KOUHAKU UTAGASSEN 2008

[DA1SUK1DAY01691]

As the list was posted in Ayu's forum, I decided to do a blanket thread for everyone else. I will try my best at translating, but it might not come out, so please help!!

THIS YEAR'S THEME: "The Power of Music - The Bonds of People" 「歌の力　人の絆」

Asterisks (*) represent first-timers.

RED

Spoiler:

aiko - KissHug (7)
Aoyama Thelma - Soba ni Iru ne (*)
Akimoto Junko - Ai no mama de... (*)
Ayaka - Okaeri (3)
Angela Aki - Tegami ~Haikei Juugo no Kimi e~ (3)
Ikimonogakari - SAKURA (*)
Ishikawa Sayuri - Amagigoe (31)
Otsuka Ai - Ai (5)
Kawanaka Miyuki - Nirimusou (21)
GIRL NEXT DOOR - Guuzen no Kakuritsu (*)
Koda Kumi - TABOO (4)
Godai Natsuko - Kyoto Ninenzaka (?) (15)
Kobayashi Sachiko - ? (30)
Sakamoto Fuyumi - Kaze ni Tatsu (20)
SPEED - White Love -ReTrack- (4)
Tendou Yoshimi - ? (13)
Nakashima Mika - ORION (7)
Nakamura Mitsuko - Kawachi Otoko Bushi (13)
Hamasaki Ayumi - Mirrorcle World (10)
Perfume - Polyrhythm (Poririzumu) (*)
Hitoto Yo - Hajimete (5)
Hirahara Ayaka - Nocturne (5)
Fuji Ayako - Kurenai Ito (I think. Could be "Akai Ito") (16)
Fujioka, Fujimaki and Ohashi Nozomi - Gake no Ue no Ponyo (*)
Mizumori Kaori - Wajima Asaichi (6)
Wada Akiko - Yume (32)

TOTAL NEWCOMERS FOR THE RED TEAM: 6

WHITE

Spoiler:

Akikawa Masafumi - Sen no Kaze ni Natte (3)
Aqua Timez - Niji (2)
Itsuki Hiroshi - ? (38)
EXILE - Ti Amo (4)
Kitajima Saburo - ? (45)
Kitayama Takeshi - Kibou no Uta (4)
Kimaguren - LIFE (*)
Kiyama Yusaku - home (*)
Kobukuro - Toki no Ashioto (4)
Jero - Umiyuki (*)
Shuchishin with Pabo - Shuchishin ~(?) Kouhaku Special (*, One for Shuchishin, one for Pabo)
SMAP - Kono Toki, Kitto Yume ja nai Kouhaku SP (16)
Tohoshinki - Purple Line ~Doushite Kimi wo Suki ni natte shimattan darou? (*)
TOKIO - Amagasa (15)
Tokunaga Hideaki - Rainbow Blue (3)
Hikawa Kiyoshi - Kiyoshi no Zundoko Bushi (9)
Hirai Ken - Itsuka Hanareru Hi ga Kite mo (6)
Fuse Akira - ? (24)
Porno Grafitti - Gift (7)
Maekawa Kiyoshi - Tokyo Sabaku (?) (18)
Mikawa Kenichi - Sasoriza no Onna 2008 (25)
Mr. Children - GIFT (*)
Mizutani Yutaka - California Connection (*)
Mori Shinichi - Ofukurosan (41)
Moriyama Naotaro - Ikiteru Koto ga Tsurai nara (3)
WaT - 36° C (4)

TOTAL NEWCOMERS FOR THE WHITE TEAM: 7

I put question marks where I cannot read or if I'm not sure if I'm correct.
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NOTABLE ACTS (for those who haven't watched a full Kouhaku before):

-Mikawa Kenichi and Kobayashi Sachiko: They always "compete" to see who can have the most lavish performance. Their performances usually include avante-garde fashion and stage props. A little-known fact is Kobayashi Sachiko claims her dresses as "stage props" in order to avoid heavy taxing, although most dresses are indeed stage props.

-Angela Aki: She is currently the only act besides Kiroro to have played their own solo piano.

-Ayaka: She may perform "Anata to" with Kobukuro, just as she had with "WINDING ROAD" last year. No one expected it as the performance wasn't listed.


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This Kouhaku will establish history, with not only the youngest participant since Hagiwara Mai last year (Ohashi Nozomi), but also the very first African-American Enka singer (Jero).

The White team will be aiming for four straight wins. They currently lead 30-28. No team has ever won more than three Kouhaku in a row. The Red team has done so three times, and the White team four (including this current one).

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My opinion: I think WHITE still has a very formidable team, with the new Jero, Shuchishin, and Mr. Children on their side. However, RED has Aoyama Thelma, who with GReeeeN topped most of the year's download charts, GIRL NEXT DOOR, and Perfume, all great artists. Yet again another interesting Kouhaku.