Fans have been waiting a long time to hear which artists will appear on NHK’s 62nd ‘Kohaku Uta Gassen‘, and that list has finally been revealed!
Just a few minutes ago, the names were announced through a live stream on Kohaku’s official website. Check out the list below to see if your favorite artists will be at the most highly-anticipated event of the year!
-
Red Team (Female)
aiko
Ashida Mana
Ayaka
Angela Aki
Ikimonogakari
Ishikawa Sayuri
AKB48
KARA
Kawanaka Miyuki
Kanda Sayaka
Koda Kumi
Godai Natsuko
Kobayashi Sachiko
Sakamoto Fuyumi
Shiina Ringo
Shoujo Jidai
Tendou Yoshimi
Natsukawa Rimi
Nishino Kana
Perfume
Hamasaki Ayumi
Matsuda Seiko
Matsutouya Yumi
Mizuki Nana
Mizumori Kaori
Wada Akiko
The ‘Kohaku Uta Gassen’ is the biggest end-of-the-year music event in Japan, where female and male artists compete against each other in front of a panel of judges.
Arashi and Inoue Mao will be this year’s hosts. AKB48 became the official supporters for the show for the first time, and are featured on Kohaku’s official website, counting down the days to the show.
This year’s lineup has so many idols compared to previous ones. It took Arashi a decade to appeared on Kohaku, I’m guessing NHK really wants to wheel in the ratings with popular artists. It’s just not what is use to be…., but I’m still looking forward to it, especially my beloved boys and Mao-chan.
It was announced that actress Aragaki Yui will play the heroine for special drama “Mou Yuukai nante Shinai” which will be aired on January 3rd on Fuji TV. As reported previously, Arashi’s Ohno Satoshi will star in the special drama.
This special drama is a comedy, based on a novel by Higashikawa Tokuya who is known as the author of “Nazotoki wa Dinner no Ato de”, and Aragaki will play a rich college girl whose father is the boss of racketeers named, “Hanazono Erika.” She suggests a freeter (will be played by Ohno) a fake kidnapping, and tries to chisel some money out of her father in order to pay a doctor’s fee for her half-sister (different father) who needs a kidney transplantation.
Aragaki was saying before the shoot started, “I’m nervous since Ohno-san is many-talented person, but our dialogue will be main for the drama, so I would like to enjoy it.” However, when the shoot started on the 28th, it seems like she felt little better as she said, “We (Ohno and her) started communicating with each other little by little, so I think it will be a fun drama that suits for new year.”
I’m overjoyed now and looking forward to this. The interaction between Oh-chan and Yui-san will definitely positive, I’ve heard some many wonderful stories about her.
The SMAP pop group member Takuya Kimura and anime song performer Hiroshi Kitadani will sing the One Piece anime’s first opening theme song “We Are!” on the SMAP x SMAP variety show.
Kimura and Kitadani’s duet will appear on the “anime song special corner” segment of the program on November 28 at 10:00 P.M. in Japan. Kitadani performed “We Are!” for the adventure television anime as well as the series’ current “We Go!” opening song.
Anime composer Kouhei Tanaka (One Piece fims, Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan, Rosario + Vampire) reported the news on his blog on Tuesday.
A few days ago, I accidentally stumbled across Arrival when doing a search on Miki Shinichiro (always looking for new things to be obsessed with ) and have been tickled pink ever since. This is an image/character song sang by Iwaki Kyousuke and Katou Youji which are portrayed by Morikawa Toshiyuki and Miki-sama, respectively. The track can be found via drama CD, Haru wo Daite Ita Special Premiere.
By the way, this yaoi series is written and illustrated by BL queen, Nitta Youka. Haru absolutely a fabulous read if you are interesting in this genre and/or looking for something new.
Arrival is a beautiful track with amazing and positive lyrics reflecting on aspects of life, which fits perfectly for Iwaki-san and Katou, may it be for their careers and relationship. As their lives intertwined with roller-coaster rides, the journey remains optimistic and fulfilling, as well as, leading toward something sweet and tender. There is a saying that for every storm, a rainbow awaits afterwards. Quite true in many cases, don’t you think?
