Mana Ashida, Masato Sakai and Kazunari Ninomiya to host NHK's 77th Kohaku on Dec 31
In short
NHK announced on 9 October that actors Mana Ashida (22), Masato Sakai (52) and Kazunari Ninomiya (43) will host the 77th Kohaku Uta Gassen on New Year's Eve, together with NHK announcer Nahoko Suzuki (鈴木奈穂子). It is the first time Ashida and Sakai will host the show; Ninomiya returns as a solo host for the first time in nine years. The programme airs on 31 December from 19:20 to 23:45 under the theme "こえていこう、歌とともに。" (roughly, "Let's go beyond, together with song").
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NHK announced on 9 October that actors Mana Ashida (22), Masato Sakai (52) and Kazunari Ninomiya (43), together with NHK announcer Nahoko Suzuki (鈴木奈穂子), will host the 77th Kohaku Uta Gassen on New Year's Eve, according to the Asahi Shimbun and Mynavi News. The programme runs on 31 December from 19:20 to 23:45 on NHK General TV, BS Premium 4K, BS8K and AM radio, the Asahi Shimbun reported. This year's theme is "こえていこう、歌とともに。" (roughly, "Let's go beyond, together with song"). [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 6 ]
Ashida and Sakai will host the Kohaku for the first time. Ninomiya returns as an individual host for the first time since 2017, nine years ago, and hosted five consecutive years from 2010 to 2014 as a member of Arashi, Mynavi News reported. Suzuki hosts for the third year running, after 2024 and 2025. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 ]
Sakai said that when he received the offer he could not believe it, and that "even now, about 99%" of him still wonders whether he is the right choice. He called Ninomiya "a respected and reliable younger brother, just as in the drama we co-starred in." Ninomiya said that in the past he could always make up for things by singing with Arashi, "but this time I can't, so I'm a little on edge." Ashida said she hoped to "borrow the strength of the two" and fulfil the role properly. Sakai and Ninomiya play brothers in the TBS drama "VIVANT", and Ninomiya posted on X that he would support Sakai with all his strength, Livedoor News reported. [ 2 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
NHK said the theme reflects Japanese music spreading across generations and borders, and that amid many disasters in the country it hopes people can "overcome them together with song and find hope for the future," Mynavi News reported. Production chief Akihisa Koike (小池明久) called the three "the best trio." [ 4 ]
Ashida appeared at the Kohaku as a singer in 2011 and as a guest judge in 2022, and starred in the NHK drama "Kataomoi" (片想い) this year. Sakai was a guest judge in 2015 and 2023. Yahoo! News Japan reported, citing an NHK insider, that a segment focused on Kumamoto Prefecture, which suffered serious earthquake damage this year, is under consideration and is likely to involve Sakai, who is from Miyazaki Prefecture. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 ]
Why it matters
The Kohaku Uta Gassen is NHK's annual New Year's Eve music programme, and the host line-up was reported by NHK itself and by national and entertainment outlets. Sakai and Ninomiya currently co-star in the TBS drama "VIVANT", which outlets noted brings stars of a commercial broadcaster's drama to NHK's stage.
Key facts
- NHK announced on 9 October the hosts of the 77th NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen, broadcast on New Year's Eve. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 ]
- The hosts are Mana Ashida (22), Masato Sakai (52) and Kazunari Ninomiya (43), together with NHK announcer Nahoko Suzuki (鈴木奈穂子). [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 ]
- Ashida and Sakai will host the Kohaku for the first time. [ 4 , 6 ]
- Ninomiya hosts for the first time in nine years as an individual, after 2017; he hosted five times as a member of Arashi. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 ]
- Suzuki hosts for a third consecutive year, after 2024 and 2025. [ 4 ]
- The programme airs on 31 December from 19:20 to 23:45, under the theme "こえていこう、歌とともに。". [ 4 , 6 ]
- It will be broadcast on NHK General TV, BS Premium 4K, BS8K and AM radio. [ 6 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Mana Ashida, Masato Sakai and Kazunari Ninomiya will host the 77th Kohaku Uta Gassen on New Year's Eve. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 ]
- NHK announcer Nahoko Suzuki (鈴木奈穂子) is the fourth host. [ 4 , 6 ]
- This is Ashida's and Sakai's first time hosting the Kohaku. [ 4 , 6 ]
- Ninomiya last hosted individually in 2017, nine years ago. [ 3 , 4 , 6 ]
- The theme is "こえていこう、歌とともに。" and the show runs from 19:20 to 23:45 on 31 December. [ 4 , 6 ]
- Sakai and Ninomiya co-star in the TBS Sunday drama "VIVANT". [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- Ashida appeared at the Kohaku as a singer in 2011 and as a guest judge in 2022; Sakai was a guest judge in 2015 and 2023. [ 3 , 4 , 6 ]
Still unclear
- Whether the Kohaku will include a segment focused on Kumamoto Prefecture involving Sakai. Only one outlet reported this, citing an unnamed NHK insider who said such a segment is under consideration.
- When the host line-up first became known. One outlet said the choice of Sakai and Ashida was learned on 8 October, before NHK's formal announcement on 9 October; other outlets report only the 9 October announcement.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- NHK News reports that Ashida, Sakai and Ninomiya will host the Kohaku. [ 1 ]
- Livedoor News reports NHK's formal announcement with comments from the three hosts. [ 2 ]
- Mynavi News reports the four-host line-up including announcer Nahoko Suzuki and the theme. [ 4 ]
- Livedoor News reports Ninomiya's post on X saying he will support Sakai with all his strength. [ 5 ]
- The Asahi Shimbun reports the announcement and broadcast details. [ 6 ]