김에 +(십)여곡 을 넣기로하고 관부연락선을 타기위해 七月十七日(칠월십칠일) 京城(경성)에서 釜山行(부산행) 기차를 탔다. 이날 京城驛(경성역)에는 李基世(이기세)와 李瑞求( 이서구)씨(작가·당시 [니또] 레코드문예부장)그리고 南相ㅡ(남상일)씨(현合同 通信理事(합동통신이사) 당시 東亞日報(동아일보)정치부기자)가 그녀를 전송하 러 나왔다. "모두 즐거운 분위기였죠. 취입 잘하고 돌아 올땐선물로 고급 넥타이나 사오라고 했더니 「죽어도 사와요?」 하고 말하고는 또 쾌활하게웃더군요. 그래 [죽으려거 든넥타이나 사서 부치고 죽어」 하고 농담을 했거든요. 그러고보니 그것이 마지 막이었읍니다. "(李瑞求(이서구)) 尹心愿(윤심덕)은 日本(일본)왕래가 많았기때문에 인솔자없이 혼자떠났다. 취입 을 마치고도 돌아오지않았지만 京城(경성)에서는 취입료를 두둑이 받았을테니푹 쉬고오나보다 모두들 생각하고 있었다. 七月末(칠월말)께 李基世(이기세)는 여섯장의 레코드 테스트판을 받았다. "이것이 尹心愿(윤심덕)의 취입판이었는데 예정보다 -(일)장이 더많더군요. 그 래 틀어봤더니 그것이 바로 「死(사)의 찬미」 였읍니다. 예정에도 없던 曲(곡)이 어서이상하다 했는데 노래가 상당히 서글프더군요. "그리고季瑞求(계서구)씨는 「死(사)의 찬미」의작사자가 미상이라는 일부 주장에 대해 尹心息(윤심덕)본인 의 작사가 틀립 없다고 토를 달았다. 그녀가 투신자살한 것은 테스트판이 도착된 며칠후였는데 八月十日(팔월십일)경 李瑞求(이서구)씨와 南相ㅡ(남상일)씨에게는 소포가 한개씩배달돼왔다. "그게 바로 尹(윤)이 보낸 넥타이였지요. 갖가지 감회가 가슴을 찔렀는데 차마 매 고 다닐수가 없어 장롱속에 넣어뒀어요. 피난통에 까맣게 잊었었는데 작년에 책 을 정리하다 책갈피속에서 이 넥타이를 찾아냈어요. "파란 실크넥타인데 李瑞求( 이서구)씨는 결국 四十七年(사십칠년) 동안을 보관하고 있었다는 이야기다. 「광막한 황야를 달리는 인생아….」로 시작되는 이노래는 「이바노비치] 작곡 의 「다뉴브江(강)」에 가사를 붙인것으로 「와세다」 출신 극작가와 소프라노 新 女性(신여성)간의 전설적인사랑과 함께 레코드는 불티나게 팔려나갔다. 그녀는 이전에도 日本(일본)축음기 회사에서 「어엽뿐 색시」 「매기의 추억」 「나와 너 」 「아 그것이사랑인가」 「망향가」 「방끗웃는 월계화」 등 가곡을 취입했었 지만 유행가는 이것이처음이었다. 제비표 [니또] 레코드에서 흐느끼듯 흘러나오는 「死(사)의 찬미」가 히트하자 이제까지 부유층의 재산목록에속하던 유성기와 소리판은 쉽게 대중속에 파고들 수 있게됐다. 「死(사)의 찬미」는 流行歌(유행가)의 보급뿐아니라 우리나라에 상륙한日本(일본)의 레코드 자본을 살찌게하는 결과를 가져온것이다. (李吉範(이길범)기자>

Yun Sim-deok and Kim Woo-jin's disappearance after August 4, 1926, remains a significant event. Notably, playwright Lee Seo-gu, a close friend of Yun, recounted a poignant farewell at Gyeongseong Station prior to her departure to Japan for an album recording. Their exchange included a light-hearted promise regarding a gift, where Yun asked what she should bring back for Lee, who requested a tie. Their banter took a darker turn when Yun jokingly inquired if Lee would still want the tie even in death, to which Lee affirmed he would. This conversation, while playful, took on a sombre tone following Yun's tragic passing, as the tie Lee had requested arrived shortly after the news of her death, remaining unworn until Lee's own demise.

