NHK announces hosts for 77th Kohaku Uta Gassen

NHK has announced the hosts and theme for the 77th Kohaku Uta Gassen, scheduled to broadcast on December 31, 2026. The hosting lineup includes actors Mana Ashida and Masato Sakai, singer and former Arashi member Kazunari Ninomiya, and announcer Naoko Suzuki.

The program theme is ‘Let’s go beyond, together with song’ (こえていこう、歌とともに。), reflecting a desire to find hope through music amidst uncertain times and natural disasters. The theme aims to connect people across genres, generations, genders, and borders.

Public interest has also focused on the chemistry between Sakai and Ninomiya, who previously starred together in the drama VIVANT. While Ninomiya teased his cooperation with Sakai via social media using lines from the show, some observers noted that NHK’s strict public broadcasting regulations regarding commercialism might limit how much they can reference the popular drama during the live broadcast.