Sanma Claims Juice=Juice Is Snubbed from Kohaku Because “NHK and UFA Are Feuding” — Sato Masaki Backs Up the Rumor

Background and Key Points of This Discussion

Hello! Project-affiliated artists have gone without an appearance at NHK’s Kohaku Uta Gassen since 2007, even though they’ve continued appearing on other NHK programs like Uta-Con. Thread opinion split into two camps over why they’re locked out of Kohaku specifically: (1) that it simply comes down to weak numbers — drawing power and ratings — and (2) that there’s a long-standing rift between NHK and Up-Front (UFA) upper management. Sanma’s comment hints at the latter, but no concrete evidence was offered, so it remains squarely in rumor territory. As for the “rumor” Sato Masaki referred to, posters guessed it likely points to a past Morning Musume-related episode (such as the period when Uta-Con appearances were halted after a member scandal), but the thread itself was full of mixed speculation, and no cause can be confirmed. Readers should keep in mind that Kohaku selection involves multiple factors — NHK’s internal criteria, programming considerations, and more — so a single remark doesn’t settle what, if any, “feud” actually exists.