Girl group NewJeans appeared at the Tokyo Dome in Japan on June 27, performing their 2022 debut song “Attention.” As the five members took the stage for their fan meeting, about 50,000 fans erupted in cheers, reminiscent of balloons bursting all at once. NewJeans achieved the fastest debut at Tokyo Dome in K-pop history, standing on this iconic stage just one year and 11 months after their debut.
Over two days, NewJeans drew a total of 90,000 fans to Tokyo Dome, a venue that even Japan’s top stars find challenging to conquer. It is considered a symbolic stage of growth for Japanese stars, achieved after performing in halls (under 1,000 to 10,000 seats) and arenas (10,000 to 30,000 seats). In Korea, singer Rain became the first K-pop act to perform at Tokyo Dome in May 2007, and since then, with the Hallyu wave, K-pop stars’ records of performing at Tokyo Dome have consistently shortened. NewJeans made their debut in Japan and entered Tokyo Dome just five days after the release of their Japanese debut album “Supernatural,” achieving this milestone one year and eleven months after their debut. Local media outlets such as Sports Nippon and Sankei Sports prominently covered this news with a “NewJeans special edition,” featuring the members’ photos on the front page.
It was a journey filled with challenges. Since mid-April, the group has been embroiled in controversies surrounding conflicts between their agency ADOR’s CEO, Min Hee-jin, and their parent company HYBE. Just before the performance, member Hye-in suffered an ankle injury, and a collaboration with the game Battlegrounds sparked controversy over allegations of harassment.
For two hours and 30 minutes from 7 p.m., they performed 16 hits, including “Ditto,” “Hype Boy,” and “OMG,” accompanied by a live band. Tokyo Dome was illuminated with bunny-shaped light sticks, symbolizing their fan club, Bunnies.
The highlight of the concert was the members’ solo performances, featuring self-composed songs and covers of Japanese hits. Hanni’s rendition of Seiko Matsuda’s 1980s classic “Aoi Sangoshou” had the entire audience chanting along, garnering the loudest applause of the night. Social media buzzed with praise, noting how the current sensation brought legendary Showa-era songs to life.
The music industry attributes NewJeans’ swift entry into Tokyo Dome to “songs that enhanced their popularity, broadening the scope of Hallyu fans.” In Japan, middle-aged male fans, or “NewJeans Ojisan,” have become a phenomenon. Producer Motohiko Tokuriki commented, “The English-like sound of NewJeans’ music attracted Japanese men who previously did not listen to K-pop.”
NewJeans play a central role in the “fourth Korean Wave,” characterized by the enthusiastic consumption of K-pop merchandise by Japanese youth. TV Asahi’s “Music Station” highlighted NewJeans’ influence on the Y2K fashion trend among young Japanese. Their Shibuya Line Friends Square pop-up store, in collaboration with cultural icons Takashi Murakami and Hiroshi Fujiwara, drew long lines of 600 fans from early morning.
At Tokyo Dome, Japanese audience member Tsuyoshi (50) said, “I’m a ‘NewJeans Ojisan.’ They are different from other K-pop groups. Their songs and dances are ‘uma-i’ (fantastic)!” Another fan, Jun (30), shared, “NewJeans’ music evokes a sense of nostalgia for us Japanese.”
