Hosts
Meet the hosts of the 62nd Kohaku Uta Gassen
Mao made her Kohaku debut as leader of the "Akagumi" for the 62nd edition. A talented young actress with a degree from Meiji University, she debuted in 1999 as a U-15 idol and is best known for her work in the dramas Kids War and Hana Yori Dango. She also won critical acclaim as the lead in the 2011 NHK morning drama Ohisama
Founded in 1999, Arashi is one of Japan's most popular boy bands and another from the famous Johnny's agency. They've sold countless albums, appeared in TV specials and donate their time and talent to various causes. The 62nd marked their third consecutive appearance as a performer at Kohaku and second as team leader, the first group in the show's history to do so
Abe-san is known as "the voice of NHK" as a popular news anchor and voice-over artist. He has had some prior experience with Kohaku, acting as White Team leader for the 52nd, 53rd, 54th and 55th editions. The 62nd marked his seventh appearance at Kohaku and third year as general emcee and mediator, having previously emceed the 60th and 61st editions
AKB48 is an all-female theater idol group based in Akihabara. Formed in 2005, they are the "idols you can meet everyday" according to their founder Yasushi Akimoto, and since their inception has seen their popularity explode across Japan and the founding of several sister groups. 2011 marked their 4th Kohaku appearance as a performer, and their first as a supporter
Terry Ito is a popular Japanese television personality and has logged credits as an actor, director and producer. He is also well known for his wild fashion sense and can often be seen wearing outrageous styles for public appearances. The 62nd is is fourth consecutive time as Kohaku supporter since his first in 2008