NHK’s News Department and Entertainment Department at Odds Over “Kohaku”!　

NHK, which had initially remained silent in the wake of the sex-abuse issue of Johnny Kitagawa, who passed away in 2019, scooped up the existence of the NG list used during the second press conference of the former Johnny & Associates (now “SMILE-UP.”) held on October 2. In addition, the report also gave the impression of a break with Johnny’s by reporting the testimony of a man who claimed to have been sexually assaulted by the late Johnny Kitagawa within NHK’s bureau.

 

“The report of the sexual assault at the NHK station has also caused the station to cancel the “The Boys” program, in which Johnny’s Jr had appeared for many years. News stations are looking for more scoops, and it seems as if NHK has given up on Johnny’s.”

NHK has made it clear that it will not use any of Johnny’s talent unless there is progress in providing relief for the victims. However, within NHK, there is a direct conflict between the News Program Center of the News Bureau and the Entertainment Program Department of the Second Production Center of the Production Bureau over the stance on Johnny’s. 

“There is a conflict with variety and drama productions,” said a source from a company affiliated with NHK.

“While the commercial broadcasters are making irresolute decisions in light of the variety of programs and dramas, NHK’s news bureau is taking the initiative in the development of a series of programs that are not in line with the needs of the Japanese entertainment industry. NHK’s news bureau has taken the lead in reporting on the sexual assault issue, and has even interfered in the casting process. The Entertainment Program Department is in a position not to speak out strongly in the face of the sexual assault issue, but now that preparations for the year-end program are imminent, it seems that this cannot be said anymore.”

 

The Entertainment Programming Department of the Production Bureau’s No. 2 Production Center and the News Department’s News Programming Center are often at odds with each other, and the “Kohaku Uta Gassen,” the annual New Year’s Eve program, has been a particular source of contention.

“Until now, the Entertainment Program Department has been spending over 300 million yen for the production, casting gorgeous contestants and judges, and creating a lot of buzz with projects linked to the historical drama “Taiga Drama” and “Asadora”. However, the News Program Center watched these developments in the Entertainment Program Department with a bitter feeling. The budget and slots for “Kohaku” were being cut. In addition, there was the issue of the gender controversy, in which men and women were divided into separate groups and competed to win. The news bureaus often proposed shortening the time of the Kohaku program, cutting the budget, and even terminating the program on the grounds that it had fulfilled its role for the time period.”

The Entertainment Program Department of the Production Bureau’s No. 2 Production Center is having the most trouble selecting the performers for this year’s 74th Kohaku Uta Gassen.

“The department has not yet given up on the idea of obtaining a slot for Johnny’s talent,” said Mr. Kurokawa. 

“The Entertainment Program Department, which produces the Kohaku program, is currently negotiating with the upper management and Johnny’s office for at least one or two slots” (source from an entertainment agency) 

Not only within NHK, but the entire TV industry is whispering even before the broadcast that this year’s “Kohaku Uta Gassen” will have the lowest viewer rating in the history of the program.

“I can understand their desperation. Looking at last year’s time schedule, “SixTONES” and “Naniwa Danshi” were scheduled at 7:00 p.m., and “SnowMan” at 8:00 p.m. and “King & Prince” and “Kanjani Eight” at 10:00 p.m. The long-running broadcasts were stable, and the program was able to capture the core audience (men and women aged 13-49). In long-running broadcast slots, it is possible to intermittently boost viewer ratings by including such stable talents. This time, once Johnny’s slot is reduced to 0, the average viewer rating is expected to drop considerably.”