Melody Similarities with "Where the Wind Blows"
Calls for Understanding Instead of Apology... Growing Criticism
The Japanese indie band Super Tozanbu has recently come under suspicion after releasing a new song that is alleged to resemble one of the signature tracks by the late Kim Kwangseok. While the band has denied any intentional copying, stating that they were unaware of the original song during production, criticism from fans both in Korea and abroad continues to mount.
According to the music industry on September 20, Super Tozanbu released their new song "Sanbo" on September 10. Band member Tomoyuki Oda participated in writing and composing the track. After its release, some Korean music fans pointed out that the opening melody of the song is highly similar to Kim Kwangseok’s 1994 release "Where the Wind Blows."
In fact, analyses have shown that the first four bars of the new song closely resemble Kim Kwangseok’s original. Videos comparing the two tracks and listener reviews quickly spread on YouTube and other platforms. The controversy has also reached Japan, as some Japanese fans have raised questions about the similarities.
As the controversy grew, Super Tozanbu issued a lengthy statement through their official YouTube channel. They said, "After seeing your comments, we listened to the late Kim Kwangseok’s 'Where the Wind Blows' for the first time," and admitted, "We also felt that some parts of the melody are surprisingly similar." However, they clarified, "At the time of production, we had no knowledge of the song and composed it while imagining the image of walking in the mountains," drawing a clear line that there was no intentional copying.
The band added that through this controversy, they became aware of a great Korean song, saying, "We once again realized that music has the power to connect people across borders." They also expressed hope that "fans in both Korea and Japan will view this song with warmth." However, they did not mention any apology regarding the possibility of plagiarism or plans for future action.
Korean fans have responded coldly. Comments on the post containing the statement include, "It’s not music that crossed borders, it’s plagiarism," "It’s absurd to ask for warm acceptance after plagiarizing," and "Do you have a conscience?" reflecting ongoing criticism.
"Where the Wind Blows" was included in the last studio album released by the late Kim Kwangseok during his lifetime and has been beloved for its unique lyricism and melody. More recently, it gained renewed attention as part of the soundtrack for the Disney+ original drama "Lighting Shop."
Kim Kwangseok left behind numerous iconic songs such as "Letter from a Private," "Around Thirty," and "Though I Loved," before his life was cut short at age 31 in 1996. His music continues to be remade across generations, maintaining its influence to this day.
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