Re Kouhaku ratings:
Namie's appearance did
NOT help the ratings. In fact, the 68th Kouhaku was the third-worst rated Kouhaku in viewership ratings (Kanto/Tokyo), with the 'critical' second half recording 39.4% (2004, at 39.3%, and 2015, at 39.2%, were worse; first half was 35.8%).
I don't understand why, even with Namie's final apperance, the Kouhaku ratings actually went down.
