The K-pop group NewJeans, consisting of members Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin, and Hyein, is making waves once again with a double dose of excitement: their upcoming comeback and an unprecedented collaboration with renowned Japanese contemporary artist Takashi Murakami.
NewJeans x Powerpuff Girls Meet Takashi Murakami‘s Rainbow Flower
On May 1st, a teaser for the music video of “Right Now,” a track from their Japanese debut single “Supernatural” set for release on June 21st, was released on the HYBE Labels YouTube channel. The teaser begins with the fan-favorite “NewJeans x Powerpuff Girls” characters introduced in their previous album “Get Up.” The five members, on a quest for love’s elixir, discover a “rainbow flower” and unleash their superpowers. In the process, two worlds collide due to an unknown error, and the “NewJeans x Takashi Murakami” character appears. This character, born from the fusion of NewJeans’ adorable charm and Takashi Murakami’s iconic “rainbow flower” artwork, left a strong impression despite its brief appearance at the end of the teaser.
Takashi Murakami: A Beloved Artist with a Signature Style
Takashi Murakami, a beloved contemporary and pop artist in Japan, is known for his unique and quirky works and his signature flower character. He has collaborated with fashion brands and global pop stars like Billie Eilish, utilizing his signature flower character, making him a familiar figure to the public.
NewJeans Fan Reactions and Anticipation
Much anticipation has already built for the combination of NewJeans, who have broken the mold of conventional K-pop and set new standards, and the ever-changing Takashi Murakami. The fact that Takashi Murakami, who has expressed his fandom of NewJeans in past interviews, is participating in NewJeans’ Japanese debut album makes this collaboration even more meaningful.
Global fan reactions have been equally enthusiastic. Fans have left comments such as “This is like a pop art piece,” “The idea and sense of collaborating with a famous Japanese artist for a Japanese album track is so good,” “NewJeans is a genre in itself,” and “Is it just me or is the teaser music already this good?”
NewJeans: Trendsetting Icons Continue to Captivate Gen Z
NewJeans has once again proven to be a trendsetting icon in popular culture, following their collaboration with the popular American animation “The Powerpuff Girls” and now this collaboration with Takashi Murakami, captivating the tastes of Gen Z around the world.
Details on NewJeans’ Japanese Debut Single “Supernatural”
NewJeans’ Japanese debut single “Supernatural” will include a total of four tracks: the title track of the same name, “Right Now,” and instrumental versions of each song. As this is their first Japanese album, there is much interest in how it will differ from their previous Korean albums. Judging by the “Right Now” instrumental track that plays in the teaser released on that day, it is expected to continue NewJeans’ signature sophisticated sensibility. Album pre-orders will begin on the 10th at 11 am.
NewJeans Collaborates with Shibuya 109 for Large-Scale Promotion in Japan
NewJeans is also in the midst of a large-scale collaboration with the large-scale shopping mall Shibuya 109 in Tokyo, Japan. A pop-up store opened on the 26th of last month, and on the previous day (April 30th), a large photo of NewJeans was displayed on the exterior of the Shibuya 109 building. NewJeans will hold a large-scale fan meeting at the Tokyo Dome for two days, June 26th and 27th, following the release of their Japanese debut single on June 21st.
NewJeans’ Korean Comeback Precedes Japanese Debut
NewJeans will make their comeback in Korea on the 24th before their Japanese debut in June. The music video for “Bubble Gum,” a track from the double single “How Sweet” released last month, has been well-received for its refreshing visuals, surpassing 17.84 million views on YouTube (as of 10 am on the 1st).
