Rika Woo juggles life as Cantonese opera and J-Pop artiste
Appealing to a younger audience, Rika Woo dons a white J-pop-style sleeveless top and a long white skirt embroidered with lace as she performs Japanese songs for an energetic group of fans in Hong Kong. On a starkly different stage, Woo paints her face with bright theatrical make-up, wears striking, colourful costumes embroidered with purple flowers and head-dresses adorned with pearls and lace veils, to perform Cantonese opera. The 31-year-old local entertainer is rare in Hong Kong for trying to appeal to audiences — old and young — as a cross cultural artiste in both the centuries-old art form of Cantonese opera and the modern music phenomenon of J-pop, in which she performs with her all-girl group Otome Syndream. 'I want to be the bridge between both cultures' said Woo. 'I hope people can appreciate the beauty of tradition and be open to pop culture.'
Both are struggling to draw crowds in Hong Kong amid an economic downturn and competition from overseas events. Although there are up to 1,000 Cantonese opera performances in Hong Kong each year, the art form has been on a steady decline since its golden era in the 1950s and 60s.
The city's iconic Cantonese opera house, Sunbeam Theatre — open since 1972 — closes in March. For artistes, the cost of performing is high because the elaborate costumes can set them back several thousand dollars, so often outfits are borrowed. Waiting at the exit of Sunbeam Theatre, dozens of Woo's fans flocked to take pictures with her during a performance interval. 'Although they might not fall in love with Cantonese opera because of my performance, at least they are not resistant to it now,' Woo said, referring to signs of interest from younger people.
While Cantonese opera has deep roots in Chinese culture, the underground J-pop scene only emerged in the city in 2015. For opera, Woo was influenced by her grandfather who worked on lighting for Cantonese operas. She now also teaches Cantonese opera in schools. In 2015, she studied Cantonese opera at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts and joined a competition organised by a J-pop entertainment company in 2015.
'It was the stage that gave me this confidence and also made me look forward to the future,' Woo said. She was asked to join the city's first J-pop group in 2015, although it broke up after five years. Woo and three others — whose stage names are Ai, Rinka and Maho — established their underground J-pop-style idol group in Hong Kong in 2017 and officially debuted in Japan in 2019. Their performances were upended by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, when they swapped live shows for online streaming.
Woo and her group finally grabbed the public eye in 2021 after performing at two local music festivals — Tone Music Festival and Unison Fest.
'It's the first time we were invited to 'above-ground' events. Surprisingly, Hong Kongers started to accept this underground Japanese idol culture,' Woo said.
This year marks the 10th anniversary of Woo becoming a J-pop entertainer. 'I had many difficult times and there were times that I wanted to give up,' she told fans at an anniversary event.
But she has the support of her mother, Emma Cheung, 64, who said her daughter's ambitions reflected generational change.
'Time has changed. People now don't want to date, to get married, or to buy a flat,' she said. 'Our generation is more traditional, but I won't give any pressure to her, as long as she is happy.' Woo is chasing her dream.
'There's no age limit in chasing a dream. Today is always the youngest day of our life,' she said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Khaleej Times
3 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
Why do men love to wear black ? Dubai-based fashion influencer on why it's time to choose patterns
Unapologetic. Unbridled. Uncensored. A thought spun into reality using the threads of dreams. That is fashion. You don't need to be practical to be fashionable, but you do need to know (and embrace) yourself. To face your biases and come out the other side, having broken those barriers in the name of style and self-representation. For 45-year-old radio jockey Lokesh Dharmani, the evolution of expression came naturally. 'One of my fondest memories of childhood is of a birthday party of a friend. I must have been like six or seven at that point in time. Everyone was wearing different kinds of clothes. I was wearing a sweater, jeans and all that. And I was also wearing my school belt over the sweater. That was unusual. I think I either saw [Bollywood actors] Govinda or Mithun Chakraborty sport that kind of style and even at that age, I wanted to replicate it,' he recalls, adding that what happened next cemented his desire for experimentation. 'My parents were so chill. They didn't say anything - and I think because my parents never stopped me from expressing myself when it came to fashion, it just like kind of blossomed,' he adds. Today, not only does he sport his own designs, but also has a brand called fbylokesh that's displayed on the racks of NV Couture by Naisha Vasandani in Dubai's Meena Bazaar. The result isn't some tame idea of playfulness but a sharp take on energetic expression that can – like art – bloom into pattern or transmutate into colours and silhouettes that draw the eye. It's also a revolt against the anchor of chauvinism that has typically grounded men's fashion. 'We live in a world where men are giving a unidimensional definition of masculinity, and trapping young boys into submitting to a very unidimensional idea of fashion or of being a man. If you are a man…you have to wear blacks and beiges. If you wear any colour, you're like a woman. And that's 'bad',' he says. As he questions the underlying misogyny that layers these restrictive ideals, he calls for more icons in the spotlight to light the way. Admitting that there are idols who spark conversations – 'Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh is a shining example in our pop culture who pushes men to experiment and try different colours and different things' – he stresses that there's lots more work to be done. 