NHK Kōhaku Uta-Gassen (1951)
Japan's legendary annual New Year's Eve music battle, uniting the nation's biggest artists in a red versus white team showdown since 1951.
NHK Kōhaku Uta-Gassen - Series Information
- Original Title: NHK紅白歌合戦
- First Air Year: 1951
- Last Air Year: 2024
- Type: TV Series
- Genres: Reality
- Episode Runtime: Average runtime per episode: 240 minutes
- Number of Seasons: 1
- Number of Episodes: 75
- Status: Returning Series
- Original Language: Japanese
- Spoken Languages: Japanese
- First Air Date: January 3, 1951 (Brazil - 10)
- Networks: NHK G, NHK, NHK BS4K, NHK BS8K, NHK＋
- Alternative Titles: Kouhaku Utagassen (JP), NHK Red and White Song Battle (US)
- Production Companies: NHK
- Production Countries: Japan
NHK Kōhaku Uta-Gassen - Plot
NHK Kōhaku Uta-Gassen (NHK紅白歌合戦, "NHK Red and White Song Battle"), more commonly known simply as Kōhaku, is an annual New Year's Eve television special held on December 31 every year, and produced by Japanese public broadcaster NHK. It is broadcast live simultaneously on NHK General TV, BS4K, BS8K, and NHK radio (nationally) and internationally on NHK World Premium and some overseas (mainly cable) broadcasters who buy the program. The program divides the most popular music artists of the year into competing teams of red and white. The "red" team or "akagumi" (紅組) is composed of all female artists (or groups with female vocals), while the "white" team or "shirogumi" (白組) is all male (or groups with male vocals).
NHK Kōhaku Uta-Gassen - Cast & Crew
Main Cast
- Sho Sakurai
- Jun Matsumoto
- Kazunari Ninomiya
- Masaki Aiba
- Satoshi Ohno
- Yo Oizumi
- Teruyoshi Uchimura
- Kuwako Maho
- Haruka Ayase
- Yoshihiko Inohara
NHK Kōhaku Uta-Gassen - FAQs
What is NHK Kōhaku Uta-Gassen about?
NHK Kōhaku Uta-Gassen is Japan's premier annual New Year's Eve music special, broadcast live on December 31. Japan's most popular artists of the year are divided into two competing teams — red (female artists) and white (male artists) — performing live before a massive national audience.
When did NHK Kōhaku Uta-Gassen first air?
NHK Kōhaku Uta-Gassen first aired on January 3, 1951, as a radio broadcast. It later transitioned to television and has since aired annually on December 31, making it one of the longest-running and most beloved music programs in Japanese broadcasting history.
Who are the main hosts of Kōhaku Uta-Gassen?
Kōhaku Uta-Gassen has featured numerous prominent hosts over the years, including Sho Sakurai, Jun Matsumoto, Kazunari Ninomiya, Masaki Aiba, Satoshi Ohno, Yo Oizumi, Haruka Ayase, and Kanna Hashimoto, among other celebrated Japanese entertainers serving as hosts and mediators.
How does the red vs. white team format work?
The show divides Japan's top music artists into two competing teams: the red team (akagumi), composed of female artists or groups with female vocals, and the white team (shirogumi), made up of male artists or groups with male vocals. Viewers and an in-studio jury vote to determine the winning team.
How many episodes does NHK Kōhaku Uta-Gassen have?
NHK Kōhaku Uta-Gassen has 75 episodes across its run, with each episode corresponding to one annual New Year's Eve broadcast. The show airs once per year on December 31, and new editions continue to be produced, reflecting its status as a returning series.
Is NHK Kōhaku Uta-Gassen still being produced?
Yes, NHK Kōhaku Uta-Gassen is still in production and continues to air annually. Its status is listed as a returning series, with the most recent edition broadcast in 2024. It remains one of Japan's most-watched television events each New Year's Eve.
What network airs NHK Kōhaku Uta-Gassen?
NHK Kōhaku Uta-Gassen is broadcast simultaneously on NHK G (NHK General TV), NHK BS4K, NHK BS8K, and NHK＋. It also airs on NHK radio nationally and reaches international audiences through NHK World Premium and select overseas cable broadcasters.
What language is NHK Kōhaku Uta-Gassen in?
NHK Kōhaku Uta-Gassen is produced entirely in Japanese. It is an original Japanese-language production by NHK, Japan's public broadcaster, and features performances and commentary conducted in Japanese throughout the annual broadcast.
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