[Only this year's trending artists] Predictions for the 75th NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen Performers [2024]

Editor-in-Chief, RAG MUSICHane Keisuke
Editor-in-chief of RAG MUSIC. JFC-certified fact-checker. After working in a music studio and handling wedding sound, joined the RAG MUSIC editorial team in 2016. Experienced with a variety of instruments: marching band in elementary school, clarinet in junior high school wind ensemble, and drums in a band from high school onward. Drawing on my own musical activities and the experience gained through my work, I produce daily articles, including various song introductions, features on music festivals around the country, and live reports. In music, I enjoy not only rock from Japan and abroad but, lately, a wide range of J-pop as well.

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.

White Team (1–10)

In the Morning of DeterminationAqua Timez

Aqua Timez 'Ketsui no Asa ni' Music Video (Theme song of the film 'Brave Story')

In the Morning of DeterminationAqua Timez

In 2024, Aqua Timez celebrates the 20th anniversary of their debut and reunites for the first time in six years.

Released in July 2006, this song served as the theme for the film “Brave Story,” selling over 200,000 copies and boasting 1.2 million ringtone downloads—one of their signature hits.

It carefully weaves together the importance of描く one’s own dream, even if it’s imperfect, and the struggles of modern people who find it hard to openly express their pain, giving listeners the courage to move forward.

Eighteen years after their first appearance at the 2006 Kōhaku Uta Gassen with this very song, now—at this major turning point marked by their reunion—we can’t help but hope to hear their music on that stage once again!

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

In conclusion

We predicted the artists and songs likely to appear on the Kōhaku Uta Gassen from among the artists who made headlines and the tracks that drew attention this year.

Looking over the artists and songs introduced in this article, it turned out to be a good way to reflect on the trends in this year’s music scene.

While this article mainly offers predictions geared toward younger audiences, we’re also excited for performances by the veteran stars who appear every year.

See how accurate these predictions are by tuning in to the actual Kōhaku Uta Gassen broadcast!