Blackface, suicide and celebrity abuse: Welcome to 2018!
We're one week into 2018 and it seems Japan has an image problem. You can thank the country's New Year's Eve TV block for the bulk of that. The controversy marathon began with popular comedy special "Downtown no Gaki no Tsukai ya Arahende!," which, hours ...
Namie Amuro saves 'Kohaku' ... for now
The weekly Shukan Bunshun released a survey in early November highlighting the acts its readers wanted to see perform on NHK's yearend "Kohaku Uta Gassen" music program. They chose Namie Amuro as the artist they wanted to see the most, likely because she announced ...
Twice and Daichi Miura among 10 debuts at this year's 'Kohaku'
Pop outfits Little Glee Monster, Hey! Say! Jump and Twice will grace the stage for the first time at this year's "Kohaku Uta Gassen," with NHK appearing to court new viewers for its annual end-of-year musical extravaganza. Other artists making "Kohaku" debuts include singers Midori ...
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 ...
Snark levels were on full blast for 'Kohaku'
The 2014 edition of NHK's venerated song contest, "Kohaku Uta Gassen," broadcast on Dec. 31, was remarkable for several reasons, though the performance that generated the most remarks was the one by the equally venerated pop-rock group Southern All Stars, their first on the ...
'Kohaku' rallies the J-pop acts, but don't count enka out just yet
On New Year's Eve, many families in Japan inevitably wind up gathered around the TV to watch a selection of holiday programming. One of the most popular shows is NHK's "Kohaku Uta Gassen." Celebrating its 65th anniversary this year, the song contest pits a men's ...
Can showbiz really sever yakuza ties?
Last August, comedian and TV emcee Shinsuke Shimada retired from show business following allegations that he'd been palling around with an underworld figure. His withdrawal came on the eve of the implementation of a well-publicized police crackdown on organizations that work with antisocial elements, ...
