Kouhaku Uta Gassen

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Kouhaku Uta Gassen (紅白歌合戦, Kōhaku Uta Gassen), more commonly known as simply "Kouhaku," is an annual music show televised by NHK on New Year's Eve in Japan, ending shortly before midnight (when NHK switches to a frenzy of "Happy New Year" greetings from around the nation). Literally "Red and White Song Battle," the program divides the most popular music artists of the year into competing teams of red and white. The "red" team (紅組/赤組, akagumi) is composed of all female artists (or groups with female vocals), while the "white" team (白組, shirogumi) is all male (or groups with male vocals). The honor of performing on Kouhaku is strictly by invitation, so only the most successful J-Pop artists of the year have the ability to attend, as well as older singers (of enka, etc.) who are still well remembered. In addition to the actual music performances, the costumes, hairdos, makeup, dancing, and lighting are also quite important to this program.

Table of contents

1 Song selection process
2 The show proper
3 Results
4 Declining popularity
5 Notable J-Pop acts on Kouhaku
6 Notable foreign acts on Kouhaku
7 External Links

Song selection process

The songs and performers are examined by a selection committee. The bases for selection are record sales and adaptability to the edition's theme.

At the same time, a survey on various demographics is conducted regarding the most popular singers for each, and what kind of music people want to hear. This and the song selection explain the amalgamation of J-Pop acts and enka and adult contemporary artists.

Even today, a performance on Kouhaku is said to be a big highlight in a singer's career because of the show's large reach.

The show proper

When the show was first broadcasted on radio in 1951, each team had a few performers, all of whom would perform within the span of an hour. Since 1989, television viewers watch and radio listeners listen for at least four hours as both teams, each having at least 25 performers, perform their songs.

At the end of the show, the audience and a panel of judges—notable celebrities who may or may not have a connection to the music industry—vote to select the winning team. In the past, the audience vote has been composed of a head count of the venue audience members, who can vote for either team (NHK Hall, which has been the venue for most Kouhaku editions since 1971, can seat 3,000 people). This counted as one vote.

But as of the 54th (2003) and 55th editions (2004), viewers who watch the program through ISDB-T could also take part in the voting by having their own head count in their respective households. Although it is still sketchy to determine in the 55th, the audience vote is counted as two votes; one for the venue audience and one for ISDB-T viewers.

The audience vote(s) are added to those of the judges who each have to vote for one team. The team with the most votes wins.

Aside from the performances, there are special performances where certain performers do their act together, and the so-called "Ring Show" where performers from both teams take part in a "singing exercise."

Results

Kouhaku #	Date	Announcers	Results
1	01/03/1951	Michiko Katou and	White
2	01/03/1952	-	White
3	01/02/1953		White
4	12/31/1953		Red
5	12/31/1954		Red
6	12/31/1955		Red
7	12/31/1956		White
8	12/31/1957		Red
9	12/31/1958		Red
10	12/31/1959		Red
11	12/31/1960		White
12	12/31/1961		White
13	12/31/1962		White
14	12/31/1963		Red
15	12/31/1964		White
16	12/31/1965		White
17	12/31/1966		Red
18	12/31/1967		Red
19	12/31/1968	Kyu Sakamoto,	White
20	12/31/1969	Kyu Sakamoto,	Red
21	12/31/1970		Red
22	12/31/1971		White
23	12/31/1972		Red
24	12/31/1973		Red
25	12/31/1974		Red
26	12/31/1975		White
27	12/31/1976		Red
28	12/31/1977		White
29	12/31/1978		White
30	12/31/1979		Red
31	12/31/1980		Red
32	12/31/1981		White
33	12/31/1982		Red
34	12/31/1983	Kenji Suzuki and	White
35	12/31/1984	Kenji Suzuki and	Red
36	12/31/1985	Kenji Suzuki and	Red
37	12/31/1986		White
38	12/31/1987	Akiko Wada and	Red
39	12/31/1988	Akiko Wada and	White
40	12/31/1989		Red
41	12/31/1990		White
42	12/31/1991	Masaaki Sakai	Red
43	12/31/1992	Hikari Ishida and Masaaki Sakai	White
44	12/31/1993	Hikari Ishida and Masaaki Sakai	White
45	12/31/1994		Red
46	12/31/1995		White
47	12/31/1996	Takako Matsu and	White
48	12/31/1997	Akiko Wada and Masahiro Nakai	White
49	12/31/1998	Masahiro Nakai and Junko Kubo	Red
50	12/31/1999	Junko Kubo and Kankuro Nakamura	White
51	12/31/2000	Junko Kubo and Motoya Izumi	Red
52	12/31/2001	Wataru Abe and Yumiko Udou	White
53	12/31/2002	Wataru Abe and Yumiko Udou	Red
54	12/31/2003	Wataru Abe and	White
55	12/31/2004	Wataru Abe and	Red

Declining popularity

While years ago this was easily the most-watched show on New Year's Eve, its popularity has been in a long decline. The primary reason is the increasing number of attractive alternatives. Other important factors in Kouhaku's fall from popularity include the diminishing (although still great) appeal of the various genres of pop music that can be represented, and the growing appeal of genres that mystify or dismay older generations; the latter would severely lower Kouhaku's viewership if shown, as the majority of people who watch the show do so to see the more traditional (enka- or kayōkyoku-flavored) artists.

Notable J-Pop acts on Kouhaku

Here is a list of some notable J-Pop/J-Rock acts who have performed on Kouhaku in recent years:

Notable foreign acts on Kouhaku

Although Kouhaku is a strictly Japanese affair, foreign artists, particularly from neighboring countries, who have hits popular in Japan can also take part. Here are some foreign artists who have done so in recent years:

BoA (Featured in 53rd thru 55th)
Twelve Girls Band
RYU (Featured in 55th)
Lee Jung-hyun (Featured in 55th)