Happy New Year, Happy Box

Best wishes from Park Sihoo-ssi

Caution: Long article and only in English as it was rather taxing to do the Chinese translation from lack of sleep. Apologies for any typo or grammatical error. No photography was allowed during the event, so you will not get anything taken of the event except where allowed. 

In Japan, the new year or “Shōgatsu 正月” is an important holiday that is seeped with family traditions. On 31 December, just before midnight, bells will ring 108 times (107 times before midnight and one time in the new year) at Buddhist temples in a ceremony called joyanokane 除夜の鐘. This is symbolic to cleanse every one of the 108 worldly sins committed in the past year.

A Japan tradition – Happy New Year Bag

As with any celebration, the New Year is a time for feasting of traditional delicacies and of gifts. One of the commercial “inventions” for the new year that dated back to the Japanese Meiji era is the Fukubukuro 福袋, “lucky bag” or “happy bag”. The word is made up of “fuku 福” which is “luck” and “fukuro 袋” meaning bag and cleverly created on the Japanese belief that “there is fortune in leftovers 残り物には福がある”. Retailers in Japan make these Fukubukuro “happy bags” filled with random leftover goods and sell them at substantial savings to attract customer traffic to their shops during the new year holiday. 

Youtube Video – Park Sihoo Japan Fan Meeting 2020: Happy New Year, Happy Box, 5 January 2020

Click on photo to watch video https://youtu.be/vTvEJAQTUaQ, Instagram by soulstyle 6259

Well, that was the long story behind why the afternoon session of Park Sihoo-ssi’s Japan Fan Meeting yesterday was called “Happy New Year Happy Box”, modified from the “bag”. It was our favourite actor’s way of wishing his Japanese fans a Happy New Year, with good fortune for 2020 and of course, to make them happy!

The Happy Box came with lots of gifts. The best of all was the news of our Oppa’s new drama. A historical period drama in the like of his award winning classic Joseon Romeo and Juliet “The Princess Man”.  Many among us have been hoping to see another classic with Park Sihoo-ssi looking so dashing in a traditional Korean hanbok. Now, it will be happening! Are you ready, ladies? Many thanks for making it a happy start to the new year, Park Sihoo-ssi! Our Oppa will start filming his new work in mid January 2020 which will go on air in April  2020. The filming is expected to take 7-8 months. Hard work which will occupy him and us for a long time. Woo Hoo!

Fantastic news of Park Sihoo-ssi’s new drama!

It was a freezing cold afternoon that greeted us yesterday at Park Sihoo-ssi’s Japan Fan Meeting. A good turnout of his fans who were there to give him their fullest support. Thank goodness our Oppa is almost recovered from the worst bout of flu to hit him in twenty years or so. He had it so bad he had to spend the last days of the past year nursing the flu in bed! Rest well and make sure you have a full recovery before the cameras start rolling in mid January, Park Sihoo-ssi! We want you to be at your very best right from the word “Go”!

Oh, on the subject of dramas, some fans had been speculating on the roles which Park Sihoo-ssi would take up and asked if he would choose to do a medical drama with him as a doctor. He replied that  he would consider but so far has not seen a doctor related script.

Stage of Park Sihoo-ssi’s Happy New Year, Happy Box event

Our Oppa came bursting onto the stage, literally, in a huge ball that inflated and then burst at centre stage. And out came our Oppa adorning a red and white striped sweater top, grey jeans and grey suede ankle boots.

He greeted us cheerfully and wished us a happy new year.  He was happy to have the opportunity to spend time with his fans so early in the new year and thanked us for our support in the last year and hope that we would continue to give him strong support going forward.

Then the male emcee who had also interviewed Park Sihoo-ssi on his movie “Confession of Murder” at the Mt. Fuji – Atami Film and VR Festival gave us a rundown of how the program would flow. Our Oppa gave us “gifts” from his New Year Happy Box randomly at the throw of a digital dice. According to the number on the digital dice, he would take a predefined route to walk around the audience. He would carry out his missions and the audience at the spot where he stopped could ask him questions.

Park Sihoo in Beverly Hills

Before he started, we were shown some photos of our Oppa after the filming of his drama “Babel”.  In summary, the photos showed him on a flight to the US of A where he spent about 6 months, went twice because of the restriction on the period he could stay on each trip under his visa. 

The Beverly Hills event he attended was at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel where the long ago hit movie “Pretty Woman”, starring Julia Roberts and Richard Gere, was shot. And the photo that had everyone guessing? At the gym or in a restaurant, maybe? Hey, it was shot in the toilet, next to the urinal! He thought it was nicely designed and took the shot! Kekeke! 😂

The photo that had us all guessing…it was a toilet shot!

So started the throw of the dice with our Oppa going round the audience, starting with an auspicious No 6! He walked six rows, saying “hello” to his Omoni (mother), whom he considered also a celebrity, in the audience. Her son gave Omoni Park the mike so that she could greet her fans.

At No 6, he shared his top 3 happy events. “Babel” for being filmed so smoothly from start to finish. His latest three dramas, “Lovely Horribly”, “My Golden Life” and “Babel” going on air in Japan. His first time doing a reality TV show “Amazing Journey with Pets 개밥주는남자 – 개묘한여행” which was a “healing” trip with his cats and dog.

Youtube Video – Park Sihoo “Mission”, Park Sihoo Japan Official Fan Club, 5 December 2019

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myBDGVU4SFM

Then he rolled No 3 where he was asked to sing as he walked three rows. Oppa started to sing “Season in the Sun”, a little off key but no one really cared as we were enjoying ourselves. And what irony too since we were in the winter cold! He shared his impressions of his cats and dog. Bonggu-ya, your Hyeong said you were so obedient back home in Buyeo but turned rebel in Canada! You made it a difficult experience for him and left a lasting impression of the rascal you in Canada! Naughty boy!

