Kohaku Utagassen: The Red and White Song Contest

More than a pop culture phenomenon, Kohaku Utagassen tells a compelling story about how Japanese identity is shaped through music television.

Kohaku Utagassen—the annual Red and White Song Contest—is the most-watched TV show in Japan and, arguably, the longest-running televised song competition in the world. From crooning enka singers and wild rock bands to chart-topping J-pop idols, Kohaku showcases the stars of Japan’s music industry in a gripping battle-of-the-sexes format that eclipses comparable global shows such as the Eurovision Song Contest.

Shelley Brunt navigates the history of Japan’s much-loved New Year’s Eve spectacular, from its modest origins as a postwar radio show to the dazzling pyrotechnics and holographic performances of today. The show’s title “Red and White,” which recalls the colors of the Japanese flag, hints at Kohaku’s broader function of constructing national identity through song lyrics, stage design and methods of audience engagement.