'I remember 12 years ago, when I wore red pants to the office,' he says. 'When I entered the office, everyone kind of turned heads and made a comment. Then there's this friend of mine who he looked at me and said, 'this is so ostentatious, only you can put it off…it takes a lot of guts.' Months later, when he saw his friend walking around in red trousers, it made him realise the only way to see change was to claim it himself. The times are a-changing no doubt; remember Harry Styles' dress wearing stage or when Zayn Malik and Gigi Hadid swapped outfits for a Vogue shoot? While there are outliers even in fashion, the arena of the exceptional, Dharmani calls for more examples normalising colour, pattern, and basically, dressing up. Currently, two lines of thought coexist, he explains – there are those who experiment and those who shut down any idea of dabbling because they're so bothered about their idea of masculinity. As someone firmly from the former camp, Dharmani, whose Instagram handle is @lokeshdharmani, calls for flexibility, even when it comes to closet staples. 'When it comes to accessories, it completely depends on what you're wearing. So, for example, if I'm wearing, loose white pants, then then a thin-soled shoe will not really work. I need to have a thick-soled shoes because otherwise the pants won't fall well. There's no, there's no hard and fast rule as such. 'I recently got majorly into rings. I keep experimenting with different kinds of rings, oxidised, some different faces and figures. I like bracelets. I also like to have bracelets that speak to my personality. I also love brooches,' he says, offering up mediums of individual expression. The golden rule is to pay attention to 'what's trending, what's fashionable, what's in' while bearing in mind the occasion and then cross checking the vibe against your own. There will, of course, be nay-sayers. But, says Dharmani, 'I've thought about it so many times… my love for colours, my love for clothes, my love for fashion, or any kind of aesthetics, it supersedes any kind of judgement. Secondly, there has been a lot of judgement around the way I dress up and all that, but it has never been in my face. I don't think so anyone has ever dared cross the line with me, because I'm a very no-nonsense person. On the contrary, people have always come to me and said, 'you really inspire us to experiment'. And the last thing, is I think a big shout out has to go to my family. They understood that I had a certain sense of expression, and they never told me it was 'wrong' to express myself.' They allowed him to dream; to spin outfits based on those splashes of inspiration, to mood board his favourite hues. The result: an aesthetic that supersedes conformity and gives rise to the new Dubai dude: Fashion-forward and fierce.
TECHx
3 hours ago
- TECHx
Honor of Kings Announces Major Plus Update Launch
Home » Emerging technologies » Gaming » Honor of Kings Announces Major Plus Update Launch Honor of Kings, the world's most played MOBA, has announced the launch of its biggest version update yet, transforming the title into Honor of Kings Plus . The update goes live on June 24 and brings a wave of free improvements and new content inspired by player feedback. Game Producer Dean Huang revealed that the development team focused heavily on community input. The result is a refined and enriched experience with features designed to enhance gameplay and recognition. A standout feature is Flowborn , an in-game avatar offering unprecedented customization. Unlike regular heroes, Flowborn reflects the player on the battlefield. Players can choose appearance, skin tone, outfits, and unlock more options. They can also create and share 2D posters using backgrounds, stickers, and nameplates. Combat enhancements include: Adaptive weapon and skill system effective across lanes Buff selection during matches Rollout of Flowborn roles starting with Marksman on June 24, followed by Tank and Mage in July The Honor of Kings Plus update also introduces a new performance-based recognition system. Players will earn Stars based on personal achievements, even when losing. 'Highlight Moments' such as taking down a tower solo or carrying the team will offer higher ratings and more rewards. The game now features real-time voice-to-text transcription and translation. Initially, it supports Chinese, English, Indonesian, and Malay. This is expected to improve communication between team members and new players alike. Battlefield mechanics have been updated. Key changes include: Four mid lane minions for better balance Removal of the Central River Sprite Adjustments to River and Space Sprites Red Falcon rebalancing Reduced attributes of super minions Permanent availability of Teleport Summoner Skill Honor Pass has been reworked following community feedback. A streamlined mission system now offers rewards for completing campaigns, missions, and achieving Highlight Moments. Players updating the game will receive a free Elite Pass for the first month. The new pass is themed around KWC and includes two skins: Nuwa-Syzygy Moonlight and Alessio EWC. In addition, a limited-time event called Want It, Get It! offers a free 1688-Token skin voucher. Players can complete tasks from June 19 and redeem the voucher after updating the game on June 24. From June 28–30, the voucher can be used on any eligible skin released before January 1, 2025. Also, from June 28–30, all in-game skins launched before June 24 will be free to use. This includes limited and legendary skins. Honor of Kings Plus is set to redefine the mobile MOBA experience with this ambitious global update.
