As the 76th NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen hit the airwaves, Kenshi Yonezu, making his third appearance, premiered his buzzworthy new track "IRIS OUT" on New Year's Eve. With its highly dramatic stage design and cross-genre collaboration, it instantly became one of the most talked-about performances at this year's Kohaku. 
"IRIS OUT" serves as the theme song for "Chainsaw Man The Movie: Reze Arc" (劇場版『チェンソーマンレゼ篇』). The film's release has garnered immense popularity both domestically and internationally, making this first live performance at Kohaku highly anticipated by fans since the tracklist was announced.
The performance kicked off with a dramatic narrative buildup, as Kenshi Yonezu emerged from a phone booth. Stage sound effects first played "JANE DOE," his collaboration with Hikaru Utada, which serves as the ending theme, before transitioning into the main act, successfully setting a narrative mood.
As the chorus hit, Yonezu's signature moves hyped up the crowd. The stage also featured humorous segments, including shark-shaped props, blending intense stage presence with pure entertainment. A surprise highlight came mid-performance: a powerfully rhythmic dance segment by the group HANA. This first-time collaboration injected a fresh layer into the song and left a lasting impression on the audience. The show concluded with dazzling fireworks, making for an incredibly polished overall performance. 
Coinciding with NHK's 100th anniversary, this year's Kohaku was themed "Connecting on New Year's Eve." Yonezu's stage not only echoed the cross-media connection between film and music but also once again showcased his narrative and creative prowess on a grand stage, becoming one of the most talked-about moments of the New Year's Eve broadcast.