This week’s guest was King Gnu. This episode marks the band’s first appearance on this show! This episode ties in with the upcoming World Cup. King Gnu’s “Stardom” serves as NHK’s 2022 football theme. Former football player Nakazawa Yuji makes an appearance to explain Japan’s football history.
King Gnu – Hikoutei / Stardom
This week, King & Prince topped the Combined Single chart with their new single “Tsukiyomi / Irodori”, with 800,204 points in its first week.
SEVENTEEN topped the Combined Album chart with their first Japanese EP “DREAM”, with 504,443 points in its first week.
The performers for the “73rd NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen” were revealed this week. There were many surprises, including one involving the top divas of the 80s. It was expected that Akina Nakamori and Seiko Matsuda would return to the “Kohaku” stage, but somehow Shizuka Kudo was named instead. “But how?”, asks Tokyo Sports.
This past July, NHK aired a new version of an Akina concert, “Akina Nakamori Special Live 1989 Remaster Ban”, to great response. So great in fact that many made calls for Akina to make a full comeback and return to “Kohaku.”
Akina heard the response and broke her silence to release a statement, saying that she had started her own agency and was preparing to make a comeback. Despite this news, there was no Akina on this week’s list.
According to a music industry official, the “Kohaku” organizers kept checking on Akina’s condition out of a desire for her to appear on the show. However, her physical and mental states were not the best, resulting in her not being able to return to to this year’s show.
On November 16, Naniwa Danshi will release their third single, “Happy Surprise.” The song is described as a fast-paced winter love song. Also included on this single is the B-side “#MerryChristmas”, which currently serves as the the CM song for Naniwa Danshi’s Lawson CM.
“Happy Surprise” will be released in three versions: CD+DVD limited edition 1, CD+DVD limited edition 2, and CD only regular edition. Each DVD will include the music video and making for the songs mentioned above. Check out those video below!
On December 31, the “73rd NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen” air. As previously reported, the show will be hosted by Oizumi Yo, Hashimoto Kanna, and Kuwako Kaho, with Sho Sakurai as a special navigator.
NHK has now revealed who will be performing on the show. Check out the list below!
This year’s edition of “FNS Kayousai”, Fuji TV’s year end music special, will take place on December 7 (6:30 PM to 11:28 PM JST) and 14 (6:30 PM to 11:03 PM JST). The show will be hosted by Masaki Aiba and Fuji TV announcer Nagashima Yumi.
The first night sees the show returning to its longtime home, Hiten hall in Tokyo’s Grand Prince Hotel New Takanawa, for the first time in three years.
The first set of acts performing on the show has been announced, numbering 65 in total! It includes the likes of Snow Man, Ayumi Hamasaki, JO1, LiSA, Official HIGE DANdism, Koda Kumi, Kudo Shizuka, and DISH//. See who else is performing below!
On December 30, the “64th Japan Record Awards” will air on TBS from 5:30 PM JST – 10 PM JST.
The nominees for the Grand Prix are Junretsu, NiziU, wacci, Hikawa Kiyoshi, Ado, Da-iCE, Mrs. GREEN APPLE, Macaroni Enpitsu, BE:FIRST, and SEKAI NO OWARI.
The nominees for Best New Artist are Ishikawa Hanna, OCHA NORMA, Tanaka Aimi, and Tani Yuuki.
Check out the full list of nominees and winners below!
We’re back with another episode of the Arama! Japan Podcast! This episode covers October 2022! This month we covered a variety of topics, including Travis Japan‘s global debut, Fujii Kaze‘s cultural appropriation & “N word” scandal, the “JPop influenced KPop, but was inspired by black music” Twitter discourse, and “73rd NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen” predictions.
I am joined this episode by my co-host Hannah. Check it out below!