Yukie Nakama

Masahiro Nakai, Yukie Nakama to host Red and White Singing Contest on New Year's Eve

Tuesday 25th November, 11:03 AM JST

TOKYO —

SMAP leader Masahiro Nakai and actress Yukie Nakama will host the 59th Red and White Singing Contest on New Year’s Eve, it was announced at a press conference Monday. It will be the fifth time and third year in a row for Nakai to chair the White Team, and the third time and first in two years for Nakama to chair the Red Team.

The pair last co-hosted the show together in 2006. Last year, Nakai led the White Team and Tsurube Shofukutei, 56, a rakugo performer and comedian, led the Red Team.

“I hope people don’t mistake this as some kind of promotion for our new movie,” Nakai insisted. He was referring to “Watashi wa kai ni naritai,” a movie starring Nakai and Nakama, which opened on Nov 22, a day for couples in Japan. Nakai went on to say: “Nakama and I made a great couple that day. I don’t want to have any kind of couple’s argument on New Year’s Eve, but I want to fight hard and lead my team to victory.”

Nakama said: “Hosting the contest is not something you get used to, no matter how many times you do it. I want to remain vigilant out there this year too.”

Nakai and Nakama turned up at a screening of their new movie on the day it opened in cinemas. When leaving, Nakai mumbled: “See you the day after tomorrow,” referring to the press conference that took place Monday to announce this year’s hosts of the Red and White Singing Contest.

When asked about Nakai’s and Nakama’s appearance together on New Year’s Eve being expected to significantly help in promoting their new film, an NHK spokesman had this to say: “That’s not why we chose them. They are able people and popular with all generations. We also had the pair host our show back in 2006, before this movie.”

Wire reports

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15 Comments

thepro at 12:49 PM JST - 25th November

What a terribly boring show. I'll watch Dynamite, thanks.
hoserfella at 01:17 PM JST - 25th November

Nakai's voice sounds as though he churned his vocal chords through a cheese-grater. Another reason to miss this marathon crapola
Altria at 01:26 PM JST - 25th November

Do the locals actually enjoy this snorefest?
herefornow at 02:39 PM JST - 25th November

Yawn!!!!! Unless of course they dress Nakama-san in a bikini or something similar. Otherwise, this is NOT "must see TV".
Ultradude at 03:27 PM JST - 25th November

I'd rather watch the inside of my eyelids
555Book at 07:10 PM JST - 25th November

This show used to be really hot and keenly anticipated in other asian countries.
Ninjazilla at 07:43 PM JST - 25th November

Great to see the stars of the latest Whitewash of WW2 movie getting a chance to promote it even more.
regev at 09:46 PM JST - 25th November

I strongly disagree with my fellow comment-makers: this is a great show, especially the Enka, and I also must add that Yukie Nakama is amazingly beautiful!
Bogi at 11:16 PM JST - 25th November

Note to those people who have arrived in Japan during the last year: Skip this program.
Nessie at 12:33 AM JST - 26th November

Looks like Jero got passed over again as team leader. Maybe next year.
Honne at 07:00 AM JST - 26th November

Koukaku lost its lustre and prestige a long time ago. Before, it meant something to be invited. After NHK began literally buying top performers to appear during the late 90s and early 2000s, it became no different than how performers buy their way on to shows like Hey! Hey! Hey! Music Champ.

As much as enka is not my preferred listening choice, that was one of the highlights of the show no matter how boring because the perfomers put feeling into it. In trying to boost its ratings to appeal to younger audiences (has not worked), they've cut the number of enka performers but some of the mainstream clown acts that are invited makes the show look like a 3-ring circus.

DJ Ozma's appearance though was still the best since it was hilarious and was a huge middle finger to this NHK anachronism since it must have had all the prim and proper (by appearance only) NHK heads pulling their hair out. They invited the popular act to appeal to a particular demographic and expected DJ Ozma to not be DJ Ozma and not deviate from what was done during rehearsals?
Richard_the_First at 10:45 AM JST - 26th November

Even though it comes from the age of the dinosaurs, something the BBC would have done thirty years ago, its oddly enjoyable. A bit like the Queen's speech for Brits and colonials. You knows it's shite but watch it anyway.
bdiego at 03:37 PM JST - 26th November

I watched last year's and while most weren't worthwhile, it's an interesting concept. An eye opener was that singer with the gigantic moving dress. You know what I'm talking about.

Fun for the first time just for novelty.
ptolemy at 05:20 PM JST - 26th November

“I hope people don’t mistake this as some kind of promotion for our new movie,”

They will because it is, or you two wouldn't have been chosen. Don't insult people's intelligence sonny.
nightvision at 08:20 AM JST - 14th February

Once they find a working formula, they never change it. If it no longer works, they try to add in something. If it still doesn't work, they take it down. That's Japanese taste.