Mediatization and Legacy

The romantic relationship between Yun Sim-deok (윤심덕) and Kim Woo-jin (김우진) has inspired numerous theatrical productions and films long after their passing.

The initial cinematic adaptation of the story was the film <Yun Sim-deok>, released in 1969 and directed by Ahn Hyun-chul. The principal characters, Kim Woo-jin and Yun Sim-deok, were portrayed by Shin Sung-il and Moon Hee, respectively, while supporting performances were delivered by Lee Soon-jae (이순재), Baek Yeong-min (백영민), Joo Jeung-nyeo (주증녀), and Han Eun-jin (한은진). This film notably features the pivotal encounter between Kim Woo-jin and Yun Sim-deok, culminating in the dramatic moment when they leap into the Korea Strait.

In 1991, the film "In Praise of Death," (사의 찬미; 死의 讚美) directed by Kim Ho-seon, depicted the poignant love story of Yoon Sim-deok, featuring performances by Jang Mi-hee as Yoon Sim-deok, Im Sung-min as Kim Woo-jin, and Lee Kyung-young as Hong Nan-pa, alongside Jo Min-ki and Kang Gye-sik. Jang Mi-hee received the Blue Dragon Film Award for Best Actress for her portrayal, while Im Sung-min was honored with the Best Actor award. Following this film, Kim Ho-seon directed "Annie Gang," which generated significant attention in the Korean film industry by reuniting Jang Mi-hee and Im Sung-min. Notably, "In Praise of Death" represents one of the final works produced by the traditional Chungmuro ​​film community from the 1950s.

Reporter Jeong-cheol Shin = Tongyeong City will perform 'Ode to Death', the third civic cultural center planned performance of the year, based on the love story of Joseon's first soprano 'Yun Sim-deok', called the greatest scandal of the 20th century, and genius playwright 'Kim Woo-jin', a pioneer of Korean theater. The photo is the performance poster. (Photo = provided by Tongyeong City). 2023.10.07.

The musical and theatrical adaptation debuted in 1988, presented by Yoon Dae-seong as a play titled Hymn of Death through an experimental theatre company. It was subsequently staged as a musical in 1990, and the 2005 rendition featured singer Bada in the role of Yoon Sim-deok, generating significant public interest. In 2012, the narrative was expanded to include a storyline about Yoon Sim-deok and Kim Woo-jin in a musical named Gloomy Day, which was later re-staged in 2015 under the original title Hymn of Death. In 2016, the play "The Ferry of the Kings" was introduced, portraying a scenario where only Kim Woo-jin (김우진) perishes while Yoon Sim-deok is saved by the protagonist, who is depicted as departing for Rome to pursue her true aspirations while concealing her survival, reflecting the aforementioned survival theory.

The drama ‘Hymn of Death’ was broadcast on SBS starting November 27, 2018, consisting of six one-act episodes. It was shown twice daily over a span of three days, resulting in a total of six segments rather than three. The episodes aired on November 27, December 3, and December 4. In this production, Shin Hye-sun portrayed Yoon Sim-deok, while Lee Jong-suk took on the role of Kim Woo-jin.

In the 2022 Apple TV+ series Pachinko, a character inspired by Yun Sim-deok (윤심덕) is featured. The protagonist, Seon-ja, boards the Tokuju Maru to reunite with her husband, Isaac, in Osaka. During this journey, a glamorous singer retrieves a shawl that Seon-ja has dropped, expressing her appreciation by mentioning a cherished gift from her lover and promising to perform for Seon-ja at her concert that evening. While Seon-ja, who is pregnant, endures the harsh realities of third-class travel, the singer indulges in luxury, only to face sexual harassment from a powerful Japanese man nearby.

When the singer takes the stage, she begins with the soprano aria "Let Me Cry," but unexpectedly shifts to a line from Chunhyangga, provoking outrage among the Japanese audience. The situation escalates as the enraged passengers summon the police, prompting the singer to take her own life with a concealed knife upon seeing the authority’s approach. Although this portrayal diverges from Yun Sim-deok's actual life, the character's essence and thematic elements appear to draw inspiration from her story.

