Singaporean family marks National Day in Japan with harmonica anthem and flag march
Ethel Tseng
TNP
August 12, 2025
A Singaporean family vacationing in Japan marked National Day in an unusual fashion, becoming an internet sensation in the process.
Two videos, one of a man playing the national anthem on a harmonica and another of his son and nephew marching with Singapore flags, have gone viral, garnering hundreds of thousands of views online.
Harmonica performance gains traction
The first video, a 24-second TikTok clip titled "How to spot a Singaporean in Japan", was posted on Aug 10.
It shows senior criminal lawyer Wong Li Qing (transliterated), 56, playing the national anthem on a harmonica near a traditional Japanese building.
The performance was filmed by his wife, 55-year-old Lee Hui Yi (transliterated), who was clad in red and white.
Local TikTok influencer Ahguaman uploaded the clip, which gained over 234,600 views and more than 31,600 likes in a day.
Mr Wong told Shin Min Daily News that he was in Fukuoka for a five-day trip with 13 other family members, including his son Wong Yong Heng (transliterated), 25, and nephew Ang Zu Wei (transliterated), 27.
Makeshift marching in second video
The second video, showing Mr Ang and his cousin marching with umbrellas and small Singapore flags, also went viral, garnering over 240,700 views and 25,700 likes.
Mr Wong recalled his surprise at the video's popularity, saying that his nephew posted both videos on his TikTok account. Mr Ang and Wong Yong Heng had deliberately brought small Singapore flags to Japan to film themselves marching.
The video of his uncle playing the harmonica was an impromptu moment he decided to upload, said Mr Ang, and he was thrilled by the positive response.
The younger Wong, a university student and military trainee, said the marching was not difficult for him, as he is set to join the Singapore Armed Forces as an ME4 upon graduation.
