NHK revealed the full lineup for the 71st Kouhaku Uta Gassen, its annual New Year’s Eve special live program, bringing with it a few surprises alongside welcome and expected returns.
Kouhaku, despite seeing its dominance as the must-watch spectacle to bring in the New Year challenged in the last decade, remains one of the largest musical events of the year. Musicians from across the Japanese music industry come together for a large-scale showcase of the biggest musical acts of the year, competing in a boys-against-girls red team vs white team format.
第71回NHK紅白歌合戦・出場歌手が決定！
出場歌手は42組。
初出場は紅組が6組、白組が3組、企画が1組、合わせて10組です。紅白の最新情報はこちら▼https://t.co/T7VyL1HOMh#NHK紅白 pic.twitter.com/HjtWMqW3dz
— NHK紅白歌合戦 (@nhk_kouhaku) November 16, 2020
One of the most notable things about this year’s lineup has more to do with who isn’t featured, as opposed to who is: AKB48 will not perform at this year’s event. Last year’s performance was the group’s 12th appearance at the event. This year’s exclusion ends their run of consecutive appearances since they first appeared in 2007, and also means that no 48Group will perform at this year’s event.
The ‘official rivals’ of the 48Groups are joining the event with 3 groups: Nogizaka46, Sakurazaka46 (the new name for Keyakizaka46), and Hinatazaka46.
The 71st Kouhaku Uta Gassen will also mark the first time BABYMETAL has been selected to perform at the event. The group is celebrating their 10th anniversary this year, which appears to have partially influenced the decision to invite them, although it’s more surprising that it’s taken this long for the group to perform at the event. BABYMETAL have been a breakout success for many years, both at home and abroad.
Alongside BABYMETAL, the viral success of NiziU is being marked by an appearance at the event. It’s no question that ‘Make You Happy’ has been one of the biggest songs in Japan in 2020, but the group is still yet to make their official debut, making an appearance at Kouhaku a surprise.
Artists making their welcome return to the event include anisong favorite LiSA, following the release of her record-breaking single for the equally-record-breaking Demon Slayer movie; Aimyon, who wasn’t invited last year but whose enduring popularity has earned her another invite this year; and Official Hige Dandism.
Other than the welcome debut of milet in this year’s lineup (following the success of her debut album Eyes), the rest of the lineup is relatively expected. Major acts like GENERATIONS from EXILE TRIBE, King and Prince, Arashi, and Yuzu are expected inclusions in an otherwise predictable lineup.
The difficulty for smaller acts to break through in a year as disruptive as 2020 has led to a somewhat more predictable list for the 71st Kouhaku Uta Gassen. While the exclusion of acts like YOASOBI is disappointing, the acts chosen to perform make for a strong lineup.
This year’s Kohoaku will take place without an audience at the NHK Hall and will be aired on NHK from 19:30 to 23:45 on 31 December (JST).