Japan's premier music extravaganza, the "Kohaku Uta Gassen," recently dropped the lineup for its 76th annual show. As one of the nation's most anticipated yearly events, everything from the performing artists and hosts to the judging panel always sparks major buzz.
Yesterday (Dec 17), the official special judging panel for this year's show was revealed. Among the seven-member panel, the inclusion of Dragon Ball's Goku voice actress Masako Nozawa and actress Nanako Matsushima caught many by surprise, fueling excitement for their interactions and commentary on the big night.
This year's seven-person lineup spans a diverse range of fields, including:
Japanese football legend, former national team striker, and the world's oldest active professional footballer, Kazuyoshi Miura (58 years old / JFL Atletico Suzuka)
Actor Taiga Nakano (32 years old), set to star in next year's NHK Taiga drama "Toyotomi Brothers!"
Nanako Matsushima (52 years old), who appeared in this year's first-half NHK morning drama "Anpan"
Akari Takaishi (22 years old), star of this year's second-half NHK morning drama "The Ghost Story Writer's Wife"
Legendary voice actress Masako Nozawa (89 years old), the first voice actor to be recognized as a "Person of Cultural Merit"
Men's wheelchair tennis player Tokito Oda (19 years old), who clinched a Paralympic gold medal in 2024
Literary critic Kaho Miyake (31 years old)
Netizens have been showering praise on this year's judge selection, noting how rare it is to gather such an esteemed group for Kohaku. The inclusion of Masako Nozawa, a national treasure among voice actors for many, has particularly sparked excitement, with fans eager to see her interact with the performing artists.
The winner of the Red vs. White battle will be decided by a three-way vote: audience judges, venue judges, and the special judging panel. This year's host lineup sees a slight change from last year, featuring Haruka Ayase, Hiroyuki Ariyoshi, Mio Imada, and NHK announcer Naoko Suzuki.
The 76th NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen is slated for December 31st, kicking off at 7:20 PM JST. Don't miss the live broadcast!
▼ "The 76th NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen" Lineup
via： 紅白歌唱大賽官方X