The 69th NHK Kōhaku Utagassen (第69回NHK紅白歌合戦, The 69th NHK Red & White Song Battle) was the 2018 edition of NHK's television special Kōhaku Uta Gassen, held on December 31 live from NHK Hall (Tokyo, Japan). It was broadcast in Japan through NHK General Television and NHK Radio 1, and worldwide through NHK World Premium. This is the first edition that was broadcast in NHK BS4K and BS8K, and the final edition in the Heisei Period. Comedian Teruyoshi Uchimura and NHK announcer Maho Kuwako hosted for the second time. Suzu Hirose and Sho Sakurai hosted for the first time. The white team won the event.
The final Heisei Kōhaku
This is the 30th and last edition of the program in the Heisei Period, due to the abdication of Emperor Akihito, scheduled for April 30, 2019. The Kōhaku has already undergone a transition of periods. The 39th edition (last of the Showa Period) was held a week before Hirohito's death, and the 40th edition was the first ever in Heisei. The show will go through a new era transition in 2019, with the 70th edition being the first to be held in Reiwa period.
The broadcast time was announced by NHK on October 5, 2018.[1] It will be broadcast on December 31, starting from 19:15 JST and ending at 23:45 JST, with a 5-minute break for the latest news. In Japan, the broadcast will take place through NHK General Television, NHK BS4K, NHK BS8K, and NHK Radio 1, and worldwide through NHK World Premium and TV Japan (US).[1]
On November 9, 2018, it was announced that Teruyoshi Uchimura and Maho Kuwako would return as mediators for the second consecutive year.[3] Uchimura expressed that he was surprised to be selected to MC the show again, and commented, "I want to aim for a Kōhaku that will remain in people's memories".[4]Suzu Hirose and Sho Sakurai of Arashi were announced as the Red and White team leaders.[3] Hirose expressed that she felt some pressure and responsibility, commenting, "I'm feeling the same pressure and responsibility as when I was chosen to be the heroine of the 100th Asadora ... I will do my best".[4] In recent years, members of Arashi have served as the White team leader (Masaki Aiba and Kazunari Ninomiya for the 67th and 68th editions respectively).[3] Sakurai has previously hosted as part of Arashi (61st through 65th editions). This will be his first time hosting alone.[3] Sakurai expressed that it was an honor to be asked to host Kōhaku, commenting, "This important role is more than I deserve. I will work to my utmost so that the final Heisei Kōhaku will be remembered in the hearts of a wide variety of people".[4]
On November 14, 2018, NHK released the full list of performers and a press conference announcing the participants took place.[5]Ringo Sheena and Hiroji Miyamoto were announced as special performers.[6]Aqours and Touken Danshi will appear in a special segment that focuses on the popularity of Japanese culture around the world.[7][8] Newcomers include Suchmos, Aimyon, King & Prince, Daoko, Junretsu (ja), and Yoshiki feat. Hyde.[5][9][10] On December 4, 2018, Saburo Kitajima was announced to appear on a special segment, due to popular demand.[11] Kitajima announced his retirement from Kōhaku in 2013, after taking part in the show for a record 50 performances.[12] On December 12, 2018, Southern All Stars was announced to appear as a special performer.[13] On December 16, 2018, NHK announced that Thai girl group BNK48 would be performing with AKB48.[14] This year also marks the last time Rino Sashihara would perform with the group, as she announced her graduation a few months prior. On December 26, Kenshi Yonezu was confirmed to perform with the white team. He originally declined his invitation to Kōhaku but later accepted after NHK proposed he perform via live feed from Tokushima Prefecture.[15]
On December 19, 2018, NHK announced the guest judges and new voting system.[16][17] On December 21, it was announced that Bananaman (ja), Naomi Watanabe, and Moeka Amamiya (ja) would lead the Kōhaku Ura Talk Channel.[18] The song list was also released on December 21.[19] The performance order was announced on December 27.[20] Rehearsals began on December 29.[21]
^テーマ第67回NHK紅白歌合戦 夢を歌おう (in Japanese). Japan Broadcasting Corporation. September 8, 2016. Archived from the original on November 15, 2016. Retrieved November 24, 2016.
^ abc総合司会 [Presenters] (in Japanese). Japan Broadcasting Corporation. November 8, 2018. Archived from the original on November 14, 2018. Retrieved November 14, 2018.
^ ab出場歌手 [Participating singers] (in Japanese). Japan Broadcasting Corporation. November 14, 2018. Archived from the original on November 14, 2018. Retrieved November 14, 2018.
^世界で人気のジャパンカルチャーを特集 (in Japanese). Japan Broadcasting Corporation. November 14, 2018. Archived from the original on November 14, 2018. Retrieved November 14, 2018.
^北島三郎、「平成最後の紅白」に出演決定! [Saburo Kitajima will perform on the "Final Heisei Kōhaku"!] (in Japanese). Japan Broadcasting Corporation. December 4, 2018. Archived from the original on December 7, 2018. Retrieved December 7, 2018.
^サザンオールスターズの出演が決定! [Southern All Stars to Perform!] (in Japanese). Japan Broadcasting Corporation. November 12, 2018. Archived from the original on December 23, 2018. Retrieved December 23, 2018.
^刀剣男士・Aqours・AKB48 曲目・演出発表! (in Japanese). Japan Broadcasting Corporation. December 16, 2018. Archived from the original on December 23, 2018. Retrieved December 23, 2018.
^米津玄師 出場決定! (in Japanese). Japan Broadcasting Corporation. December 26, 2018. Archived from the original on December 27, 2018. Retrieved December 27, 2018.
^ abcゲスト審査員 決定 [Guest judges decided] (in Japanese). Japan Broadcasting Corporation. November 19, 2018. Archived from the original on December 23, 2018. Retrieved December 23, 2018.
^ ab「第69回NHK紅白歌合戦」の審査方法について [Concerning the voting method for the "69th Kōhaku Uta Gassen"] (in Japanese). Japan Broadcasting Corporation. November 19, 2018. Archived from the original on December 23, 2018. Retrieved December 23, 2018.
^紅白ウラトークチャンネル [Kōhaku Ura Talk Channel] (in Japanese). Japan Broadcasting Corporation. December 21, 2018. Archived from the original on December 23, 2018. Retrieved December 23, 2018.
^出場歌手・曲目 [Participating singers and selected songs] (in Japanese). Japan Broadcasting Corporation. December 21, 2018. Archived from the original on December 23, 2018. Retrieved December 23, 2018.
^出場歌手・曲順 [Participating singers and performance order] (in Japanese). Japan Broadcasting Corporation. December 27, 2018. Archived from the original on December 27, 2018. Retrieved December 27, 2018.
^結果発表 [Announcement of results] (in Japanese). Japan Broadcasting Corporation. January 1, 2019. Archived from the original on January 1, 2019. Retrieved January 1, 2019.