Hong Konger Rika Woo doubles as both a J-pop idol and a Cantonese opera performer, advancing popular culture on the one hand while keeping tradition alive with the other.
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00:00Both a J-pop idol and a Cantonese opera singer,
00:11Hongkonger Rika Wu lives something of a double life.
00:15I hope to become a bridge between the two cultures,
00:19so that people can appreciate the beauty of traditional culture
00:23and try to get in touch with pop culture.
00:26Wu is part of a J-pop group,
00:29which formed in 2017 and performs in Hong Kong.
00:36Often, upbeat pop music that attracts younger fans.
00:40At the same time, she can transform into a much more traditional kind of artist.
01:10I can sing, dance, act, and do martial arts.
01:15These are all things that I want to learn.
01:21Cantonese opera dates back centuries,
01:23some say to China's Song Dynasty,
01:26influenced by many different styles of Chinese opera.
01:29Actors apply elaborate makeup
01:31to help audience members read their expressions,
01:33performing stories often set in historical times.
01:40The art form soared to popularity in Hong Kong,
01:43where Cantonese is spoken in the 1950s and 60s.
01:46But since then, it's been in decline.
01:48Still, Wu decided to pursue it,
01:51inspired by her grandfather, who worked on opera sets.
02:11Now, she's introducing her younger fans to the art form,
02:14helping to keep it alive,
02:16with many following along on her journey.
02:33Embracing both modern music and ancient art forms,
02:36Wu is straddling two worlds β
02:38advancing pop culture while keeping tradition alive.
02:42Fu Hua Hong and Keans Karante for Taiwan Plus.