NHK Kōhaku Uta-Gassen(1951)

NHK Kōhaku Uta-Gassen is Japan's most iconic New Year's Eve television special, broadcast live every December 31st by public broadcaster NHK. The annual music competition divides the year's biggest artists into two competing teams: the red team (akagumi) featuring female vocalists and the white team (shirogumi) featuring male vocalists. Performances range across J-pop, enka, and traditional genres as artists battle for audience votes. The show airs simultaneously across NHK General TV, radio, and 4K/8K channels nationwide, plus international streams via NHK World Premium. For decades, Kōhaku has been a cultural touchstone marking Japan's transition into the new year, drawing millions of viewers who tune in to see which team claims victory and celebrate the year's most celebrated musical talent.