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The story
Enka singer Mitsuyama Hiroshi announced on his own blog that he has missed out on NHK’s Kohaku Uta Gassen (the Red and White Song Battle) this year, ending an 11-year consecutive run on the show. Since 2017, Mitsuyama has attempted a Guinness World Record nine times for catching a kendama (a traditional Japanese cup-and-ball toy) in an unbroken chain while singing, setting the record six of those times. Reports say the Japan Kendama Association has indicated it wants to ask NHK to reconsider his appearance. On 5ch’s live-discussion thread, comments praising the kendama stunt’s buzzworthiness mixed with harsh remarks like “nobody’s here for his singing,” sparking a broader debate about what place enka singers even have on Kohaku.
Mitsuyama Hiroshi’s Shocking Kohaku Snub: The ‘Japan Kendama Association’ Reveals to Our Magazine Its ‘Request’ to NHK
On November 13, enka singer Mitsuyama Hiroshi (46) updated his blog to report that he had been left off the lineup for NHK’s ‘Kohaku Uta Gassen,’ a show he had appeared on for 11 straight years through last year. NHK had announced the lineup for the ’77th NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen’ that same day.
“Mitsuyama made his first Kohaku appearance in 2015 with ‘Oiwakisan.’ Starting in 2017, he began leveraging his special skill with the kendama, launching a segment where he attempts the Guinness World Record for ‘the longest line of people successively catching a kendama’ while singing. It’s been held nine times so far, and he’s set the Guinness World Record on six of those occasions,” said an entertainment industry insider.
Source: news.yahoo.co.jp / Original article here
What people said
If he'd ever botched it live, it would've been excruciating to watch
That show runs long enough he could get multiple attempts in
It's turned into an "oh, this again" reaction
And nobody's clamoring for his singing either
Not a show about showing off kendama tricks
The fact that it's gone on this long is the real madness
The venue's in Hachioji, so trying to juggle that with Kohaku the same night would be rough — let him go all out on TV Tokyo instead
Isn't there a decent male enka singer who could fill the Ishikawa Sayuri slot? (Ishikawa Sayuri is the veteran female enka singer who's a Kohaku mainstay)
NHK should just revive Fuji TV's old New Year's variety special where celebrities showed off hidden talents, since Fuji stopped airing it, and let them do their tricks there instead
Feels like enka acts these days can only get attention through gimmicks like this — there's just no demand left
No wonder the ratings are zero
Never have, even back in the day
Maybe if it were a cheering competition instead
An enka singer whose singing carries no value doesn't deserve a slot
Kendama on Kohaku never made any sense to begin with
Loads of acts who aren't even selling records
No wonder Kohaku's ratings keep sinking
Even kids knew enka back then
Could be part of it
Maybe Sabu-chan (Kitajima Saburo's nickname) just isn't a fan of his anymore
Just something where the chorus sounds vaguely familiar would be enough
Nobody even recognizes the chorus, man
Of course he'd have no patience for someone whose only value comes from outside the singing
Sabu's more about his movies if anything
Like 'Kyodai Jingi' (Brotherhood Code, his yakuza film series)
Background and Key Points of This Discussion
NHK selects the Kohaku Uta Gassen lineup every year using undisclosed criteria, reportedly shaped by factors like ratings, buzzworthiness, and generational balance. Mitsuyama Hiroshi’s “kendama Guinness Record attempt” segment ran nine times since 2017, setting the record on six of those occasions and generating plenty of buzz — but it took hold as something separate from any evaluation of his actual singing. That’s why this year’s snub has reignited a long-standing question: did a singing show like Kohaku really need a kendama segment in the first place? On the thread, comments arguing “he’s a singer — appearing for kendama is putting the cart before the horse” sat alongside others insisting “the kendama segment did serve some purpose,” revealing a deeper split over whether Kohaku should prioritize vocal talent or function as a broader entertainment variety show. One clarification worth noting: the “Japan Kendama Association’s request” mentioned in the article is a comment cited within a news piece, not an official protest or pressure campaign aimed at NHK — worth keeping in mind so it isn’t misread as one.
※This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5ch (Geino Sokuhou+) thread “[Entertainment] Mitsuyama Hiroshi’s Shocking Kohaku Snub: The ‘Japan Kendama Association’ Reveals What It Asked NHK — ‘We’d Really Like NHK to Reconsider His Appearance, Even Now’.”
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