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The story
NHK General TV’s “Utacon” (airing September 29, 2026) has announced that Morning Musume。’26 will appear in the “Genki Uta” (Feel-Good Songs) segment alongside veteran stars like Itsuki Hiroshi and Ishikawa Sayuri, performing their signature hit “LOVE Machine.” Since the slot features their classic 1999 hit rather than a new single, 5ch’s Hello! Project live-discussion thread saw a mix of sarcasm (“So they only get called up for the oldies specials?”) and defenses (“Just be grateful they got a slot at all”). The thread also buzzed about the group’s chances of appearing at the year-end Kohaku Uta Gassen special, and compared their popularity to fellow Hello! Project group Juice=Juice.
Utacon
Genki Uta! Itsuki, Ishikawa, Iruka, Shimazu, Leon, Cho Tokkyu
Genki Uta! “YOUNG MAN” performed as a collab between Niihama Leon & Cho Tokkyu. Morning Musume。’26 performs “LOVE Machine.” ▽ Miyama Hiroshi sings Sen Masao’s “Yuyake Gumo,” a song that brings back memories of his early days in Tokyo. SHOW-WA covers Tulip’s “Kokoro no Tabi.” Shimazu Aya performs “Funauta,” the famous song by fellow Kumamoto native and senior singer Yashiro Aki! Hosted by Taniyama Shosuke (First broadcast: Tuesday, September 29, 2026)
Source: web.nhk / Original article here
What people said
The new song is just a bonus?
Unfortunately… (no new song)
None of them are new songs
It's an oldies-only episode, so you don't have to force this into a mockery thread
So they only get called up for the oldies-only episodes?
I like how it's discussed as if a Morning Musume spot is just a given
Juice=Juice is the only one actually selling tickets, so Hello! Project as a whole isn't really on a roll
Wasn't the 18th gen's TV debut them getting treated like trash on the 24-Hour TV telethon?
As for live broadcasts, they're too young to be allowed on air live in that time slot anyway
Will Okamura Homare be satisfied with just that?
It's 'LOVE Machine,' 'Renai Revolution 21,' and 'Peace' — not 'Morning Coffee'
But honestly, it'd probably get more buzz if it were handed to someone else
The current Morning Musume lineup just doesn't have that kind of drawing power
If it were Juice=Juice, even a Buzz Rhythm-level appearance would have threads running for days straight
Isn't the reaction weaker than when Juice=Juice was on TV?
When Juice=Juice goes on TV, their vocal ability actually gets through to people outside the Hello! Project fanbase too
With Morning Musume, even this counts as 'checkmate' territory?
The theme here is 'songs that make you feel energized,' though
Is there even any sense of accomplishment in that?
Is there even demand for that?
Because that's the only thing it's got going for it
They're idols, you know
If they want to change the public's image of 'Momusu,' the only way is to actually get popular
Yeah, it really is that kind of 'moreru' song after all (net slang for a song that instantly hypes/flatters, like a good selfie)
Background and Key Points
Released in 1999, “LOVE Machine” is Morning Musume’s signature hit and remains a go-to number on music shows as a symbol of “genki” energy. This “Utacon” appearance isn’t for a new single — it’s slotted into “Genki Uta,” an oldies-focused segment lined up alongside veteran stars like Itsuki Hiroshi and Ishikawa Sayuri, where the whole theme is reviving classic hits that “make you feel energized.” The thread split over whether to read this booking as proof the group only gets called up for nostalgia slots, or as something to be grateful for simply landing a spot at all. Underlying the debate is a comparison with fellow Hello! Project group Juice=Juice, which is currently ahead in ticket sales and generating buzz on its own — feeding the argument that the current (’26) Morning Musume lineup struggles to draw attention with new material. Note: comments containing slander against real idol groups or discriminatory language have been excluded from this article.
*This article is compiled and summarized from the 5ch (Hello! Project) thread “[Shocking] Morning Musume。’26 to Perform ‘LOVE Machine’ of All Things on Next Week’s “Utacon” (NHK General) wwwwwwwwwwwwwww.”
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