A J-pop singer and Cantonese opera performer? Rika Woo out to be ‘bridge between cultures’

To some, Rika Woo is a J-pop singer. To others, she is a Cantonese opera performer. The Hong Kong artiste explains why she does both

Reading Time:3 minutes

Published: 5:15pm, 5 Mar 2025

To appeal to a younger audience, Rika Woo dons a white sleeveless top and a long white skirt embroidered with lace as she performs Japanese songs for fans in Hong Kong.

On a starkly different stage, Woo paints her face with bright theatrical make-up, wears striking costumes embroidered with flowers and headdresses adorned with pearls and lace veils, to perform Cantonese opera.

The 31-year-old entertainer is rare in Hong Kong for trying to appeal to audiences old and young as a cross-cultural artiste in both Cantonese opera and J-pop, 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.”

Rika Woo interacts with a fan after an Otome Syndream performance in Hong Kong. Photo: Reuters

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.