<figure id="attachment_337037" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-337037" style="width: 626px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="fdb984df"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2023/10/bb2054b79ac84cbdd1e309b19b535790.png" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-337037" class="wp-caption-text">While adjustments are being made to the policy of not using Japanese celebrities, the casting process continues to be a trial and error process within the station. TV personality Hiroyuki Ariyoshi has been selected as the host.</figcaption></figure>
<p> NHK has announced the hosts for the 74th Kohaku Uta Gassen, and has selected TV personality Hiroyuki Ariyoshi (49) and actress Minami Hamabe (23) for the first time, and Kanna Hashimoto (24) for the second consecutive year in a major role. The future of the contestants will be the focus of much attention. A source from a record company gives an inside look at the current situation.</p>
<div data-friday-ad-slot="AD_inArticle"></div>
<p><strong> NHK Chairman Nobuo Inaba, at his regular press conference in September, suggested that the NHK would not appoint new talents belonging to Johnny&#8217;s and that they might not appear in Kohaku. was used, which was reported on its flagship program &#8220;News 7.&#8221; And later, the late Mr. Janney Kitagawa reported testimony that a male in his 30s, who was a high school student at the time, had been sexually assaulted in a restroom in NHK.&#8221;</strong></p>
<p> In line with NHK, commercial broadcasters have gradually begun to take a harsher stance toward Johnny&#8217;s, but will this series of disturbances have any impact on the Kohaku program? A source from a record company continues.</p>
<div data-friday-ad-slot="AD_inArticle"></div>
<p><strong> The Kohaku Uta Gassen has been suffering from low viewer ratings, recording the worst viewer rating ever of 34.3% in 2009. Last year, we managed to get a 35.3% viewer rating with six groups of Japanese talents, but this year, there is a possibility that none of them will appear, so the results are expected to be even more difficult.</strong></p>
<p> While there is no prospect in sight for NHK to use the much-needed Japanese talents, three big-name artists are said to be considering offers as a catalyst for a recovery in viewer ratings.</p>
<div data-friday-nextpage-lead=" The &quot;big guns&quot; who have been appearing on NHK since the beginning of this year"></div>
<figure id="attachment_337036" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-337036" style="width: 1164px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="e930c788"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2023/10/662850d7a7e42e54c1e3d9a2a4b2715b.png" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-337036" class="wp-caption-text">NHK expects B&#8217;z to be &#8220;Ultra C&#8221; for ratings recovery; Inaba&#8217;s appearances on NHK have been increasing this year</figcaption></figure>
<p> Who are the &#8220;three big names&#8221;? Who are the &#8220;three big names&#8221;?</p>
<p><strong> The first is Akina Nakamori (58). In 2002, she appeared live from a recording studio in New York as a special guest, which caused a great sensation. The revival boom of the past few years has also helped, and there have been many requests for her participation. However, it will not be easy, as she has been in poor health for many years. Still, if it comes to fruition, it will surely be a major highlight.</strong></p>
<p><strong> The second is Kazumasa Oda (76). Since his days at Off Course, he has been known to have a strong distrust of television and rarely appears on shows. He is so strong in his beliefs about &#8220;Kohaku&#8221; that he says, &#8220;I am prejudiced against appearing in Kohaku for myself. However, she is pinning her hopes on a special program and a sequel to the popular drama &#8220;Masanao Fudosan,&#8221; for which she sings the theme song, which is scheduled to air at the beginning of the new year.</strong></p>
<div data-friday-ad-slot="AD_inArticle"></div>
<p> Both of these artists are representative of Japan, and if they were to participate in the festival, they would surely attract a great deal of publicity. However, given the fact that repeated offers to participate in the festival have not been fulfilled, it is unlikely that it will be possible this time either. Among these artists, there is one &#8220;main contender&#8221; that NHK is particularly keen on. That is B&#8217;z.</p>
<div data-friday-ad-slot="AD_inArticle"></div>
<p><strong> In 2008, NHK Special: Secrets of B&#8217;z&#8217;s Mega Hits &#8211; 20 Years of B&#8217;z&#8221; was a long-term, in-depth interview with Hiroshi Inaba (59) and Takahiro Matsumoto (62), which was a huge hit. Since then, the relationship has continued, and furthermore, their appearances on NHK have increased this year: In May, Inaba gave a solo interview to &#8220;News Watch 9,&#8221; and in July, both Inaba and Matsumoto appeared in a special B&#8217;z feature on &#8220;Close-Up Today.</strong></p>
<p><strong> Furthermore, this year marks the 35th anniversary of their debut. It is no wonder that both parties&#8217; intentions coincide when the stage for concluding this milestone is &#8220;Kohaku,&#8221; in which they will appear for the first time.</strong></p>
<p> Who will be the one to save the &#8220;Kohaku&#8221; in a pinch? Expectations are high for the future.</p>


 Yuri Adachi (Ariyoshi), Kojiro Yamada (Inaba)

 The "Kohaku Uta Gassen" has suggested a policy of not featuring any Johnny's talent. NHK, which has been forced into a difficult situation in addition to the recent slump in viewer ratings, is trying to find a way out by casting three big-name acts as "Ultra C".

Even though the viewer ratings are low due to the &#8220;suggestion of no Johnny&#8217;s in Kohaku,&#8221; NHK is looking forward to &#8220;Ultra C&#8221; with &#8220;3 big names&#8221; in the future.

Even though the viewer ratings are low due to the “suggestion of no Johnny’s in Kohaku,” NHK is looking forward to “Ultra C” with “3 big names” in the future.

Access Ranking