Japanese singer Seiko Matsuda’s 1980 song “Blue Coral Reef” has sparked excitement in both Japan and Korea. K-pop girl group NewJeans member Hanni performed the song solo at Tokyo Dome on June 26 and 27, making history as the fastest K-pop act to perform there.
Since the concert, the song’s impact has only grown stronger. At Shibuya Tower Records, Tokyo’s largest music store, displays now prominently feature albums by both Seiko Matsuda and NewJeans. On Melon, Korea’s top music streaming platform, the song surged from outside the top 100 for foreign music to 19th place on July 2, following NewJeans’ Tokyo Dome performance. Sony Music, which distributes Seiko’s albums, remarked on the unusual speed with which a Japanese song entered the domestic music platform charts.
A video combining Hanni and Seiko’s performances of “Blue Coral Reef” has amassed millions of views, praised for its ability to “transport Japan back 40 years in just three minutes.” Hanni is scheduled to perform the song again on July 6 on Nihon TV’s music show “The Music Day 2024.”
Released in 1980 shortly after Seiko’s debut at 18 with “Barefoot Season,” “Blue Coral Reef” swiftly became a cultural phenomenon. It symbolizes Japan’s golden era just before the burst of the 1980s bubble economy. The song is notably featured in Shunji Iwai’s 1999 film “Love Letter,” where the male lead sings it while reminiscing about his first love as he nears death.
In Japan, Hanni’s performance has been lauded for faithfully capturing Seiko’s iconic bob hairstyle and maritime-inspired attire, along with her clear and refreshing vocals. The hairstyle influenced numerous female characters in Japanese manga such as “H2,” “Rough,” and “Macross,” and Hanni embraced this style, even using a wig to achieve the perfect look.
The video that has captivated audiences in both Korea and Japan features Hanni’s rendition of “Blue Coral Reef,” interspersed with Seiko’s 1980 live performance at Haneda Airport. This broadcast by TBS coincided with Seiko’s return from a concert in Sapporo. Fans have drawn parallels between Hanni’s ascent to K-pop stardom at Tokyo Dome and Seiko’s rapid rise to fame.
Some view Hanni’s tribute as an homage to J-pop, earning gratitude from Japanese fans for rekindling memories of their “glorious days.” Oricon News in Japan noted the significance of “Blue Coral Reef” trending in Korean searches on X (formerly Twitter).
The performance has been analyzed as reshaping perceptions of K-pop in Japan, which often elicits both admiration and criticism. Japanese culture columnist Motohiko Tokuriki said, “NewJeans’ successful debut in Japan is breaking down barriers between the two countries. NewJeans’ global stardom serves as a gateway for introducing Japan’s hit songs and musicians to the world.”
