Another first for Arashi! Arashi will finally debut on the prestigious year-end NHK Kouhaku Utagassen music programme.

This year's Kouhaku will be hosted by SMAP's Nakai Masahiro and for the first time will include three Johnny's acts: SMAP, TOKIO and Arashi. (Apparently NHK gave in to Johnny's request to increase their quota to three bands instead of two.)

More info on Kouhaku here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C5%8Dhaku_Uta_Gassen

And I'm not sure about this, but I think the show can be watched on NHK World. Someone please check this, thanks. ^^

Airing night:
Thursday, 31 December 2009.
7:15 - 11:45 pm.

Confirmation:

The list of performing artistes on Kohaku's official website is up. You can check here:
http://www9.nhk.or.jp/kouhaku/artists/index.html

White Team includes Arashi, NYC Boys, SMAP and TOKIO from Johnny's. 4 acts from JE!

Looks like Chinen, Arashi/Ohno fanboy, gets to be on Kouhaku for the first time with Arashi as well. Oh the joy~ :D The 60th Kouhaku sure looks to be a memorable one. Talk about ending the year with a bang for Arashi. ^^

I guess we could start listing out if NHK is available where everyone is, so everyone can try to watch it on real time. ^^

Kouhaku - 31st Dec.
Japan start time: 7:15pm

Malaysia & Brunei
- Astro, NHK, Channel 963
Time difference: -1
- so it should be 6:15pm in Malaysia and Brunei.

Note:
Please check the schedule first for confirmation

Does this air in NHK for real?? or in BS2?? Because seriously, I remember last year seeing SMAP singing some song and its aired in BS2... Well either way... I hope it airs in whichever cable channel I have because I want to do the countdown with them in realtime...!