2021 Kouhaku Uta Gassen to be held with an audience

[KarenPang]

It's been announced that the '72nd NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen' will be held with an audience this year. Audience applications are currently being accepted until October 20 via NHK's event information page.

Due to the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic, last year's 'Kouhaku Uta Gassen' was held without any spectators. This year, it will be held with an audience for the first time in two years with coronavirus infection countermeasures set in place. The annual program is usually held at Tokyo's NHK Hall, but as it is currently under renovation, it will broadcast live from Tokyo International Forum Hall A this year.

The '72nd NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen' will be held on December 31 from 7:30 pm to 11:45 pm JST.

https://www.tokyohive.com/article/20...th-an-audience
https://twitter.com/nhk_kouhaku/stat...09146202116102

[KarenPang]

On October 29, NHK announced that the hosts for the '72nd NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen' will be actor Oizumi Yo (48), actress Kawaguchi Haruna (26), and NHK reporter Wakuda Mayuko. It was also announced that starting this year, there will no longer be separate hosts for the White and Red teams. As such, everyone will just be referred to as 'hosts.'

This is Oizumi's second consecutive year to serve as the host on the program. He is scheduled to star in next year's Taiga drama 'Kamakuradono no 13-nin.' Meanwhile, this is Kawaguchi's debut on the program. She is set to star in next year's morning drama 'Chimudondon.'

The theme of this year's program will be "Colourful." NHK hopes to make the last day of 2021 colourful as the days have been lacking in colour due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The '72nd NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen' will take place on December 31 from 7:30 pm to 11:45 pm JST.

https://www.tokyohive.com/article/20...aku-uta-gassen