Additionally, the character is depicted alongside Kim Woo-jin (김우진) in the series Joseon, the Age of Revolution. In this narrative, they are shown contemplating the artworks of Pierre-Auguste Renoir, which are part of Emperor Gwangmu Yi Seon’s collection. The series emphasizes their struggles with familial and societal expectations, framing them as artists rather than romantic partners. Their tragic fate is contextualized within the broader narrative of colonial youth suffering under Japan's oppressive regime, offering a poignant commentary on historical realities rather than adhering strictly to official accounts.

Posthumous Albums

In the Korean pop music scene, numerous artists experience cycles of prominence and obscurity. While some manage to sustain their relevance through memorable tracks, others fade into obscurity over time. Particularly poignant are the cases of artists who produced remarkable music yet died prematurely. Their enduring songs serve as a poignant reminder of their legacy, evoking nostalgia among listeners. Younger musicians often honour these late artists by performing their songs, and dedicated fans engage in memorial activities long after their passing.

The music left behind by these artists is preserved, ensuring their contributions endure. Yum Sim-deok stands out as a significant figure in the annals of Korean pop music, having created impactful hits before her untimely death at a young age. Notably, she is recognized as one of the earliest artists to have a posthumous release, with her final works emerging after both her and her lover's deaths.

Discovering the Hymn of Death Album

In 1926, she journeyed to Japan to record an album, driven by the intention to support her younger sister's education in the United States. Among the pieces she recorded was the famous "Hymn of Death," which featured newly written lyrics set to the melody of Iosif Ivanovich's waltz "Ripples on the Danube." Notably, "Hymn of Death" was not her original selection; reports indicate that she made the decision to include it spontaneously during the recording session. The song achieved significant commercial success, with sales reaching around 100,000 copies at the time of its release and in the years that followed, a phenomenon likely amplified by her premature passing. This evocative piece, which contemplates the theme of mortality, was recorded before she had the opportunity to experience its official launch. Furthermore, six months before this session, she had reimagined Schubert's "Wild Roses" and "Linden Trees" into "Laurel Flowers" and "Old Dreams," with these recordings being discovered in late April 2022.

In the realm of Korean popular music, the intense public fascination and reaction to a singer's premature death and subsequent works can be traced back to Yun Sim-deok's "Ode to Death." Yun Sim-deok (윤심덕), who pursued classical vocal training in Japan but ultimately performed popular music to sustain herself, and Kim Woo-jin, a member of a prominent family in Jeolla Province and a key figure in the new theatre movement, tragically took their lives together in 1926 by leaping into the sea from a vessel en route between Shimonoseki, Japan, and Busan. At the time, she was only 29 years old. Their relationship, characterized by the complexities of a new woman entangled with a married man during the Japanese colonial era, highlights the tragic limitations imposed by class and social structures. Nevertheless, the profound sense of emptiness expressed in her music has continued to resonate deeply with the Korean populace long after her death.

Iosif Ivanovich

Before discussing Yun Sim-deok's rendition of 'Hymn of Death,' it is important to briefly address the original composer of the piece, Iosif Ivanovich.

Born in Romania in 1845 and dying on September 28, 1902, at the age of 56 or 57, he was a prominent military bandmaster and composer known for his light music. Although originating from a Balkan country somewhat distant from Austria, the heart of the waltz tradition, he is recognized for a unique and exceptional composition.

His notable works include the waltz "Ripples of the Dunare" (Valurile Dunării) and the waltz "Carmen Sylva." Additionally, his great-grandson, Andrei Ivanovich, born in 1968, has gained international recognition as a pianist and remains active in the music industry, reflecting a familial connection to his great-grandfather's legacy.

