Which NHK music contest has traditionally aired on Japanese New Year's Eve since 1951?

NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen is the Japanese music contest traditionally associated with New Year’s Eve. Its title means “Red and White Song Battle,” referring to the two competing teams: the red team, generally made up of female performers, and the white team, generally made up of male performers.

The program began as a radio contest on 3 January 1951. It moved to New Year’s Eve for its fourth edition in 1953, when it was broadcast on television as well as radio. Since then, Kōhaku has become one of Japan’s defining year-end broadcasts, ending shortly before midnight.

Performers are invited by NHK, and appearing on the show is widely regarded as an honor. The audience and judges determine the winning team, while the lineup mixes contemporary pop stars, enka singers, veteran performers, and major cultural figures. It is often confused with other Japanese music programs, but only Kōhaku has this long-running red-versus-white New Year format.