Play in this article ↓NewJeans How Sweet: Bubble Gum Went to Japanese Morning TV First
- Category: Album & Song Guide
- Artist: NewJeans
KPOP NO1 Editorial · Sources checked October 22, 2026
Bubble Gum was playing on Japanese TV every weekday morning before its music video came out. In April 2024, the song became the new theme for a Fuji TV morning show and the soundtrack to a TV commercial. A few weeks later it came out as part of How Sweet, a two-song single.
Bubble Gum’s head start in Japan
Here’s how the song reached Japanese audiences first, according to NewJeans’ official Japan site:
- April 1, 2024: the Japan site announced Bubble Gum as the new theme song for its morning program Mezamashi 8, starting April 8. The site described it as a refreshing song with NewJeans’ own pop charm. Japan official news
- April 8, 2024: NewJeans became the faces of Kao’s Essential brand. The new TV commercials, built around the message “a sparkling morning begins,” used Bubble Gum. Japan official news
- April 27, 2024 (KST): the official Bubble Gum music video went up on HYBE LABELS.
Our take: If you first heard Bubble Gum on Japanese TV, the official video is the natural next step. If you’re new to it, start with the video and then play the single.
How Sweet: the title song
The single itself came out on May 24, 2024 in Korea. The official Weverse Shop listing names How Sweet as the title song. The official How Sweet video went up the same day at 4 p.m. KST. Official Weverse Shop listing
The How Sweet video description includes advertising tags for Coke Studio, so the video was also part of a brand campaign.
Official video · HYBE LABELS / YouTube
Watch the original on YouTube ↗| Video | Released (KST) | Director |
|---|---|---|
| Bubble Gum | April 27, 2024 | Youngeum Lee |
| How Sweet | May 24, 2024 | Heewon Shin |
Both videos list MIN HEE JIN as producer, and both use the hashtag #NewJeans_is_Everywhere.
Not the first Coca-Cola collaboration
The How Sweet video’s Coke Studio tag wasn’t new for NewJeans. Weverse Magazine, HYBE’s own magazine, notes that in their first year, NewJeans sang on two Coke Studio songs, Zero and Be Who You Are (Real Magic), the latter with JID and Camilo. Weverse Magazine: NewJeans eyes new records
Four tracks, two songs
| # | Track |
|---|---|
| 1 | How Sweet |
| 2 | Bubble Gum |
| 3 | How Sweet (Instrumental) |
| 4 | Bubble Gum (Instrumental) |
Two of the four tracks are instrumentals, so there are two songs to learn here.
The Japan release
NewJeans’ official Japan site sold How Sweet with a Japan release date of May 25, 2024, one day after Korea. It came in six Standard versions. Each version came with an interview book, a photo book, a mini poster, stickers and photocards. Japan pre-order news
Then came a busy summer in Japan:
- June 21, 2024: the Korean release date of Supernatural, a single with Right Now, sold in Japan from June 22. Japan pre-order news
- June 26–27, 2024: NewJeans Fan Meeting ‘Bunnies Camp 2024 Tokyo Dome’, the group’s first solo concert in Japan. The official site said NewJeans reached Tokyo Dome faster than any overseas artist before them. Japan official news
The release at a glance
| Format | Single: two songs plus two instrumentals |
| Released | May 24, 2024 (Korea), May 25, 2024 (Japan) |
| Title song | How Sweet |
| Bubble Gum in Japan | Mezamashi 8 theme song and Kao Essential commercials, from April 8, 2024 |
How to listen for the first time
- Start with Bubble Gum. It came first, on Japanese TV and then as a video.
- Then watch How Sweet. It’s the title song.
- Listen to the instrumentals. Without vocals, you can hear the production more clearly.
Where to go next
- Before this: Get Up, the second EP.
- Go back to the start: New Jeans, the debut EP.
- Meet the group: the NewJeans beginner guide.
Sources
- Weverse Shop: NewJeans ‘How Sweet’ (release date, title song, track list)
- NewJeans Japan official site: Bubble Gum as Mezamashi 8 theme (April 1, 2024)
- NewJeans Japan official site: Kao Essential commercials (April 8, 2024)
- NewJeans Japan official site: How Sweet pre-orders (April 26, 2024)
- NewJeans Japan official site: Supernatural pre-orders (May 10, 2024)
- NewJeans Japan official site: Tokyo Dome fan meeting (March 27, 2024)
- HYBE LABELS official videos: Bubble Gum, How Sweet