The ripples of ‘Dunarea’

The Dunărea, known as the 'Danube' in English and 'Donau' in German, is often referred to by the German name 'Danube ripples' (Donauwellen). Despite Iosif Ivanovic's significant popularity during his lifetime, he has not garnered much recognition in the 21st century, with various dances and marches primarily performed and recorded in Romania. However, his waltz stands out, achieving fame comparable to that of the Strauss brothers, particularly Johann Strauss II. Its appeal lies in its melancholic melody, which reflects Slavic folk music and is distinct from typical Viennese waltzes. This waltz was also popularized in the United States as the 'Anniversary Song,' featuring lyrics that align with its melody. During the Japanese colonial period in Joseon, a song titled "Sa-ui Chanmi" emerged, inspired by the same concept, and gained immense popularity through the rendition by Yun Sim-deok, marking a significant moment in early Korean music. A biographical film sharing the same title was released in 1991. Additionally, a piano solo arrangement of the waltz is included in the "Piano Piece Collection," serving as supplementary material for piano learners, leading many to discover the piece for the first time. The song is also featured as an insert in the Dutch animated short film, Father and Daughter.

사의찬미/ 부활의깃붐 - 윤심덕 (Hymn of Death/Resurrection Flag Boom - Yun Sim-deok)

The album 'Praise/Hymn of Death' is one of the two that I have successfully located, and both will be discussed.

Released in 1926 by Ildong Gramophone Company, "Praise of Death" marks a significant moment in Korean popular music, sparking extensive social discourse. The song's prominence was largely influenced by the scandal involving Yun Sim-deok, which facilitated the broader recognition of phonograph records in Joseon. Accompanying the main track, "Joy of Resurrection" serves as a hymn featured on the reverse side of the album.

Lyrics

Life is ultimately finite, governed relentlessly by the passage of time. When confronted with the inexorable nature of time, one finds a capacity for forgiveness and understanding that transcends ordinary experiences. The concepts of transience and compassion are intertwined, akin to two facets of the same reality. The notion that chaotic desires may eventually subside and that the anguish of relationships is temporary can serve as a source of solace amidst life's challenges.

Engaging with the profoundly unsettling song 'Ode to Death' evokes complex emotions. The title itself is haunting, as it openly extols death, seemingly threatening to erase all vitality. The ethereal quality of Yun Sim-deok's voice resonates as if it belongs to another realm, embodying a profound sense of emptiness. Paradoxically, after experiencing this deeply cynical piece, life may appear more vibrant and hopeful, akin to the renewal that follows tears. Immersing oneself in such sorrowful melodies can strip away the trivialities of existence, revealing what is truly significant and reigniting the desire to live. Yun Sim-deok's portrayal of life as a "vast wilderness" and a "dangerous confession" remains relevant nearly a century later, prompting existential inquiries that echo the void of contemporary existence.

The second verse stands out for its literary purity, encapsulating the duality of existence through the lines, "The smiling flowers and the crying birds/ Their fates are all the same." This juxtaposition of joy and sorrow reflects the complexity of life, akin to dust that settles lightly yet profoundly. Echoing Charlie Chaplin's sentiment, life appears tragic up close but transforms into a comedy from a distance. The poignant lines, "You poor life/ Passionate about life/ You are a dancer/ On the sword," convey a sense of hopelessness intertwined with fervour. This metaphor of a 'dance on the sword' captures the reckless pursuit of desires, illustrating the human condition's inherent struggles and the fleeting moments of peace that follow.

In a tragic turn of events, just prior to the song's release, Yun Sim-deok (윤심덕) and her lover, Kim Woo-jin (김우진), who was already married, took their lives by jumping from a government ferry into the Korea Strait. known as the “Gyeonghaetan (玄海灘). This dramatic incident, where the song and their lives intersect, has an almost surreal quality, elevating the narrative to mythic proportions. The scandal surrounding their deaths contributed significantly to the song's success, prompting music critic Kang Heon to suggest a conspiracy theory regarding a potential 'suicide planned by the record company.' This song marked a pivotal moment in the evolution of Korean popular music, with its melody derived from Romanian composer Ivanovic's 'Danube River Ripples,' while the identity of the lyricist remains uncertain, speculated to be either Yun Sim-deok or Kim Woo-jin.