What's On
4 hours ago
- What's On
5 of the best restaurants in Dubai this week: June 23 to 26
Summer in Dubai means moving indoors, and while the city is quieter in summer, the food scene isn't. From midweek pop-ups and seasonal menus to new openings and chef collabs, there's plenty to explore if you're in the mood for something new. Here are five of the best restaurants in Dubai making it worth heading out this week. Armani/Hashi Armani/Hashi, the Michelin-selected Japanese fine-dining restaurant at Armani Hotel Dubai, Burj Khalifa, is offering a six-course summer set menu. Curated by Head Chef Kyungmin Park, the menu features a contemporary take on Japanese city-to-coast cuisine. Highlights include Grilled or Spicy Edamam e, Corn Crab Salad , signature sushi and sashimi, Wasabi Prawn or Octopus Tempura , and main choices of Spicy Beef or Miso Black Cod . Dessert options are Mochi Ice Cream or Miso Chocolate . Location: Ground Floor, Armani Hotel Dubai, Burj Khalifa Offer: Six-course set menu, Dhs650 Times: Daily, 6.30pm to 11.30om, until July 31 Contact: (0)4 888 3010. @armanihashi TATEL Noche TATEL is back at TATEL Dubai every Thursday with live music, flamenco dancers, and authentic Spanish vibes. Expect vibrant performances from Keko Fontana and Fernando Gutiérrez on guitar, alongside a menu featuring highlights like red tuna tartare with fried egg, seafood bisque rice, and TATEL's famous cheesecake. The atmosphere mixes deep reds, groovy rhythms, and expertly crafted cocktails for a night that captures the heart of Spain in Downtown Dubai. Location: TATEL, Hotel Boulevard, Autograph Collection, Downtown Dubai Offer: À la carte Spanish menu and live entertainment Times: Every Thursday, from 8.30pm till late Contact: (0)4 215 2121. @ Fi'lia Fi'lia, the region's first female-led Michelin-select restaurant at SLS Dubai, launches its Candlelight Wine-Paired Dinner Series this summer. On three exclusive evenings – June 25, July 30, and August 27 – you can enjoy a five-course Italian menu paired with wines, all set against stunning skyline views on the 70th floor. The menu includes dishes like Tartare di Tonno Rosso with Oscietra caviar , Spaghetti al Caccio Peppe e Pistachio , and Saltimbocca alla Romana . The evening ends with Millefoglie , a layered vanilla cream and apricot dessert. The intimate setting is enhanced by candlelit tables and curated by Head Chef Célia Stoecklin . Location: 70th Floor, Fi'lia, SLS Dubai, Business Bay Offer: Dhs499 per person for five courses (wine pairings available on request) Times: 7pm to 10pm on June 25, July 30, August 27 Contact: (0)56 508 0655. @filiadubai LOONA RUSSA LOONA RUSSA is offering a set menu that puts a twist on modern Italian cuisine using the finest Russian ingredients. Created by chefs Artem Losev and Vitaly Istomin, the menu features Eastern scallops, black caviar, Wagyu fried dumplings, and crab with earthy morels. Standouts include the signature caviar pizza with chorizo and buffalo mozzarella, and tender beef ribs with silky shallot purée – precision and style with a touch of luxury. Location: Vida Downtown Residences, Dubai Offer: Set menu showcasing Russian-inspired Italian dishes Times: Daily from 3pm to 9pm Contact: (0)5 885 02200. @ The Guild The Guild is Dubai's grand brasserie and MICHELIN Guide's 'Opening of the Year 2024' and they are offering a Business Lunch made for those who want more than just a quick bite. The menu features one refined starter and one crafted main, blending comfort with culinary precision. Highlights include Wagyu Beef Carpaccio , Burrata Tartine , and the option to add Seared Hokkaido Scallops or Confit Duck Leg for a supplement. For a quicker option, the Express Lunch pairs a main with the soup of the week. House wine and creative non-alcoholic drinks round out the midday experience, with desserts available separately. Location: Icd Brookfield Place, Trade Centre, DIFC Offer: Business Lunch (starter + main) Dhs119; Express Lunch (main + soup) Dhs99; Dessert Dhs45; Drinks from Dhs49 Times: Monday to Friday, 12pm to 4pm Contact: (0)4 321 9142. @theguilddubai Images: Supplied > Sign up for FREE to get exclusive updates that you are interested in
