Korea's Big Bang receives best newcomer award in Japan

SEOUL, Dec. 21 (Yonhap) -- South Korean pop group Big Bang became the first foreign band to be named the best newcomer by the Japan Yusen Awards, organizers of the event said Monday.

The all-male band received the award with their third single "Let Me Hear Your
Voice," which made an immediate hit in Japan after its release last month,
according to the Web site of the 42nd Nihon Yusen Taisho (Japan Yusen Awards).
"We are shocked and happy. We frankly did not expect to win this award," Taeyang,
a member of the band, said during the award ceremony, held in Tokyo on Sunday.
The grand prize went to Japanese enka singer Kiyoshi Hikawa.
Big Bang is currently ranked No. 5 among groups showing the most prominence this
year by Japan's TBS music ranking program, "Countdown TV."
hayney@yna.co.kr
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