One of Japan’s best-known New Year’s Eve television programs is NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen, often simply called “Kohaku.” Every year, singers and artists who have made an impact during the year take part, making the program a good way to experience trends in Japanese music and popular culture. Over its long history, many major Japanese artists, including Hibari Misora and Namie Amuro, have delivered memorable performances. In recent years, collaborations involving K-pop artists and anime have also become a highlight.
This article explains the history and rules of Kohaku, looks back at memorable performances from past years, and introduces ways to watch the program both while staying in Japan and from overseas.
1. Overview of NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen
NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen is a music program broadcast by NHK every New Year’s Eve. Participating singers are divided into the Red Team and White Team, and they perform songs and other stage performances. The winning team is determined by votes from judges, viewers, and others. This section explains the program’s history, how the winner is decided, and how performers are selected.
1-1. History of NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen
The origins of Kohaku date back to December 31, 1945, shortly after the end of World War II, when a radio program called “Kohaku Ongaku Shiai” was broadcast. The program was well received, and the first “NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen” was broadcast on radio as a New Year program on January 3, 1951. Unlike today, it was not originally an annual New Year’s Eve program, and the first three editions were broadcast in early January.
A major turning point came in 1953, when regular television broadcasting began in Japan.Starting with the fourth edition that year, Kohaku was also broadcast on television, and the broadcast date was moved to December 31. At the time, NHK did not yet have a large venue of its own, and theaters were often occupied by New Year performances in early January, while venues were easier to secure on New Year’s Eve. From then on, Kohaku gradually became established as a music program marking the end of the year and developed into one of Japan’s best-known New Year’s Eve traditions.
1-2. How the Winner Is Decided
The winner of Kohaku is decided by voting after all performances have finished.In recent years, voting has been divided into three categories: television viewers serving as “Viewer Judges,” the audience at NHK Hall serving as “Venue Judges,” and invited “Guest Judges” appearing on the program.
The team that receives more votes in each category is awarded one point, and the team that wins at least two of the three points becomes the overall winner. Viewer Judges can vote through digital television broadcasting, and the number of votes available increases according to how long they watch the program, up to a maximum of five votes per television. Viewers can also divide their votes between the Red and White Teams. This means that not only people in the venue and guest judges, but also viewers watching from home can take part in deciding the winner.
1-3. How Performers Are Selected
NHK selects Kohaku performers based primarily on three factors: “activities during the year,” “public support,” and “suitability for the program’s planning and production.” “Activities during the year” may include CD and DVD sales, music streaming figures, music video views, social media response, requests on cable radio and karaoke services, and achievements in live performances and concerts.
For “public support,” NHK conducts telephone surveys and online questionnaires asking which singers people would like to see on Kohaku, and the results are used as reference material. NHK also considers how well an artist fits the theme, planning, and production of that year’s program.Performers are therefore not selected simply on the basis of sales or popularity, but through an overall assessment that considers various data and the structure of the program as a whole.
2. Memorable Moments from Past Kohaku Programs
In Japan, the Showa era lasted from 1926 to 1989, the Heisei era from 1989 to 2019, and the Reiwa era began in 2019. Here, we look at memorable Kohaku moments that represent each era.
2-1. Memorable Moments from the Showa Era
One of the singers most closely associated with Kohaku during the Showa era was Hibari Misora. After making her first appearance in 1954, she served as the final performer for the Red Team for 10 consecutive years from 1963 to 1972, including eight appearances as the final performer of the entire program.At the 30th Kohaku in 1979, she made a special appearance for the first time in seven years and performed a medley of “Hibari no Madorosu-san,” “Ringo Oiwake,” and “Jinsei Ichiro.” This became her final appearance on Kohaku.
Momoe Yamaguchi, one of Japan’s leading stars of the 1970s, also left a strong impression on Kohaku during the Showa era. At the 29th edition in 1978, she became the final performer for the Red Team at just 19 years old and sang “Playback Part 2.” At the following year’s 30th edition in 1979, she performed “Shinayaka ni Utatte,” which became her final Kohaku appearance before retirement. She retired from show business in October 1980 and never returned to Kohaku, leaving behind several memorable performances during her relatively short career.
