The Unexpected Crowd Gathered To Watch NewJeans Perform In Japan Turns Heads
Today Japan witnessed an unparalleled rise in K-Pop fervor. All thanks to the staggering performance by the sensational girl group, NewJeans, at Summer Sonic Japan. While the group’s flawless execution on stage was a sight to behold, it was the sheer size of the crowd that truly left everyone, both onsite and online, gobsmacked!
Summer Sonic Japan, the popular annual music festival famous for hosting some of the biggest international acts, boasted a massive capacity of 55,000 this year. But during NewJeans’ set, this vast venue seemed too small to contain the K-Pop fever.
Aerial shots taken from the event showcased a packed crowd with nary an empty seat or vacant standing space in sight — despite the scolding hot weather. The magnanimity of this turnout becomes even more astonishing when one considers that this marked the group’s very first performance in Japan.
Contrastingly, subsequent acts, though talented in their own right, couldn’t match the overwhelming presence NewJeans commanded. The disparity in crowd density made it evident — Japan is under the captivating spell of NewJeans.
The young girl group’s inclusion in this year’s Summer Sonic lineup wasn’t just a nod to their skyrocketing popularity. It was a conscious decision by the festival’s creative heads to pivot from a Western-centric line-up to one that embraces the diverse talent Asia has to offer.
Summer Sonic is often said to be a festival centered on Western music, but the number of Asian acts is increasing year after year.
— Creativeman President Naoki Shimizu
[INFO] The moment they announced NewJeans' appearance, the ticket sales for Summer Sonic Festival count went up!
“NewJeans was the no.1 artist that pulled up ticket sales,” says Naoki Shimizu, the promoter and the man behind Summer Sonic Festival.#NewJeans #뉴진스 pic.twitter.com/cPwbcZQBfp
— NEWJEANS Central (@NewJeansCentral) May 10, 2023
If NewJeans’ debut Japan performance is anything to go by, it’s evident that this strategic shift is not just welcomed but celebrated by fans with immense enthusiasm.
Ditto 大合唱#뉴진스 #NewJeans #ニュジ #サマソニ pic.twitter.com/ixHiIdveLS
— NewJeans Loops 🐇 (@newjeans_loop) August 19, 2023
While the ADOR girl group is not the first K-Pop act to grace the Summer Sonic stages, the magnitude of their reception is a testament to their skyrocketing global fame.
Many of those who attended Summer Sonic today were surprised at the size of the crowd.
Comparisons during and after the performance show that.
Also surprising was the average level of Japanese language skills, which some say is the highest of all the 4th groups.#NewJeans pic.twitter.com/uwt4pXzDWe— NewJeans Charts Japan 🇯🇵 (@NJ_CHARTSJP) August 19, 2023
Their infectious music, mesmerizing choreography, and undeniable charisma are taking the world by storm, and Japan is clearly no exception. With such a spectacular Japanese debut stage, one can only anticipate the heights NewJeans will reach next.