Johnny’s Exodus: NHK’s Shifting Dynamics and Prospects at the Kohaku Uta Gassen

This year’s NHK “Kohaku Uta Gassen” is likely to have zero appearances by Johnny’s.

 

NHK Chairman Nobuo Inaba held a regular press conference on October 18, and stated that “there will be no change in our policy” regarding the participation of Johnny’s talents in the Kohaku Uta Gassen to be held on New Year’s Eve.

He stated, “There will be no change in our policy.”

It appears that he will continue the policy he stated at the September press conference that they will not request new artists to appear.

In the meantime, there is even more heated bargaining going on behind the scenes than usual to get a slot left vacant by Johnny’s, which had six groups participate in the Kohaku last year.

 

The company that has been acting like it owns the Kohaku Festival, excluding Johnny’s, is Amuse, which boasts the Southern All Stars, Masaharu Fukuyama, and Gen Hoshino.

“This year, Hiroiki Ariyoshi took over as host, but for three years in a row, Hiroshi Oizumi, who belongs to Amuse, has been the host. Last year, “IVE” and “Saucy Dog” were the first two groups to participate. “Perfume” has participated in the festival 15 times in a row. Also, in a Kohaku where live appearances are the rule, the power of the office must be the reason why live broadcasts from concert halls and taped appearances are so common,” said a sports newspaper reporter.

Next year, Yuriko Yoshitaka will star in the historical drama “Hikaru Kimi he.” With the absence of Johnny’s, the presence of Amuse is only increasing.

Yoshimoto Kogyo, which has popular K-pop idols, is probably the company that will vigilantly target this Amuse monopoly.