Why Japan's No. 1 Band Member Is Learning Korean on Live TV

Wakai Hiroto, guitarist of Mrs. GREEN APPLE — currently Japan’s most-streamed rock band in history — has revealed that he has been secretly studying Korean for the past five years. The musician will now share his passion for the language on national television as a student on NHK’s Korean-language program Hangeul! Nabi, marking a significant moment in the growing cultural exchange between Japan and South Korea.

Five Years of Quiet Dedication

At a press event held in Tokyo on March 5 for NHK’s 2026 language programming lineup, Wakai surprised reporters by revealing the depth of his commitment to learning Korean. He described his current level as being able to handle basic daily conversation, but emphasized that his journey with the language had fundamentally changed his perspective.

The guitarist shared that the more he studied, the more he discovered the unique charm of Hangul, Korea’s writing system. He expressed his hope to convey that charm to as many people as possible through the program, explaining what motivated him to take on the role of a student learner on the show.

A Dream to Visit Korea Solo

Perhaps the most exciting revelation for Korean fans came when Wakai shared his personal goal for the program. He admitted that he has never visited South Korea on his own and expressed a strong desire to travel there independently, connecting with diverse people through the language he has been studying for half a decade. The comment immediately sparked excitement among the band’s growing Korean fanbase.

Mrs. GREEN APPLE has established itself as one of the most dominant forces in Japanese music over the past decade. The band, which made its major label debut in 2015, became the first Japanese act to surpass 10 billion domestic streams. With over 30 songs individually crossing the 100-million-stream mark, the trio of vocalist Omori Motoki, guitarist Wakai Hiroto, and keyboardist Fujisawa Ryoka has achieved a level of commercial success rarely seen in the Japanese music industry.

Building Bridges Through Music and Language

The band’s connection to South Korea runs deeper than just one member’s language studies. In February 2025, Mrs. GREEN APPLE held their first-ever solo concert in Korea at Korea University’s Hwajeong Gymnasium, celebrating the band’s 10th anniversary with Korean fans. The event was a resounding success, with Korean fans famously preparing to sing along to over 50 of the band’s songs in Japanese — a testament to the deep bond between the artists and their international audience.

The concert was followed by a special pop-up store featuring merchandise designed with Korean cultural motifs, including items incorporating traditional dancheong patterns and Hangul typography. The thoughtful cultural nod delighted fans and underscored the band’s genuine appreciation for Korean culture.

Wakai’s decision to publicly study Korean on television represents a broader trend of Japanese artists embracing Korean language and culture. As the K-wave continues to influence entertainment across Asia, moments like these highlight how cultural exchange flows in both directions — with Korean culture inspiring some of Japan’s biggest stars to bridge the linguistic gap between the two nations.

NHK’s Hangeul! Nabi is set to begin its 2026 season with Wakai as one of its featured learners, bringing Mrs. GREEN APPLE’s massive fanbase along for a unique cross-cultural journey.