Japan's Festive Frenzy: Year-End Music Timetables Unveiled, Sparking Fan Excitement

The highly anticipated "timetables" for Japan's major year-end music specials, a cherished seasonal tradition, are being unveiled one after another, generating immense buzz on social media, especially X (formerly Twitter). Viewers are tirelessly checking the appearance times of their favorite artists, meticulously planning their year-end activities and viewing schedules.

Excitement Builds for NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen Timetable

The 76th "NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen" is set to broadcast tonight from 7:20 PM JST. As the official account released its timetable, fans erupted in cheers, sharing messages like "Tonight at 7:20 PM, finally!⚡️" and "A special day to wrap up the year. Everyone united by music!❣" Specific comments like "The flow from M!LK to Nogizaka on the Kohaku timetable is simply divine" reflect the high expectations viewers have for the lineup. Various media outlets, including Oricon News, are also running special features, highlighting the show's must-see moments.

"CDTV Live! Live! New Year's Eve Countdown Fes." Also a Major Hit

The "CDTV Live! Live! New Year's Eve Countdown Fes. 2025→2026," airing on the TBS network, has also announced its performing artists and timetable, drawing significant attention. Given the program's extensive duration, stretching late into the night, many fans are creating "personal CDTV timetable memos" to craft their viewing schedules. Numerous mentions of specific artists and their performance slots were seen, such as "0:00 AM: HANA," "2:00 AM: BE:FIRST," and "3:00 AM: MAZZEL, STARGLOW." Enthusiastic comments included anticipation for Travis Japan's performance, "I'm looking forward to both of Travis Japan's songs," and fervent wishes like "A new year starting and ending with DA PUMP is the best!🔥"

Attention is also focused on the songs to be performed, including ROIROM's "My Princess," Nogizaka46's "Biriyani," Daichi Miura's "HorizonDreamer," and KEY TO LIT (Kiteretsu)'s "Aoi Inazuma." Fans expressed their delight, saying things like, "Thank you for releasing the timetable! I'm so excited for the TV premiere of ROIROM's My Princess 🥰."

From Individuals to Media, Year-End "Timetables" Draw Intense Scrutiny

The release of these "timetables" transcends mere program information; it has become crucial in shaping how people spend their New Year's holiday. Fans demonstrate their dedication, with comments such as "I know things will be hectic, but I'll try my best to adjust my schedule, temporarily abandon housework from 9:30 PM, and get ready to watch sitting properly 🙌." Within artist fan communities, there's a mix of joy over specific groups (e.g., =LOVE, ≠ME, ≒JOY, collectively known as "IconoiJoy") being clearly listed in the timetable, alongside anticipation and nervousness about their performance order and time slots.

The "timetable" serves as an essential guide for maximizing enjoyment of these major year-end events, capturing the interest of countless individuals.

The Context

To fully understand the buzz around these "timetables," it's helpful to have some background on Japan's year-end music traditions:

• NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen (Red and White Song Battle): This is arguably Japan's most famous and iconic New Year's Eve television program, broadcast annually by NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation). It features two teams, Red (female artists) and White (male artists), who compete by performing popular songs. The show boasts extremely high viewership and is considered a national event, symbolizing the end of the year for many Japanese families. Artists dream of performing on Kohaku, and being selected is a significant honor.
• CDTV Live! Live! New Year's Eve Countdown Fes.: "Count Down TV" (CDTV) is a long-running music program on TBS. Its New Year's Eve special is an extensive live broadcast that typically starts in the evening and continues past midnight, counting down to the new year. It features a wide array of popular Japanese artists, from idol groups to rock bands and soloists, often performing multiple songs. It's a key alternative viewing option for music fans who want to see more performances than Kohaku's often more structured and limited setlist per artist.
• "Timetable" Significance: Unlike general TV listings, a "timetable" for these massive live shows specifies *exactly* when each artist or group is scheduled to perform. For dedicated fans, this information is critical for several reasons: to ensure they don't miss their favorite act, to plan their entire evening (including other activities like eating or spending time with family), and sometimes even to coordinate with other fans online. The intense discussion on social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter) reflects this need for precise scheduling.
• "Fūbutsushi" (風物詩): The article refers to these shows as a "fūbutsushi." This Japanese term describes things (sights, sounds, smells, events) that evoke a particular season or are characteristic of it, like cherry blossoms in spring or cicadas in summer. Year-end music specials are very much a "fūbutsushi" for the winter holiday season, bringing a sense of tradition and festivity.

This background helps non-Japanese readers grasp why the release of a mere schedule can generate such widespread excitement and meticulous planning.