MARTY FRIEDMAN To Appear On Japan's Kouhaku Uta Gassen New Year Special
December 28, 2008, 15 years ago
Former MEGADETH guitarist MARTY FRIEDMAN will appear on the NHK's 59th annual New Year music program, Kouhaku Uta Gassen in Japan. According to Friedman's website, "this is the most prestigious music event of the year in Japan and will be broadcast worldwide on NHK`s international affiliates around the world so check your local listings."
Wikipedia explains the program in more detail: literally Red And White Song Battle, the program divides the most popular music artists of the year into competing teams of red and white. The "red" team or akagumi is composed of all female artists (or groups with female vocals), while the "white" team or shirogumi is all male (or groups with male vocals). The honor of performing on K?haku is strictly by invitation, so only the most successful J-Pop artists and enka singers can perform. In addition to the actual music performances, the costumes, hair-styles, makeup, dancing, and lighting are also important. Even today, a performance on K?haku is said to be a big highlight in a singer's career because of the show's large reach.
