I figured that since we've passed the midway mark of November, it would be time for the lineup announcement for the Red and White teams for this year's edition of NHK's annual Kohaku Utagassen. And sure enough, just before I went to bed last night, the lineup had come out. By the way, the Kohaku will be televised from 7:20 pm JST on December 31st at NHK Hall in Shibuya, Tokyo.
Red Team
Aiko (15th appearance)
Aimyon (6)
Illit (1)
Sayuri Ishikawa (47)
Iruka (2)
HY (3)
Fuyumi Sakamoto (36)
Sakurazaka 46 (4)
Ringo Shiina (9)
Superfly (8)
Mariko Takahashi (6)
tuki. (1)
Yoshimi Tendo (29)
Twice (5)
Nogizaka 46 (10)
Me:I (1)
Misia (9)
Kaori Mizumori (22)
Ryokuoushoku Shakai (3)
Le Sserafim (3)
White Team
Omoinotake (1)
Creepy Nuts (1)
GLAY (4)
Hiromi Go (37)
Kocchi no Kento (1)
The Alfee (2)
JO1 (3)
Junretsu (7)
Da-iCE (1)
Together x Together (1)
Number_i (1)
Leon Niihama (1)
Be:First (2)
Masaharu Fukuyama (17)
Fujii Kaze (3)
Gen Hoshino (10)
Mrs. Green Apple (2)
Minami Kosetsu (6)
Hiroshi Miyama (10)
Keisuke Yamauchi (10)
Special Guest -- Kiyoshi Hiyama (24)
Your congenial hosts will be comedian Hiroiki Ariyoshi（有吉弘行）, actress Kanna Hashimoto（橋本環奈）, actress Sairi Ito（伊藤沙莉）and NHK announcer Naoko Suzuki（鈴木奈穂子）.
Some thoughts from me:
1) I kinda figured that either or both Creepy Nuts and Kocchi no Kento（こっちのけんと）would be showing up because of their catchy songs and dances. We might get everyone in NHK Hall participating during their performances. Not sure if the liniment or Salon-Pas will be available, though.
2) I had read a few days ago from the not-most-reliable source in Japan that no act associated with SMILE-UP (formerly Johnny's Entertainment) would be appearing on the Kohaku for the second year in a row, but it has now been confirmed. However, Number_i consists of three former members of King and Prince though this group is now under the TOBE Music label.
3) Mariko Takahashi（高橋真梨子）, Minami Kosetsu（南こうせつ）, The Alfee and Iruka（イルカ）are returning which warms my old kayo kyoku heart. Almost all of them have roots in folk music so will we be getting some of their 1970s material? The Alfee is appearing for just their second time on the Kohaku; the first time they appeared was on the 34th edition back in 1983 which was one of the earliest times that I ever watched the show. Maybe they'll take another swing at "MARIE-ANNE".
4) Of course, there will be the panel of celebrity judges. Will baseball phenom Shohei Ohtani（大谷翔平）be one of them?
What everyone will be singing probably won't be announced until December. And as has often been the case, there will be changes in the lineup through additions most likely. Any announcements on these changes will be posted below over the coming days and weeks leading up to New Year's Eve. You can also take a look at the Wikipedia article on No. 75.
December 12th: Fuyumi Sakamoto will be doing her performance from Wajima City in Ishikawa Prefecture which was struck by a major earthquake on January 1st 2024.
December 13th: Singer Kana Nishina will be joining the Red Team. She resumed her singing career in June following a 4-year hiatus.
December 18th: The lineup of guest judges for the Kohaku was announced. Nope, no Shohei Ohtani but the panel includes the creator of the manga "Case Closed", a couple of Olympic athletes and former Kohaku host, comedian Teruyoshi Uchimura（内村光良）.
December 19th: Koji Tamaki（玉置浩二）of Anzen Chitai（安全地帯）will appear as a special guest and sing "Kanashimi ni Sayonara"（悲しみにさよなら）.
December 20th: Singer-songwriter Kenshi Yonezu（米津玄師）will appear as a special guest.
I read two articles that said NHK was negotiating with STARTO/Johnny's to have their groups appear but apparently NHK only wanted two groups(with one of them being Snow Man) while STARTO wanted four of their groups. Also, relations between the two parties deteriorated because on the day NHK announced the return of STARTO talents to their network, they aired a documentary about Johnny Kitagawa and his crimes. Also, apparently Snow Man themselves weren't too keen on joining since their fans were against it and their own livestream was a resounding success against Kohaku.
ReplyDeleteHi there. I'm sure the talks between NHK and STARTO were intense, to say the least. But I think the company and their acts can take this to be a new opportunity; the Kohaku hasn't been the end-all and be-all for fame for many years now, and groups such as Snow Man can go out on their own New Year's Eve projects with a potential amount of success.
DeleteDecent number of new faces, looks like we're really at it with a new era of Kohaku music-wise, though it's sorta obvious we're going to get some throwbacks, say. Not that I'm complaining.
ReplyDeleteHi, Jenard. It's been a while. Yeah, there are going to be a fair number of newbies on the show. NHK is covering all of the bases in terms of the generations which is not surprising. I figure that No. 75 was a guarantee but from next year onwards, I'm wondering about the future of the show if the ratings keep shrinking.
DeleteMaybe the NHK is getting a bit experimental either as a see what sticks approach or an anything-goes approach.
DeleteI think the solace they can take from their ratings slump is, as you've said, that TV in general is down anyway so at this point they can work on Kohaku without making rating that high of a priority.
Or they can make the dang thing a bit more easier to watch cause social media shares and views are where the numbers are now.
I think at this point, NHK is trying to try anything within the fairly rigid parameters of the Kohaku to bring the ratings up or at least keep them at a "happy" level so as to keep the spectre of a final cancellation at bay. Maybe having both Creepy Nuts and Kocchi no Kento on the show is one tactic.
DeleteI still think some international considerations won't hurt.
DeleteAny suggestions on international acts?
DeleteIt really boils down nowadays to anyone with a sizeable fanbase, nay, fandom. It's a hard sell cause "[guy] will be on the Kohaku!" is not as impactful as statement anymore.
DeleteBased on past invites though it can be anyone they fancy, and knowing NHK's budget they'll take either the rare foreigner getting a hit or someone who'll accept any opening of an envelope.
I didn't want to date my answer too hard by dropping names, but I'll add that folks on Youtube making covers are possible candidates.
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