Oh 2012, is that you?
Can you believe it's almost here already? I hope you are all having a great time partying or relaxing at home to welcome the new year.
Many houses in Japan will be watching NHK's Annual Ko-haku Music Show on TV together with family. Since they started the show on New Years Eve in 1953, it has been the show to watch on the last day of the year. It's a live show that showcases the popular artists of the year in two groups, White group for the guys and Red group for the girls, and it's sort of a contest to see which group wins every year.
There have actually been many non-Japanese artist that have performed in the Ko-haku. Artists like Cyndi Lauper, who sang I Drove All Night in 1990, and Andy Williams, who sang Moon River in 1991.
Although with so many different TV programs available to us and things to do, not as many people watch this show as before. But it's still a tradition in my house have it on TV and we all sing along to our favorite songs.
Happy New Years Eve to you all!
Man, you got it all in this shot! Enjoy the last of 2011.
ReplyDeleteHey Kaori,
ReplyDeleteThat's a great shot.
Almost there... hope it's been a good year for you. All the best for 2012,
Evelyn
Wow! The city is sparkling in your photo! Everything looks so clean and new. - I love learning about your traditions. What fun! I hope the red group wins! Goooooo, Red Group, go! - We try to stay up until midnight and shoot fireworks as the clock strikes 12.
ReplyDeleteOh, look, there's Tokyo Sky Tree! ^^ Happy 2012, Kaori. I hope it's a real dragon year of wealth, prosperity, happiness and lots of good photos.
ReplyDeleteHow impressive a sight !
ReplyDeletePlease have you all a Happy New Year !
daily athens photo
Just beautiful...
ReplyDeleteWarm wishes for a happy & fun-filled New Year...
Seasons Greetings!
Happy New Year!
ReplyDelete明けましておめでとうございます。今年もよろしくお願いします。
May the coming year bring you love, peace and happiness. And may your love, peace and happiness overflow and fill the world with that much more beneficence. Did I also mention health and prosperity?
I see that RED WON! Hooray. And the forty fifth performer was YUMIN singing one of my favorite songs here. Even though this video is from 2010 If you watch it to the end you will see why it is so appropriate to this New Years. (If anyone is curious there is a poor quality video with English subtitles here).
I wish I could have seen the entire NHK program. Are there any links anywhere? I would have liked to see Seiko and her daughter Sayaka perform the “Sukiyaki” song of Kyû Sakamoto. And all the other performers.
The Hula Girls did a remote presentation, too, didn't they? Whoo hoo!
ReplyDeleteI love traditions Kaori, I'm so happy to hear that you still share this with your family. That is an amazing shot of your city you have for us here. I wish you and your family all the very best for the new year.
ReplyDeleteTerrific shot of your city! Did you have a fun evening of singing? :-)
ReplyDeleteI saw some visiting musicians from a Japan high school performing at our Rose Parade today! I think it was all-girls! And they were all good!!
ReplyDeleteI've heard of the Ko-haku Music Show! I wanted to watch it~~ Can you get it on DVD, too?
ReplyDeleteJust looking at this picture gives me anxiety. Lol! So much city...so little landscape.
ReplyDelete