Edit on 1th act, that was Hinatazaka 46 that sang Kitsune. But they're all completely replaceable and exactly the same.
11th Act: JO1, a boy band I've never heard of, 1st time on Kouhaku. Don't think they're Johnny's, they have a markedly different style that looks very Kpop inspired. Since they're song was written by a Korean, my guess is they're managed by a Kpop production company.
Interlude: short interview with ice skater Hanyu Yuzuru.
12th Act: milet, a female artist. It's her 3rd time on Kouhaku, but I don't remember her particularly. She's singing a really powerful ballad, with a very strong voice, I wouldn't be surprised if she comes from a stage musical background. For some reason they show a bunch of clips of Hanyu Yuzuru skating in the background.
13th Act: NiziU, a Japanese girl group, but obviously heavily inspired by Kpop. Evidently formed in 2020 as part of a reality TV show, they were the final winners. Pretty forgettable imho.
14th Act: Suzuki Masayuki 鈴木雅之. singing a soul/funk style song. I don't know much about him, but he's been active since the 80s.
15th Act: BE:FIRST, some boy band group I've never heard of, first time on Kouhaku. They're not Johnny's, they were also formed as part of a reality TV show. Pretty forgettable, not really my thing.
Interlude: a few comedians doing some kendama and other stuff. I *really* hope they're not trying to break the kendama world record again...
16th Act: Sekai No Owari, on Kouhaku for their 6th time. A pretty interesting style, with really fast lyrics and dancing, but not idol boy-band or girl-band style. I really dig this song, pretty cool.
Interlude: introducing the characters for NHK's morning drama. It's their own show, so they can pimp it out as much as they like.
17th Act: Miura Daichi 三浦大知, singing the theme song for the NHK morning drama. Again, it's NHK so of course they're going to promote their own TV show.
18th Act: IVE, a Kpop girl group. To me all these groups look and sound exactly the same. Of course they can dance quite well as required by their manager/handlers.
19th Act: Snow Man, another Johnny's group. I don't know what it is about Johnny's groups, but they're very easily identifiable. They can't really sing that well, but most of their song is in the spoken verse, style, so it doesn't really matter.
20th Act: Perfume, a regular at Kouhaku (15th time!), singing a medley of their songs. I have to admit I have a soft spot for them.
21st Act: Two of the people from X Japan with two other rockers: YOSHIKI, HYDE, SUGIZO, and MIYAVI. Performing a song written by Yoshiki called THE LAST ROCKSTARS. Yoshiki is of course there with his signature transparent piano. Overall, the song is kind of overwrought and all over the place, not really my thing.
22nd Act: Aimer, singing the theme song for Kimetsu no Yaiba. As an anime song artist, she's super-talented.
23rd Act: Sakamoto Fuyumi 坂本冬美, an Enka singer doing a song originally by Misora Hibari. They still like to do a tribute to her at Kouhaku every once in a while. Of course Sakamoto Fuyumi's singing is absolutely incredible as befits an Enka singer.
Interlude: an advertisement for the NHK produced historical drama, aka Taiga drama. The main actor for the drama is on stage chatting with one of the hosts.
Then they have to advertise next years Taiga Drama, who happens to star one of the ARASHI members.
This is a very long interlude, so it must be the intermission between the 1st half and 2nd half.
Continuing when I finish watching the 2nd half.