Now Jami, he considers a cool beauty. One with a character of her own and will only bother to respond to her dear old dad when he feeds her!  Dami is the exact opposite. She thinks she is a dog and likes to cuddle up with dad, giving him occasional massages of the stomach! Kekeke! 😄

Oppa shared his tales of his pet family

Next 5 steps, Oppa had no need to sing but he did, since he was already in the mood for “Season in the Sun”. He was asked what role and who he wanted to work with if he went to Hollywood. Maybe I should say “when” rather than “if”? More “auspicious” and confident that it would happen? Park Sihoo-ssi replied that he will be happy to work with anyone and will work hard to deliver good works. A cowboy role where he can shoot a gun or a dracula role will be interesting.

He was asked if he did any fortune telling (“omikuji” in Japanese where they go to the temples to get a reading of luck) since it was the new year and a tradition. He said he did some tarot card reading in Beverly Hills and had been told that 2020 year will be a good one for him.  Oh yeah! That will be great! We look forward to good fortune and more good works from our Oppa!

Then it was another 3 rows with his first mission: A French Kiss for his ladies! Our Oppa’s first attempt at a french kiss and a love sign was considered too mild, so he had to do it yet again…a deeper, bigger and louder one that left us all satisfied! Then he went on to do “high five” with those around him.

A happy new year with warm wishes from fans

A curious and envious lady asked him how he kept such nice hands and nails? Did he go for manicures? Our Oppa’s answer surprised us. Nope, no manicure, he simply cut his nails short, totally low maintenance. Such a lucky guy. The close up of his hands left me, and I bet so many among the audience feeling ashamed with our rough and badly kept hands! *Shy* Shy*

Four rows later, he continued to sing, enjoying himself. He had to do Mission 2 which was to hit the feather shuttlecock or 毽子with his assistant and they cannot drop it within ten hits. Ah, neither could keep it up, even when the number was dropped to five. Park Sihoo-ssi smacked the backside of his assistant when the shuttlecock got dropped at four and he had to hit his own backside twice for doing the same! Finally, they managed it …six actually! Now, when the “stick” is at work, “miracles” can be performed. Hahaha! 😂

Then it was six rows when he was asked what interested him then, his “flavour of the month”. He said he loved to travel, go camping, going to the onsen or hot spring and barbecues. He shared the plan to have a barbeque where he would grill beef for his fans outdoors. However, due to the weather, this ended up indoors and he didn’t get to grill the meat. He hoped to have another chance to do a barbecue so he could grill beef for his fans when the weather is good.

Weather permitting, our Oppa wants to do the grill for us in future too!

A lady asked him how she could nurture her kids to be as handsome as Park Sihoo-ssi. His response was that the mother being pretty, there should be no worry. When she shared that she has two sons, he responded that this was like him and his brother, and that her two boys will grow up well under the careful attention of their mother.

He did a tongue twister challenge which I had no idea what it was about, but he did well, no twisted tongue! He then shared his secret to good health and keeping in shape. Exercising regularly. Running will be good. He ate at Ginza the night before and then walked back to the hotel. He walked for two hours and even walked backwards! Cool, our Oppa!

Our Oppa will have good fortune this year

Two people were selected to act with Park Sihoo-ssi.  One with a scene of the lady falling down while climbing Mount Fuji. Park Sihoo-ssi had to piggyback her due to her injury. The other was where a lady helped an injured eagle who returned her helped when she was injured in an encounter with a bear. He wanted to help her by giving her a piggyback. However, the lady graciously declined his offer.

Our Oppa then became Hoo, the quack fortune teller, wearing his green cape and addressing the woes of two ladies. One loves to watch foreign and Korean dramas and finds Korean actors very good looking. Park Sihoo-ssi is among her favorite but she also likes Ji Sung and Lee Junki.  How can he help her to focus on him and not get distracted by the other two. Our fortune telling Oppa drew her the palm of his hand and signed his name. While he counted Ji Sung and Lee Junki as his friends, he also wrote at the side of his palm telling them to “get lost”! Hahaha! 😂

A new fan of his from “My Golden Life” loved the drama so much that she is glued watching it all the time. Nowadays, she stayed home to watch this drama, hardly going out to do the things she used to love. How can she break the habit? The light bulb flashed after Fortune Teller Oppa thought for a while. He blurted out “Smart Phone”! Then he took her phone and drew an outline of it, signed his name and wrote 나만다 (look at me) next to the phone. With the smart phone, she can watch his drama any time, even when she goes out, like camping, in the subway…but careful not to watch while walking!

Our Oppa wishes us great happiness

Lastly, Fortune Teller Hoo wrote “Happiness 행복” for everyone and we had the chance to take a one minute photo with him posing with his beautiful calligraphy piece. He had learnt calligraphy in Buyeo when he was young, at a school next to his home.

Then he sang his song “Kimiwo” before ending the day with his heartfelt letter.  Briefly, he thanked his fans and said he felt happy everyday because of the love and support he received from his fans. This gives him the positive energy and drive to continue to work hard. He also wants to make us happy everyday through solid actions, not just paying lip service. So soon, we will be seeing his new work as he gets down to filming!

Then our final gift from our Oppa’s New Year Happy Box? A high five with our favorite man! Happy New Year and all our best wishes for a great year ahead, Park Sihoo-ssi!

Credits – Many thanks! Park Sihoo Instagram and Twitter, Osen, Webdaily, QQ Group, Japan Today, Channel A “Amazing Journey with Pets”, KBS “The Princess Man”, Park Sihoo Japan Official Fan Club, Mentor, ParkSihooSsi.com, ParkSihooHongKong.com