YOASOBI returns to Kohaku as veterans rejoin lineup
AM730 · 1 SOURCESabout 3 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
NHK has announced the performer lineup for the 77th Kohaku Uta Gassen, its annual New Year’s Eve music special, after revealing a new hosting team of Masato Sakai, Kazunari Ninomiya and Mana Ashida on November 13. Among the headline acts, YOASOBI will appear for the fourth time after a three-year gap, while veteran performers including Anri, T.M.Revolution and TM NETWORK are returning after lengthy absences. The lineup also features several first-time invitees, including the idol group =LOVE, whose members said they cried together with producer Rino Sashihara after learning of the selection. At the same time, the absence of high-profile names such as Aimyon, Kenshi Yonezu and Fujii Kaze has surprised many music fans
Key Points
- The 77th Kohaku Uta Gassen will be held on New Year’s Eve, with NHK naming Masato Sakai, Kazunari Ninomiya and Mana Ashida as this year’s hosts
- YOASOBI, set for Hong Kong concerts on January 21 and 22 next year, will make a fourth Kohaku appearance and is performing the Asadora theme song “Sanran Sakuho.”
- Anri, known for “CAT'S EYE,” will return for a fourth appearance after 30 years, helped by renewed younger interest in her older city pop songs
- On the men’s side, T.M.Revolution returns after 12 years, while TM NETWORK will appear for the first time since 1988 to perform “Get Wild.”
- First-time invitees include =LOVE, CUTIE STREET, EBiDAN, Ae!group, MONAKI and singer-songwriter Ayumu Imazu, while Aimyon, Kenshi Yonezu and Fujii Kaze are absent
Why It Matters
For Hong Kong audiences, the lineup has added relevance because YOASOBI is already scheduled to perform in Hong Kong on January 21 and 22 next year, linking one of Japan’s biggest television music events to a major local live date. The mix of returning veterans and newer acts also points to a broadening Japanese pop revival that can shape concert demand, streaming interest and fan attention in Hong Kong