It was announced that actress Ayase Haruka has been appointed as group moderator for the Red Team for this year’s NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen. This is her second time hosting after 2 years. The camp of the actress received the notification a week ago and readily agreed to it.

Ayase is starring in NHK’s fantasy taiga “Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit” that will start airing March next year, for a period of 3 years. She was also the lead in the 2013 taiga drama “Yae no Sakura” and served as the red team moderator for the first time.

In previous years, the moderators for the Red and White team has been announced in mid-October. However there are several uncertainties this year. Earlier this month, there are talks that Tamori will serve as main MC, with the tandem of NHK’s morning show “Asaichi”, Yumiko Udo and V6’s Inohara Yoshihiko for the red and white team respectively. However, in the middle of this month, Tamori’s side declined. With this, the organizers are back to re-drawing their plans.

(via Nikkan Sports)