Checking in on this year’s year-end Music Show, the 68th Annual Kouhaku Uta Gassen Red and White Song Fest! This year’s hosts are adorable Kasumi Arimura and Arashi’s Ninomiya Kazunari…and HEY…who’s that I see sitting in the judges chair behind them?
Why It’s none other than my fave new j-actress of 2017, Riho Yoshioka!! Things are looking good!
I think Arashi has set a new “tone” to these Red and White festivals as Hey Say Jump opening the program with a very Arashi-style show-tune style number with “Come on a My House”...
Little Glee Monster is an act I’d been hearing about but are seeing for the very first time, and I was properly impressed with their song “Sukida”! (BTW, did they take their name from the Haruki Murakami story “Little Green Monster”?)
As usual, I was blown away by E-Girls who continue to have the most invigorating performances, and they do it again with “Love Queen”
And then it was time for some homegrown fun with Shishamo's "Ashita Mo" and some kick-butt Enka with Midori Oka...
Sexy Zone are back to remind everyone that they’ve got the most awkward Johnny’s name ever..And why does everyone seem to be dressed by Arashi's stylist?
Sandaime J Soul Brothers sing the terrific "Happy" from the hilarious "Super Salaryman Saenai-Shi" drama...such a fun tune....
Tendo Yoshimi is the act this year where everyone comes out and acts nuts…there was so much going on onstage during her perf, it was like watching the new Star Wars Mos Eisley scene where stuff was flying and spinning aorund everywhere, LOL
Sekai No Owari “Rain”
Mai Kuraki, “Togetsukyou ~Kimi Omofu~”
Yehaw, I was THRILLED to see K-pop act TWICE making their debut here! Not since 2012 (where Girls Generation and KARA appeared) have any Korean acts been on the show, and their cute song TT put a smile on my face!
The Tomioka High School Dance Girls, whom blew me away with their fierce and frenetic dance moves dancing to Yoko Oginome’s “Dancing Hero (Eat You Up) takes the stage backing up Go Hiromi…
A lot of the AKB-related acts have become so much more serious lately, and Fukyowaon by Keyakizaka46 is another moody tune…very captivating!
…and in contrast, Kanjani8 brought the silliness with their quirky and catchy tune ”Nagurigaki Beat” draped in Skittles rainbow colors…
Masaharu Fukuyama carried ont the tradition of dialing in his appearance with “Tomoe Gakuen”
And Fuyumi Sakamoto was this year’s “Matsuri” showcase!
Kana Nishino was bright and peppy...
TOKIO was back singing one of their staples, the classic “Ambitious JAPAN” (one of my BIG faves!)...gads, these guys are getting scruffier as each year goes by....
Nogizaki46 do their thing with “Influencer”
The Lovely Seiko Matsuda singing her annual ballad, this time her song “Atarashii Ashita”
And WHOA, Loved the powerful performance duet of ULFULS’ Tortoise Matsumoto and Ringo Sheena!!!
Techno trio Perfume shout it out from the rooftops…
Yoshiki and Toshi do a 2017 vesion of their classic “Endless Rain”…
AKB48’s yearly performance and Member retirement announcement….
Takako Matsu, whom I just talked about for her great rendition of Elsa’s “Let It Go” from Frozen belts it out and shows everyone that she’s got the pipes…
Gen Hoshino is back, last year he stole the show with his catchy “Koi” and this year he brings yet another great tune, the Kahogo No Kahoko theme, “Family Song”!
I still think it's weird that Shiho Ochi calls herself by the group name “Superfly” , but I can’t deny that she’s got one of the rockingest voices out there!
Is it just me or are Arashi becoming more and more broadway-ish as the years go by? LOL, this is an act that’s really MADE for variety shows and the like!
And then we got to the appearances I was waiting for: “Special Guest” stages by Keisuke Kuwata and the recently-announced-retiring Namie Amuro….very emotional perf from Namie belting out her song “Hero”!
Thought this year was gonna wrap up with the stunning Sayuri Ishikawa, but was surprised to see duo Yuzu following her and officially ending the program!
All in all, yet another zany Red and White festival for the record!
Posted by zdorama @ zdoramaagain.blogspot.com
