![[Only this year's trending artists] Predictions for the 75th NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen Performers [2024]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi_webp/9HKbo1FstOE/maxresdefault.webp)
[Only this year's trending artists] Predictions for the 75th NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen Performers [2024]
A lot of people probably look forward to the Kōhaku Uta Gassen every year, don’t they?
From trending artists of the year to veteran singers who appear annually, it’s exciting to see who will perform and which songs they’ll showcase.
In this article, our editorial team—who research countless songs across various themes every day—will predict the artists who will appear on Kōhaku Uta Gassen and the songs they’ll perform!
This time, we’ve excluded the usual legends and mid-career regulars, and instead predicted contestants and setlists from among the most buzzworthy artists right now.
We’ve selected artists whose songs were featured as drama and film themes, young performers who went viral on social media, and acts celebrating anniversaries.
Enjoy looking back on the past year as you read.
Red Team (1–10)
Double Double FIGHT!CANDY TUNE
They’re an idol group that only debuted in 2023, but they shot to fame in 2025 thanks to a viral hit on TikTok! Many of you have probably heard this song somewhere.
It’s a cheer song packed with encouragement for people chasing their dreams and goals, depicting the determination to get back up again and again and the will to keep trying without giving up.
The lyrics, which sing about the desire to live true to oneself and the conflict with reality, leave a strong impression.
With a catchy melody and up-tempo rhythm crafted by Tamaya 2060% of Wienners on vocals, it’s a compelling track that symbolizes the social media era, and there are high hopes for its performance at the Kouhaku Uta Gassen!
mirrorFRUITS ZIPPER
Since their 2022 debut, FRUITS ZIPPER has taken the spotlight with explosive popularity on social media and a Best New Artist win at the Japan Record Awards.
Keep an eye on this track, released in January 2025 as the web commercial song for Haruyama’s “Praised Suit.” Depicting a girl facing her reflection and transforming—as if by magic—into a cuter, sparkling version of herself, the song is a motivational anthem packed with messages that boost self-esteem.
With fantastical touches like mysterious, magical-girl-style incantations and choreography that mimics opening a compact, it expresses the group’s signature poppy, adorable worldview.
Having successfully performed at Nippon Budokan and Saitama Super Arena, and with a Tokyo Dome show slated for 2026, they’re one of today’s most momentum-filled idol groups—so we can look forward to a dazzling performance on the year-end Kohaku Uta Gassen!
ROSEHANA
Debuting in April 2025, the group drew major attention as the breakout act from the audition show “No No Girls.” This song is their debut track, a number that likens their resolve to a flower—turning hardship and pain into strength and blooming beautifully.
Immediately after its digital release, it debuted at No.
1 on the Billboard JAPAN Hot 100 and logged an astonishing 11.63 million streams in its first week on the Oricon Weekly Streaming Ranking.
Blending producer Chanmina’s powerful message with a global sound crafted with overseas writers, the track is an anthem that encourages anyone striving to overcome adversity.
With appearances at major festivals already set in their debut year, it seems likely their momentum will shine just as brightly on the Kōhaku stage.
Shine in the cruel nightLiSA
In 2025, the sequel film to the anime Demon Slayer was released, and LiSA, who performed its theme song, drew major attention for her outstanding work.
Written and composed by Yuki Kajiura, the song centers on the theme of strength that shines even amid darkness and sorrow, delivering a number that sings of bonds and conviction.
Its lyrics, which carry messages of the courage to push through the night and a love that transcends hatred, possess an epic sense of scale befitting the film’s climax.
The weighty sound that fuses orchestra and rock, together with LiSA’s emotional vocals, is sure to resonate with anyone facing hardship.
I can’t wait to experience that overwhelming performance on the Kouhaku stage!
Laughing and falling downHanbaato Hanbaato
Humbert Humbert, who are drawing attention for being in charge of the theme song for NHK’s morning drama series “Bakebake,” starting in September 2025, are a married duo consisting of Ryosei Sato and Yuho Sano.
The song is a warm, never-tiresome number.
After repeatedly reading Setsu Koizumi’s “Memoirs,” they wrote the lyrics in one go, as if becoming Setsu herself; they capture the subtleties of life where laughter and tears coexist.
With their gentle, unadorned melodies rooted in folk and country, it seems likely the song will also be performed on Kōhaku Uta Gassen as a piece that colors the morning drama.
From 2024, when they provided the theme for the film “My Sunshine,” to 2025, when they will take on the major role of a morning drama theme—expectations are high for a timely appearance on Kōhaku.
Specially, do it.＝LOVE
=LOVE, produced by Rino Sashihara, is releasing a double A-side single in February 2025 featuring a love song that’s poised to become their new signature track.
It straightforwardly expresses a girl’s feelings in love—how simply saying “I love you” isn’t enough and she wants to become someone truly special.
From a cute metaphor about wanting to sit beside the person like the strawberry on a shortcake, to bold lyrics that even demand all the affection they’ve ever given to anyone else, the song is packed with honest, heartfelt emotion.
The members’ adorable performances in red outfits—centered by Maika Sasaki—are also creating buzz, and the music video surpassed 5 million views in nine days.
With their multifaceted talents in voice acting and stage work, plus the momentum of a 2025 arena tour, expectations are rising for a potential debut on the Kouhaku year-end music special.
Love♡Scream!AiScReam
AiScReam is a limited-time unit featuring members from different groups in the Love Live! series.
Released in January 2025, this song sweetly portrays the fluttering feelings of a girl falling in love.
The lyrics are striking, expressing a desire to be more than friends and likening her feelings for the other person to ice cream flavors.
The track has become a hot topic on social media, so many people have likely heard it.
Given its buzz, there’s a good chance they could even appear on the Kouhaku Uta Gassen, don’t you think?