NHK has announced that Japanese pop star Misia is to take part in this year's "Kohaku Uta Gassen" (Red and White Song Contest) on New Year's Eve via live satellite feed from Africa.
The program is a tradition in Japan, in which the most popular music artists of the year are divided into competing teams of red and white and perform on TV in the run-up to midnight. Misia, 34, who has been campaigning and fundraising extensively in Africa since 2002, is to sing as part of the red team in the show's first ever African broadcast.
Misia will sing from the Namib Desert where the temperature will be around 40 degrees. NHK says it is currently investigating ways of continuing the broadcast, which will take place at around 4 p.m. local time, in the event of a sandstorm.
A spokesperson for NHK said, "We hope the dramatic nature of the setting will be matched by Misia's performance to provide an unforgettable start to the new year."
© Japan Today
11 Comments
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combinibento
Any bets she will NOT sing "Everything"? Any takers?
Mirai Hayashi
Wow...two unusual things here:
Misia appearing on TV
REAL talent on Kohakusmithinjapan
Misia is indeed a good singer -- one of few in the J-pop canon -- but it still blows my mind the efforts the are taking to make this happen but have excluded all South Korean singers because it was not feasible. Anyway, rather than worry about how they can keep the broadcast running in a sandstorm, how about worrying about Misia if there's a sandstorm?
nath
Yeah, or else.
Sachiko and her magic feathers, exchanged for the next variety of whistles and bells...
True talent is what is exciting- the rest is razzle-dazzle...
GW
Thank goodness I dont give nhk any $$$
nath
Huge waste of tax payers money.
DudeDeuce
No matter where an artist goes or who appears on the program, the men's team always wins on this wack show.
Goals0
The girls won last year.
blanko
Seriously, why would NHK do such a thing? Like being 210% in debt isn't bad enough?
spudman
Easy, it's not their money.
CrisGerSan
wonderful news, this will be a great start to the new year.