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Actress Mao Inoue and all-male pop group Arashi have been chosen as the hosts of NHK's popular New Year's Eve program "Kohaku Uta Gassen" (Red and White Song Contest).
Inoue, 24, who starred in this year's NHK morning drama series "Ohisama," will represent the Red team (women), while Arashi will represent the White team (men).
The 62nd "Kohaku Uta Gassen" will be aired from 7:15 p.m. on Dec 31 and is expected to be a little more somber than in previous years out of respect for the victims of the March 11 disaster.
© Japan Today
17 Comments
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sctaber56
Why such frumpy folks today? I think these are good choices to host the annual end-of-the-year music variety show.
Serrano
Mao is a real cuty-pie.
Elbuda Mexicano
My kids love Arashi, I like some of their songs but I worked with Ms.Inoue in a movie, very beautiful and just over all great person, so I wish her and Arashi a great Ko HAKU on NHK!
n2.86
Nice. Mao will be working again with MatsuJun. They've got a nice chemistry on screen.
Nessie
Inoue will I be watching.
heikidesu
bentherdonthat asked: do any gaijin watch this show anyways? It's a holiday tradition at our home in Massachusetts (thanks to TV Japan). It helps that the live broadcast runs in the morning of New Year's Eve... so it doesn't much cut in to festivities otherwise. And I know when the parts worth watching a second time are going to be running during the rebroadcast on New Year's Eve EST.
Gurukun
Mao-chan yes! Arashi?....well.....
LH10
yay!! really?! ^o^ i love Inoue Mao <3<3
Yuka
That’s eight years ago. It is amazing how quickly time flies. Arashi was showing special medley. And they were performing "Meikyu love song" and "Hatenai sora". "Hatenai sora" is sung in various place as a song to support the disaster area. Their songs have great power. I’m looking forward to this year’s Red and White Singing Festival.
bentheredonthat
do any gaijin watch this show anyways? i mean barely enough japanese watch this anymore. but tradition trumps common sense again.
RaichuLov
OoooOO...Mao!! But they could've chosen another boyband if they were gonna chose a boyband...but I guess I'll endure it for the sake of watching Aiba...sigh....
alpachinco
mao should be watched, arashi should be thumped
shogun36
Really? Arashi? I thought I was going to enjoy the show this year, I guess not. Have to do a lot of fast forwarding I suppose.
aeho11
Five boys, one girl. Says a lot about who dominates the society (and certainly, not only in Japan..)
papasmurfinjapan
Just two more reasons not to watch.
alpachinco
ffs, what a lame way to spend new year's
nath
True alpachinco