In February 1990, shortly before Voyager 1 exited the solar system, it captured an image of Earth with its camera directed away from the planet. The renowned scientist Carl Sagan reflected on this distant view of Earth, which appeared as a nearly imperceptible dot, stating that it was home to "heroes and cowards, creators and destroyers of civilizations, kings and peasants, couples in love, mothers and fathers, hopeful children, corrupt politicians, superstars, great leaders, saints and sinners," all residing on this minuscule fragment of the cosmos.

From a broader perspective, life can be perceived as a mere trivial occurrence, lacking even the elements of comedy. At this moment, that tiny speck of existence continues its journey through the vastness of space.

Acceptance of Cover Songs in Early Popular Song History

The first commercial album in Korea debuted in 1907, marking a significant moment before the emergence of popular song albums, during which early popular music primarily consisted of Japanese or Western adaptations. The song <Hymn of Death> serves as an example of this trend, being a cover that incorporates lyrics into a segment of Ivanovich's <Ripples of the Danube>. While it is believed that either Yun Sim-deok or Kim Woo-jin penned the lyrics, the absence of their names on the text complicates definitive attribution.

Praise of Death / Front cover of the Resurrection Flag Boom album, owned by Shinnara Records.

Composed around 1880, <Ripples on the Danube> has seen widespread release across various countries. In Japan, it was introduced as <Donaugawa no Sazanami>, featuring lyrics by Teiichi Tamura. However, the song's portrayal of picturesque river landscapes contrasts sharply with the sombre themes present in <Ode to Death>. It is important to note that Yun Sim-deok's <Hymn of Death> is also referred to as Praise and Ode, alluding to the same piece.

The love affair between Yun Sim-deok and Kim Woo-jin

This song gained notoriety due to Yun Sim-deok, who recorded "Hymn of Death" in Japan, tragically taking her life by jumping into the sea with her lover, playwright Kim Woo-jin, while returning to Korea. A soprano and graduate of the Tokyo Music School, Yun Sim-deok was emblematic of the active new woman of her time; however, it is widely believed that she and her partner succumbed to despair over their relationship, particularly given the complexities surrounding her love for a married man.

The relationship between Yun Sim-deok (윤심덕) and Kim Woo-jin (김우진) sparked numerous speculations and rumours, persisting until the 1930s. These included theories suggesting that her death was not a suicide but rather a murder, or even that she had survived and was living in Italy. Such narratives illustrate the significant social impact and public intrigue surrounding their affair.

An opportunity to prove the potential of the phonograph record market

Ildong Gramophone Company, established in Osaka, Japan in 1920, commenced the distribution of Korean records in September 1925, producing approximately 180 records from 1925 to 1928. Notably, the track “Praise of Death” is distinguished by its unique catalogue number 2249, setting it apart from other recordings by Yun Sim-deok.

Sa-ui-chan-mi / Resurrection's flag boom album back cover, owned by Shinnara Records.

The cataloguing adheres to the Japanese numbering system utilized by Ildong Gramophone Co., Ltd. The lyrics, which reference “a song of determination,” suggest that this system was employed during the expedited production of the album following Yun Sim-deok’s passing. The album label was inscribed in Japanese as “Shinosanbi (死の讚美).” This album gained significant popularity upon its release and was reissued multiple times, with one instance mistakenly listing the artist as Lee Sim-deok (伊心德) instead of Yun Sim-deok (윤심덕). The media coverage surrounding Yun Sim-deok's personal life further amplified the album's appeal, highlighting the burgeoning potential of the phonograph record market.

‘Praise of Death’ revived through film and song

The 1932 recording of "Praise of Death" by Kim Seon-cho is believed to bear similarities to Yun Sim-deok's original song, although the authenticity of the sound source remains unverified. Prior to Korea's liberation, it is challenging to locate any cover versions of "Praise of Death," likely due to the original's profound impact. Following liberation, notable artists such as Kim Jeong-ho, Lee Mi-ja, Na Yun-seon, and Han Yeong-ae performed renditions of the song.

The original, it's full of goosebumps.

