To be honest, I'm surprised SMAP isn't at the list. That's the thing we're most furious about, given the fact they're disbanding. WHY?????
Also upset about Leo Ieiri not in the Kouhaku either, but we're more furious about why SMAP isn't going to be in the Kouhaku before disbanding... (>_<)
(Ironically Leo and SMAP are in the same label - Victor Entertainment.)
It's great for Utada to appear in the Kouhaku for the first time (!), but I'm not sure if it will be enough to save the Kouhaku from the recent downward trend in TV ratings... Not only that, we have to wonder ourselves:
Is Japanese pop music's relevance waning? (this was after the recent bribery allegations involving the Japan Record Awards)
http://aramajapan.com/news/music/is-...-waning/67330/