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Russian teens ‘into Asia’ dance to K-pop, watch anime as culture boom gains ‘momentum’
- Sanctions have made it harder to access Western films and music, so younger Russians are turning to South Korea, and Japan for entertainment
- More than 1,000 cosplayers dressed in purple wigs and traditional kimonos and brandishing fake swords turned up at a festival last November in Moscow
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A few years ago, Karina Marakshina had to explain what K-pop was when asked to describe the musical style of her Moscow dance studio. Now she says she hears it blasting out from nearly every mall where she shops.
Russia shares a lengthy border with China and has long fostered cultural ties with East Asia. But as sanctions have made it harder to access Western cultural products such as films and music, younger Russians in particular are turning to countries like South Korea, Japan and China for entertainment.
Russian fans no longer have to travel to Japan to attend an anime festival.
More than 1,000 cosplayers dressed in purple wigs and traditional kimonos and brandishing fake swords turned up at a festival last November in Moscow, roaming the stalls of local vendors to purchase trinkets from their favourite Japanese animations.
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Marakshina’s K-pop dance school, GSS Studio, started in 2016 with only two groups practising in halls rented by the hour.
It now has thousands of students practising in three big studios in Moscow, and more in other cities.
All the teenagers I talk to are into Asia. K-pop is everywhere now, and it’s only gaining momentum.
GSS also hosts large-scale events such as an annual student concert and a dance “battle” with prizes for winners, and even organises tours to South Korea for the biggest K-pop enthusiasts.
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