The romantic narrative of Yun Sim-deok has also been adapted into film, with significant examples including "Yun Sim-deok," directed by Ahn Hyun-chul and featuring Shin Sung-il and Moon Hee, released in 1969, and "Hymn of Death," directed by Kim Ho-sun and starring Jang Mi-hee and Lim Sung-min, released in 1991. Notably, "Hymn of Death" achieved considerable commercial success, ranking third in the Korean box office in 1991. Additionally, Shinnara Records reissued the phonograph record of "Ode to Death" as part of a restoration series in 1990, with a rare copy fetching over 50 million won at a Yahoo Japan auction in 2015, marking it as the most expensive Korean pop album.

Faust Noel / Blue Galnilly - Yun Sim-deok (파우스트노엘 / 푸른갈닐리 – 윤심덕)

The album "Faustnoel/Blue Galilee" by Yun Sim-deok, published by Ildong Gramophone Co., Ltd. under the "Jevipyo Records" label, features the inaugural carol song in Korea. According to existing music documentation, the tracks on this album are unequivocally recognized as the earliest carol songs in the country, serving as significant evidence of the historical development of Korean carol music.

Korea's first Christmas song album

Ildong Gramophone Company launched two albums featuring Yun Sim-deok's carol songs in October 1926, titled "Faustnoel/Blue Galilee" and "Santa Cruz/Santa Lucia" (album number B-101). Notably, "Faustnoel/Galilee" represents the inaugural phonograph album of carol songs in Korea. According to the Maeil Shinbo on October 18, 1926, these tracks are recognized as the earliest recorded carol songs; however, during that period, the concept of carol songs was not established, leading to their classification as hymns. The first hymn album in Korea was released a year earlier, in October 1925, by vocalist Ahn Ki-young.

‘Faustnoel’ mistaken for a hymn

The authenticity of the phonograph record featuring the inaugural carol song remains unverified, leading to widespread speculation. While <Santa Cruz> was acknowledged as the first carol song based on its title, <Faustnoel>, which bore an earlier catalog number, was presumed to be a hymn, alongside <Blue Galilee> on the reverse side.

The revelation by Lee Kyung-ho, the album's owner, that 'Faust' represents a 1920s Japanese pronunciation of 'First' clarified that <Faust Noel> is indeed a well-known Christmas carol, even among non-Christians. This piece is a rendition of <First Noel>, celebrated for its narrative of the three wise men visiting the birthplace of Jesus. The Japanese recording of <Faustnoel> features Yun Sim-deok's younger brother, Yun Seong-deok, providing piano accompaniment, while Yun Sim-deok (윤심덕) delivers the Korean-translated lyrics with her distinguished vocal artistry. The album gained significant attention during its appraisal on KBS 1 TV's "Real Masterpiece" on December 27, 2015, where it was valued at 10 million won.

Faust Noel / Blue Galnilly Album Back

History of Early Korean Carol Songs

Korean carol songs have evolved alongside the introduction of Christianity, which began to take root at the close of the Joseon Dynasty. During the Japanese colonial era, these songs were primarily performed in churches, with the earliest recorded carol attributed to Yun Sim-deok (윤심덕) in 1926. Following her, Yohan continued the tradition by releasing a carol song album in December 1934.

In August 1935, composer Hyun Je-myeong contributed to the genre by releasing "Silent Night, Holy Night" through Columbia Records. This was followed in 1941 by a collaborative effort from classical musicians Hyun Je-myeong, Kim Hyeon-jun, Kim Ja-gyeong, and Kim Su-jeong, who recorded "First Christmas" and "Silent Night, Holy Night" as a mixed quartet for Victor Records, thereby establishing a foundation for the genre's wider acceptance.

The enjoyment of Christmas songs among the general populace surged after Korea's liberation, particularly with the influence of American pop singers like Bing Crosby, who were introduced by stationed U.S. soldiers. In the 1950s, notable songwriters such as Han Bok-nam, Jeon Oh-seung, and Ha Gi-song began to create original Christmas songs, incorporating elements of trot music, which was the dominant genre of the time.

