Popular singing acts Arashi, Exile and AKB48 will be among those performing on "Kohaku Uta Gassen," NHK's popular TV show on New Year's Eve.
NHK said that among the 44 selected individuals or groups, five are new faces on the annual music extravaganza, including Kana Uemura, 27, known for the hit single "Toire no Kamisama" ("God of the Toilet").
Rock band L'Arc-en-Ciel will take part in the show for the first time in 10 years.
Seasoned singers Yuzo Kayama and Hiromi Go will return for the first time in nine years.
The show, literally meaning "Red and White Song Battle," divides artists into competing teams, generally with females on the red team and males on the white team.