Japan’s largest TV music event

The year is coming to an end and there are countless ways to enjoy, admire, marvel and party Countdown Until the end of the year and the beginning of the year. Japan Broadcasting Corporation Red and White Song Battle (translated as “The Battle of Red and White Songs”) remains a beloved and iconic cultural spectacle that has attracted generations of eager viewers who tuned in to watch the live television broadcast, including some of the biggest stars in Japanese music. Male and female artists compete against each other to put on exciting live performances until midnight.

The program, often abbreviated to its nickname ambershowcasing top artists in various music genres, from pop idol groups to enka singer. Especially for music fans, this show is a must-see. Here’s our comprehensive guide to the 76th anniversary Red and White Song Battle.

Selected artists appeared at the NHK Broadcasting Center in Shibuya Ward to announce the 76th program | Photo provided by “The Japan Times”

Red and white song battle performers 2025

amber Two teams – the Red Team (female artists) and the White Team (male artists) – compete against each other in a friendly competition, judged by celebrity guests, live audiences and those watching at home.

Here are the lineups and show order for both teams in 2025, as well as the number of appearances each will have on the show:

red team

• Terminator Aina (first appearance)
• Amin(7)
• you(2)
• Rilas Ikuta (first appearance)
• Sayuri Ishikawa(48)
• Hiromi Iwasaki(15)
• aespa (first appearance)
• Candy Song (first appearance)
• Sakamoto Fuyumi(37)
• Mariko Takahashi(6)
• Charmina (first appearance)
• Tendo Yoshimi(30)
• Nogizaka46 (11)
• Hana (first appearance)
• Perfume(17)
• Humbert Humbert (first appearance)
• Fruit Zipper (first appearance)
• Missing(10)
• Kaori Mizumori(23)
• Lisa(4)

white team

• &Team (debut)
• orange range(3)
• Kings and Princes(6)
• Toshinobu Kubota(2)
• Hao Hongmei(38)
• Operation Ban(2)
• Pure column(8)
• tube(3)
• No._i (2)
• Niihama Lyon(2)
• Wangdi(3)
• Become: No. 1 (4)
• Masaharu Fukuyama(18)
• Bushihuang(26)
• Mrs. Green Apple(3)
• Hiroshi Miyayama(11)
• M!lk (first appearance)

The show will be hosted by Hiroki Ariyoshi, Mio Imada, Haruka Ayase and Naoko Suzuki.

Keisuke Yamauchi performs at the 75th Kohaku Uta Battle | Photo provided by NHK

It will feature 10 first-time performers, including rapper Chanmina, singer Aina the End, Yoasobi member Lilas Ikuta, boy band & Team, folk duo Humbert Humbert and all-female band Fruits Zipper. “We literally cried when we heard the news,” Fruits Zipper member Mana Manaka told us japan times.

Line Research conducted nationwide opinion poll The survey asked men and women aged 15 to 69 which artists they were most looking forward to seeing perform. In the red team, Emin topped the list with 29.8% of the votes, while in the white team, Mrs. Green Apple received the most votes with 43.3%. Hana and Vaundy are the other highly anticipated performances.

amber It’s not just Japanese artists. Korean pop groups Illit and Aespa will compete. this year’s amber will also host the long-running pop trio’s final performance perfume. The trio announced they would take a break from performing in 2026.

Enka folk singer Sayuri Ishikawa is a long-time collaborator on the song amber. This year marks her 48th appearance on the show since her debut in 1977. Ishikawa is one of the most recognized voices in enka, receiving the Agency for Cultural Affairs Festival Grand Prize and numerous other honors.

The 75th NHK Kohaku Uta Battle Finale | Photography: Yuri Fujiyama, provided by Sponichi Annex

The history of the Kohaku Uta Battle

After the traumatic events of World War II, Japan hoped to host a joyous musical celebration that would not only kick off the new year with a bang, but also mark the beginning of a new era. The title of the show “Kohaku” emphasizes the white and red as auspicious colors during the New Year, symbolizing good luck, purity and prosperity.

amber It actually originated as a radio program, launched in 1951 by Japan Broadcasting Corporation. Two years later, it moved to television.

amber It has since become a staple of Japan’s New Year celebrations, attracting huge audiences, with household viewing reaching a record 81.4% in 1963.

Over the decades, the show has accumulated countless unforgettable moments, including in 2020, when it was conducted without an audience in order to cooperate with epidemic prevention efforts. This is the first time in the show’s history that it will air without an audience present.

Red and White Song Battle It is also home to world records. In a special segment that has become a new annual tradition, artists and staff came together to beat their own officially sanctioned contestants Guinness World Records “The person who continuously catches kendama balls is the longest in line.” 128 successful exhibitions in 2024 Kendama (traditional wooden toys) were a huge hit.

How to watch Kohaku Uta Battle

Red and White Song Battle It will be broadcast on NHK TV channel on December 31, starting at 7:20 pm and ending at 11:45 pm shortly before the start of the new year.

True to its historical roots, the program will also be broadcast on NHK radio station.

Related posts