The vocals performed by Morikawa-san and Miki-sama are astonishing, they harmonized beautifully giving the song an even more energetic atmosphere. With its upbeat tempo, smooth rhythm and rousing chorus, it is guaranteed that a second and three taste will be needed.
Seiyuu song or not, this is one darn awesome song! The combination of Morikawa-san and Miki-sama is absolutely divine, heavenly and magnificent, I have been fangirling for days now and don’t see my addiction coming to be end anytime soon. LOL
Something else I found interesting…the composer, Ueno Koji, is linked to JE?! He has written and arranged a few songs for Arashi (Natsu no Owari ni Omou Koto & Carnival Night part 2), KinKi Kids (It’s All Right), and V6 (Nemui Kyuujitsu). Kyaa~~~ most of which I adore, one more reason to love Arrival.
Here is the track, the lyrics and the English translation (by the fabulous gacktyougirl):
Arrival
Lyrics/Music/Arrangement: Ueno Koji
Vocals: Morikawa Toshiyuki and Miki Shinichiro as Iwaki Kyousuke and Katou Youji
From Haru wo Daite Ita Special Premiere (drama CD)
Hikoukigumo oikakenagara
chikai tateta awai yakusoku
kizamu toki ni iro wa aseta mo
kono mune de tashika ni ikitzuiteru
While chasing the trails of planes
The oath of a faint promise
In the ticking time the colours fade as well
In this chest they will surely continue to live
Tatoe ima kaeru basho nakushita to shite mo
Ashita e to izanaeru hikari ga areba ii
Even if now I was to lose the place I could go back to
There is a light that will lead me into tomorrow
Boku ga yume mita sekai wa
kimi ga negau mirai e to tsutzuiteru
sora o yuku tori no you ni
jiyuu na kaze o atsumete tobitatou
michinori wa tooi kedo
itsu no hi ka sakebiau koe wa todoku kara
The world I dreamed of is
where you can continue on into the future you hope for
Like a bird into the sky
Fly high and collect the free wind
The road is long, but
[you'll do it] because the voice that calls out from that day reaches out
Furisosoita komorebi no shita
yurareru kage ni kasaneta kioku
utsuroi yuku keshiki de sae mo
kaerarenai mono ga mi o musunderu
Under the light pouring down from between the tree leaves
In the swayig shadows are superimposed memories
Even the scenery becomes transient
And the things that can’t return are connected to reality
Moshimo mada yuku saki ga sadamaranakute mo
unmei o koeta nara kiseki wa okoru hazu
A still moving destination must be decided
If it’s beyond fate, a miracle will occur
Kimi ga shinjita kotoba wa
boku ga nozomu sono subete tsutsumikomu
namida ni kobune ukabete
mayou koto naku hitasura kogidasou
kiri wa tachikomeru kedo
itsu no hi ka motometa sugata wa mieru kara
The words you believed in
envelop everything that I wish for
A little boat floating in tears
Rowing in earnestly without hesitation
A dense fog grows, but
(you’ll do it) because the one you wished for will be in sight
Kewashisa ni kono tsubasa o kizutsukete demo
sorezore o hikiyoseru chikara ga aru kagiri
In an unreachable place those wings are continuously injured, but
As long as there is power, they will be gathered
Boku ga yume mita sekai wa
kimi ga negau mirai e to tsutzuiteru
sora o yuku tori no you ni
jiyuu na kaze o atsumete tobitatou
michinori wa tooi kedo
itsu no hi ka hibiki au inori wa todoku kara
The world I dreamed of is
where you can continue on into the future you hope for
Like a bird into the sky
Fly high and collect the free wind
The road is long, but
(you’ll do it) because the resonating prayer of that day reaches you
The interaction between Oh-chan and Yui-san will definitely positive, I’ve heard some many wonderful stories about her. 
) and have been tickled pink ever since. 
