Jero appears at a press conference Tuesday after he was selected by NHK to appear on its New Year’s Eve “Kohaku Uta Gassen.”

Jero gets his wish as NHK unveils Red & White Singing Contest participants

Wednesday 26th November, 05:56 AM JST

TOKYO —

Public broadcaster NHK on Tuesday unveiled the list of singers who will appear on its year-end music program, “Kohaku Uta Gassen” (Red & White Singing Contest). African-American enka singer Jero, who had been saying in interviews all year that it was his fervent wish to receive a coveted invitation, was selected only nine months after he appeared on the music scene here.

The 53 singers and groups are traditionally divided into Red (women) and White (men) teams in the program held every New Year’s Eve. NHK said this year’s theme is “The power of songs. Ties between people.” NHK said it hopes the varied lineup of guests will expand the base of its viewers. This year marks the 59th time the program will be held.

Red team

aiko
Thelma Aoyama
Junko Akimoto
Ayaka
Angela Aki
Ikimonogakari
Sayuri Ishikawa
Ai Otsuka
Miyuki Kawanaka
Girl Next Door
Kumi Koda
Natsuko Godai
Sachiko Kobayashi
Fuyumi Sakamoto
SPEED
Yoshimi Tendo
Mika Nakashima
Natsuko Nakamura
Ayumi Hamasaki
Perfume
Yo Hitoto
Ayaka Hirahara
Ayako Fuji
Fujioka Fujimaki and Nozomi Ohashi
Kaori Mizumori
Akiko Wada

White team

Masashi Akikawa
Aqua Timez
Hiroshi Itsuki
Exile
Saburo Kitajima
Takeshi Kitayama
Kimaguren
Yusaku Kiyama
Kobukuro
Jero
Shuchishin with Pabo
SMAP
Toho Shinki
TOKIO
Hideaki Tokunaga
Kiyoshi Hikawa
Ken Hirai
Akira Fuse
Porno Graffiti
Kiyoshi Maekawa
Kenichi Mikawa
Mr. Children
Yutaka Mizutani
Shinichi Mori
Naotaro Moriyama
WaT

SMAP leader Masahiro Nakai and actress Yukie Nakama will co-host the program.

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Latest 15 of 20 Total Comments Show All

cwhite at 01:16 PM JST - 26th November

it become a J-POP festa, how nice after all these years of Enka. Problem is these guys are nothing special and any 2-3 hour music program done 4 times a year on every other channel is pretty much the same.
rtrhead1 at 02:28 PM JST - 26th November

jeez dave, hate much? he is fluent reading and writing, not to mention that he can actually sing very well. give the kid some credit. he can do something you can't and he does it better than many japanese. i don't hear you complaining about beat takeshi going to america making crap movies...
memyselfI at 04:00 PM JST - 26th November

Exciting I can't wait to see it. But watching the paint dry at my house is more exciting !
ptolemy at 04:02 PM JST - 26th November

Jero will change his name to "the artist formerly known as Jero now known as Zero" when the media attention wanes. He was made by the media here, as all talents are, and like all others he will find himself on TV screeching "oishii" on Debuya or on Samna's Palace being pummeled by his little gold hammer. At least they put him on SMAP's team so he'll be with the winners.
soldave at 04:24 PM JST - 26th November

rtrhead1 - not seen a story recently about Beat Takeshi going to America to make a crap movie. Who has said anything about anyone hating someone? But if I see one I will criticise. Have looked through the text in this post and comments and also in previous articles about him but have failed to see hate used. Please provide a source for the claim. I give him credit - he's raking in the money while he's still got a chance. I would be doing the same.

You'll notice in a previous post I said "Fair play though, take advantage of the love (and money) while it lasts". Maybe you read that as "I hate him" but there is a subtle difference.
Nessie at 05:55 PM JST - 26th November

Color me surprised. I joked on another thread about him not being picked. Here I officially eat my words. go for it jero
Samuraiiki at 07:04 PM JST - 26th November

Jerome will one of these days realize how fake Japanese are and will have a great disappointment.
Starviking at 07:55 PM JST - 26th November

African-American enka singer Jero

Why wouldn't "American" just do?

Still - good on ya Jero!!!
Peaceful_Man at 11:50 PM JST - 26th November

Well Jero has made it in Japan. Where are all the Japanese artists who have made it overseas? Anyone on Billboard?
TokyoGas at 01:17 AM JST - 27th November

Let's have a contest on what color baseball style cap he will wear! lol
Cortasaurus at 03:25 AM JST - 27th November

Grats to Jero :) I'm Glad Kumi Koda got in as well. I can't wait to see this!
soldave at 08:44 AM JST - 27th November

Starviking - because they have got to stress that he is "koku".

Peaceful Man - Utada Hikaru had an album on the billboard charts, yes. Think it was around 2004-2005.
Skywards at 12:42 PM JST - 27th November

Akiko Wada is a crowd pleaser. I have not heard Jero but anticipate a good song from him. SMAP-like the band but not all of their songs-hope they sing their Jazz single.
Betting at 10:20 PM JST - 27th November

"Betting - did he mention his grandmother in the interview?".

If I recall correctly, he only made the same comments about her that he has made in many other similar interviews in Japan.

I can't wait for the show though, I'm sure Jero will be the, "Best Reddist", Japan has ever seen. I've already got my spot marked out on the sofa well in advance!!
larguero at 05:38 PM JST - 2nd December

African-American enka singer Jero Why wouldn't "American" just do?

Agree, make a remark on the origin of his ancestors is ridiculous. It is not disrespectful to say "black" here, I think. I hope he does well and open doors for other singers born outside this island.