Star-Studded Lineup: Masato Sakai, Mana Ashida, and Kazunari Ninomiya to Host the 77th NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen
On November 9, Japan's public broadcaster NHK unveiled the hosting lineup for the upcoming 77th edition of its annual New Year's Eve music extravaganza, the Kohaku Uta Gassen. The prestigious four-person team features acclaimed actors Masato Sakai, Mana Ashida, and Kazunari Ninomiya, alongside NHK anchor Naoko Suzuki, igniting widespread buzz across social media. This year marks the first time that both Sakai and Ashida will take the helm as Kohaku hosts. Sakai, a celebrated actor renowned for leading multiple NHK Taiga dramas and critically acclaimed productions, expressed his confidence in the ensemble, stating, "Kazunari Ninomiya is a dependable and deeply respected younger brother figure to me, and while this will be my first time working alongside Mana Ashida, I have no doubt it will go smoothly." Meanwhile, Ashida, who has captured the nation's heart since her days as a child star, has previously participated in the broadcast as both a performing singer and ...