2-2. Memorable Moments from the Heisei Era
During the Heisei era, many major Japanese artists delivered performances marking important moments in their careers. Namie Amuro was one of Japan’s most influential singers from the 1990s through the 2000s, with a major impact not only on music but also on fashion.At the 49th Kohaku in 1998, she returned from maternity leave after about a year away and performed “CAN YOU CELEBRATE?” Her emotional appearance, during which she shed tears, attracted widespread attention.
At the 68th Kohaku in 2017, after announcing that she would retire the following year, Amuro made a special appearance on the program for the first time in 14 years and performed “Hero.” It became her final Kohaku performance before retirement. SMAP and Arashi were also nationally popular groups known across generations in Japan. SMAP performed songs including “Sekai ni Hitotsu Dake no Hana,” while Arashi, after making their Kohaku debut in 2009, became one of the groups that symbolized the later years of the Heisei-era program with their elaborate performances.
2-3. Notable Moments from the Reiwa Era
During the Reiwa era, Kohaku has increasingly featured hit songs connected with anime and social media, as well as performances by K-pop artists. At the 73rd Kohaku in 2022, Uta, the singer character from the film ONE PIECE FILM RED, became the first anime character ever to participate as an official singer on the Red Team. The performance, combining Ado’s singing voice with animated visuals, attracted considerable attention.
At the 74th Kohaku in 2023, Ado made her first appearance and performed “Show” live from Higashi Honganji Temple in Kyoto. That same year, YOASOBI performed their global hit “Idol” on a Japanese music television program for the first time. The performance developed into a large-scale dance collaboration featuring artists including Stray Kids, SEVENTEEN, NewJeans, MISAMO, and LE SSERAFIM. Bringing together popular Japanese and international artists on one stage, it became a memorable performance that reflected the increasingly international character of Kohaku in the Reiwa era.
3. How to Watch NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen in Japan and Overseas
NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen is usually broadcast on the evening of December 31. This section explains how to watch the program while staying in Japan and from overseas. Keep in mind that available services differ depending on the country or region.
3-1. How to Watch While Staying in Japan
While staying in Japan, you can watch Kohaku on a television that receives NHK General TV. Hotels, ryokan inns, and vacation rentals may also provide televisions that receive NHK General TV. Reception conditions differ by accommodation, so it is a good idea to check in advance.
If you want to watch on a smartphone or computer, NHK ONE may provide simultaneous streaming and catch-up viewing. Full access to the service requires an NHK ONE account, and households with an NHK receiving contract can use the service without an additional fee. Travelers should check the conditions of use in advance, as well as whether Kohaku will be available for streaming that year.
3-2. How to Watch from Overseas
If you want to watch Kohaku from outside Japan, one option is NHK WORLD PREMIUM, NHK’s Japanese-language television service for overseas viewers. Depending on the region, it can be accessed through local cable television, satellite broadcasting, IPTV, and other services. Available providers and fees vary by country and region.
In the United States and Canada, viewers can use Jme, an official service that distributes Japanese television programs. Jme offers live streaming of NHK WORLD PREMIUM, and in previous years Kohaku has been available through live broadcasts and rebroadcasts. Because available services differ by region, check the broadcast and streaming schedule for that year’s Kohaku in advance.
Conclusion
NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen is a long-running music program and one of Japan’s best-known New Year’s Eve traditions. In addition to the competition between the Red and White Teams, performances by major artists of each year and stage productions reflecting the trends of the time are also major attractions.
During the Showa era, artists such as Hibari Misora and Momoe Yamaguchi delivered memorable performances. The Heisei era featured stars such as Namie Amuro and nationally popular groups, while the Reiwa era has brought performances by YOASOBI, Ado, K-pop artists, and others. If you are in Japan, check NHK General TV or NHK ONE. From overseas, services such as NHK WORLD PREMIUM and other region-specific platforms may be available. Enjoy this uniquely Japanese year-end music tradition as part of your New Year’s Eve experience.
※This article is based on information available as of August 2026.
