Entertainment · TV & Streaming · 9 hrs ago
NHK chief hopes VIVANT-inspired moment features at Kohaku
NHK named four hosts for this year's Kohaku Uta Gassen, its annual year-end music show in Japan.
Actress Mana Ashida, actors Masato Sakai and Kazunari Ninomiya, and NHK announcer Naoko Suzuki will host the program.
Ashida and Sakai will host for the first time, while Ninomiya returns as an individual host for the first time in nine years.
NHK chairman Tatsuhiko Inoue said he was pleased to have popular figures on the program and praised Sakai as an actor currently at the height of his popularity.
Sakai and Ninomiya played brothers-in-law in the TBS drama VIVANT, and Inoue said he would like to see that connection reflected in a Kohaku segment.
He also welcomed cooperation between NHK and TBS, saying it could increase the value of their content.
The four are set to host the show on New Year's Eve, though no specific VIVANT-inspired segment was confirmed.
NHK chairman Itsuhiko Inoue said he hopes the Kohaku Song Contest will include a moment inspired by the drama VIVANT.
Inoue said he would like to see a scene drawing on the brother-in-law relationship played by Masato Sakai and Kazunari Ninomiya in the drama.
Sakai, Ninomiya, Mana Ashida and NHK announcer Naoko Suzuki will host the 77th Kohaku Song Contest.
Inoue praised Sakai as a highly popular actor and said he was looking forward to seeing how he hosts.
He also expressed hope for cooperation between NHK and TBS, which made VIVANT.
- Who
- NHK chairman Itsuhiko Inoue said he hopes for a VIVANT-inspired moment at Kohaku.
- What
- Inoue said he would like to see an on-air scene drawing on the brother-in-law roles played by Masato Sakai and Kazunari Ninomiya in VIVANT.
- When
- Inoue made the comments on October 21, 2026. The contest is scheduled for New Year's Eve.
- Where
- At NHK's offices in Tokyo.
- Why
- Inoue said such cooperation could increase the value of the content.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
NHK announced the hosts for the 77th Kohaku Song Contest and Inoue commented on the lineup at a regular news conference.
The 77th Kohaku Song Contest is scheduled to air.
- Contest
- 77th NHK Kohaku Song Contest
- Hosts
- Mana Ashida, Masato Sakai, Kazunari Ninomiya and Naoko Suzuki
- Scheduled date
- December 31, 2026
- Theme
- Go beyond, together with song.
- Drama
- VIVANT
- Production company
- TBS
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What people are saying
I want to see it
The actor who is most on the rise right now
I hope she will show the person she has grown into on the grand stage of hosting Kohaku