By Kikuyo Yamada
At the end of each year, all of Japan is glued to NHK TV for about 4 hours, watching the annual Kohaku Song Challenge extravaganza (紅白歌合戰). Although mass consensus seems to be that the lineup of stars is getting weaker and weaker every year, it is still widely watched because it has such a long tradition in Japan. Two famous NHK announcers are selected each year to captain the two (Red and White) teams, and a wide range of current popular singers, of all varieties, are selected to participate. To appear on the Kohaku Utagassen is considered a high watermark for a singer in Japan. Another important thing is that the two teams, Red and White, are always divided into women and men, but the reason for that is unclear. The judges for the event represent a smorgasbord of current cultural icons, usually including a sumo wrestler, a baseball player, a novelist, and a Nobel Prize winner. The stage sets for the event are always glitzy with lots of flashing lights, animated scenery, and lavish designs. The order of appearance is also another interesting event to observe. The last ones to sing are always the ones that have been in show business for the longest time, and the very first that appear are usually the ones who are popular among the younger generation – but not necessarily the most popular ones. Some people criticize NHK for putting too many of their own favorites in the lineup, since some of the older singers didn’t even appear in front of an audience during the past year. Older genres have faded away, but to maintain the traditions of the Kohaku Utagassen, putting unfamiliar Enka singers on the list is becoming inevitable. The program ends at 11:45 p.m. (10:45 p.m. Taiwan time) so that the last 15 minutes of the year can be spent viewing the throngs of people gathered at the gateways of various temples as they listen to the New Year’s temple bell-ringing. Even if you missed the show this year, don’t worry, you can always see reruns of the event on Chinese New Year’s eve. Don’t miss it. #Volume 8 Issue 2#culture a
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May 2024
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