NHK released the lineup Thursday for the 66th edition of its annual "Kohaku Uta Gassen" yearend song contest.
The contest, which airs on the network from 7:15 p.m. until 11:45 p.m. on Dec. 31, is set to include a total of 51 performing acts this year. The program, whose title translates to the "Red and White Song Contest," features a "red" girls' team and a "white" boys' team, which will be headed by actress Haruka Ayase and pop artist Yoshihiko Inohara (of V6) respectively. The main emcees will be actress Tetsuko Kuroyanagi and announcer Yumiko Udo.
Pop stalwarts such as Arashi, Exile and AKB48 are set to appear, and making their "Kohaku" debut will be Superfly, Bump of Chicken and Nogizaka46.