The Rise and Fall of Comic Carols

In 1966, the widespread embrace of Christmas carols in Korea commenced with the release of "Jingle Bell" by comedian Seo Young-chun and the female duet Gapsun Eulsun, marking the inception of comic Christmas carols in the country. This development led to a vibrant atmosphere during the year-end festivities, as numerous Christmas carols filled the streets, particularly flourishing until the 1990s. The peak of Christmas song popularity occurred in the 1980s, characterized by the remarkable success of holiday tracks by well-known comedians like Shim Hyung-rae. During this era, Christmas albums from prominent comedians and singers achieved significant commercial success, establishing Christmas music as a distinct genre. These albums were often viewed as lucrative ventures, selling tens of thousands of copies with minimal promotion due to their seasonal nature and lack of copyright fees. However, the rise of the digital age and a downturn in the music industry have led to a dramatic decline in Christmas album releases, making them noteworthy events in contemporary times.

Yun Sim-deok's Song of Determination

The publication titled "The Life of a Musician" encompasses the lyrics of "Ode to Death," which was released by Ichiban Record Co., Ltd. in Japan shortly after the passing of Yun Sim-deok (윤심덕), and is characterized as a 'death song.'

‘Praise of Death’ Covers

Some of the more famous covers of "Hymn of Death" are:

S.E.S. Bada - Immortal Songs

Musical actor Min Woohyuk

Other Media

Summary

A century-old love story continues to resonate in contemporary K-dramas, illustrating the profound "scandal" it represented in 1926 and its enduring impact. The true circumstances surrounding the relationship between Yun and Kim remain obscured by time, as the perspectives of family and friends have faded, leaving us with only fragmented narratives. While their actions may have been deemed inappropriate by some, others might view them as acceptable; nonetheless, the tragic conclusion of their story evokes deep sorrow, overshadowed by the scandal that defined their legacy. The causes of their deaths are intertwined with societal norms of the era, familial pressures, and pervasive rumours.

It is noteworthy that the true reason for Yun's death, in particular, may never be fully understood, as neither she nor Kim left behind a suicide note. (From the 2018 Krama Rendition) Kim Woo-jin was aware of their burgeoning feelings yet failed to inform Yun of his marital status or to deter her from taking such a drastic step. Yun's parents viewed her more as a financial asset than as their daughter, prioritizing the futures of her siblings over her well-being. Her siblings, too, placed greater trust in the words of outsiders than in their sister's character. Additionally, societal pressures and the origins of the rumours played significant roles in shaping their tragic fate. Ultimately, Yun's silence and her decision to end her life represent the most profound injustice she inflicted upon herself, rendering the circumstances of both their deaths a poignant tragedy.

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Samaritans Helpline Number - 116-123 Emergency number - 999

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Happy tsukimi (moon viewing) day! The word "Tsukimi" literally means "viewing the moon," but it has come to refer to the entire celebration related to the Harvest Moon in Japan. Kiku is taking part!

In Japan, dango (round glutinous rice cakes) and silver grass are displayed in homes during the Tsukimi celebration. The reason behind this custom comes from the festival celebrating the crops. The silver grass represents the rice grains and wishes for good crops for the year, and it is also said to ward away evil. The round rice cakes (dango) represent the full moon and have been used as an offering to pray for the good health of children and their descendants. Chestnuts and green soybeans are also common offerings for tsukimi. It’s also common to display some vegetables like cucumbers and eggplants using bamboo sticks to make them look like animals. Kiku is offering and displaying all of these customary items.

Most people in Japan enjoy a relaxing tsukimi celebration at home gazing up at the moon while sipping sake under the moonlight. Kiku apparently doesn't have any sake, so she's enjoying some traditional delicacies instead - rabbit-shaped mochi and moon cakes! Other common meals during this celebration feature raw eggs which represent the full moon.

In Japan, it is said that there are rabbits on the moon. The belief has derived from the shapes of the craters on the moon which are said to look like rabbits. Therefore, many songs about the tsukimi commonly feature rabbits. Here in the U.S. and Western cultures, we see a “man in the moon.” For Japan, it’s the “rabbit in the moon.” Instead of a man’s face, you see a rabbit making mochi (rice cakes). There’s an old legend about the origination of the “moon rabbit,” including the belief that rabbits originally came from the moon. As a result, many promo and souvenir items involving tsukimi feature rabbits.

Happy mid-autumn festival, everyone!