NHK's "63rd Kohaku" will not have any K-Pop artist participants this year

[triplestacker.livejournal.com]

Japanese media portal Nikkan Sports has revealed on November 26th that Japan's most prestigious end-of-the-year music show, NHK's "Kohaku Uta Gassen" (Red and White Song Battle), will not feature any K-Pop artists this year. This was revealed just ahead of the song festival's formal announcement of this year's performers.

Last year, K-Pop artists TVXQ, Girls' Generation and KARA were all invited and participated in the Kohaku Uta Gassen.

According to the Nikkan Sports article, despite several Korean artists being active in Japan this year, the reason that no K-Pop artists have been invited to this year's "Kohaku Uta Gassen" festivities may be due to the Dokdo Island issue.

Since August, tension between Korea and Japan have risen after both countries sought claim on the Dokdo/Takeshima Island that is found between the two countries. Many in Japan have voiced out their "Hallyu Boycott" and Korean acts taking the stage have noticeably been reduced.

In addition to the "Kohaku Uta Gassen" event, Korean artists are also expected to not be invited to perform at other end-of-the-year festivals, "FNS Music Festival" and the "Best Hit Song Music Festival."

The "FNS Music Festival" revealed more than 60 of its invited artists at the beginning of the month, in which no Korean artists were listed.

Source - Koreaboo / enews24

I'm really upset about this?? where is my girls After School and Kara????

Comments

[benihime99.livejournal.com]

It's ok, the kings of the world will be there

[frantastic.livejournal.com]

From the icon I thought this was a post by lysblack

[a-cheshire-grin.livejournal.com]

I'm still sad that "The Rising Gods of the East" weren't invited, though!

But the lineup is good.

[yasmine2009.livejournal.com]

OP, you know After School would not have been invited even if there wasn't a "kpop ban." :/

[a-cheshire-grin.livejournal.com]

I'm actually shocked that they weren't invited, but Yunho and Changmin are busy enough already, so I guess it's okay.

[benihime99.livejournal.com]

IA
They are very popular in Japan so it's surprising (a bad surprise)
I thought GG would be invited too

is this really a ban btw?

[hibinoasako.livejournal.com]

kind of glad tbh

[purpleglaceon]

It's good they aren't invited because as much as I like them, they don't belong there.

[a-cheshire-grin.livejournal.com]

Mhm, especially because Toho and GG (and Kara too) are not really seen as KPop-, but JPop-groups.

But I guess they went with all or nothing! ;_________;

[benihime99.livejournal.com]

I found all of this to be pretty stupid tbh
Especially if the dispute over Dokdo is the reasoon but I guess as international fan we don't really have a say in this.

[a-cheshire-grin.livejournal.com]

Yes, me too. I mean Toho and GG (I don't follow Kara so I don't know) are so loved in Japan (at least that's what I always hear from my Japanese and Korean friends!) and especially Tohoshinki are always super respectful when they talk about Japan and their Japanese fans.

But yeah, the fans sadly don't have a saying in this. ;__;

[honeyfunnybunny.livejournal.com]

i'm really bummed out that dongbang weren't invited, cause for a long time up until last year - it was really a prestigious thing that they were the only ones. and it gave them a confidence boost, not just for them but also for the fans - and they did so well on the big year end shows in japan... i'm sad that the whole issue is affecting so much, but i guess its understandable. maybe for once the boys won't be flying back and forth every day and actually spend it being less busy?

[boba-holic.livejournal.com]

Would've been nice to see Toho perform :l Oh well, guess I'll be watching all the gayos this year then.

[rosemaine.livejournal.com]

Is this like real real? Like, real official?

[fabledlamb.livejournal.com]

Why not?

[hina.livejournal.com]

Yes, the official announcement came out this morning.

[fabledlamb.livejournal.com]

Real official as in, Oricon is getting in statements from everyone invited this year every few seconds, yes. The reasons for why there aren't any Korean artists on the Kohaku teams this year are based on speculations by a Japanese tabloid so nobody can really tell how much truth (if any) there is to them.

[a-cheshire-grin.livejournal.com]

Wow, I had no idea that Kara sells more than GG. Thanks for the info!

[thewarpedmelody.livejournal.com]

Ouch

[thewarpedmelody.livejournal.com]

Didn't JaeJoong once scolded those saessangs and saying how he prefer Japanese fans (BigEast) and performing in Japan?

[changminshim.livejournal.com]

Uh tbh I love my girls but I really dont think they are seen as a Jpop group in Japan. High sales and releasing music from Jp producers =/= Jpop group. They couldnt possibly be when only one out of nine can speak Japanese well. Every time they do an interview, they're basically affirming they're very much Koreans doing music in Japan.

My boys though ;~~~~; I agree
I wanted TVXQ there. I guess all we can do it hope this whole thing dies down next year.

[triplestacker.livejournal.com]

Girls Generation are definitely not seen as J-Pop...

and the current Tohoshinki came back with 2 members and after that they were placed in the Hallyu category as well!

[a-cheshire-grin.livejournal.com]

I can only tell you what I hear from my friends in Japan all the time and they say that people see Toho and GG as JPop.

Personally I also wouldn't put GG in the JPop-category, but Toho definitely...no matter if they're five or two.

[triplestacker.livejournal.com]

actually have u seen their Samantha Thavasa CMs? they're really popular in Japan especially with young ladies IMO

[unbroken-glass.livejournal.com]

Personally I feel that the main reason why they weren't invited wasn't due to Dokdo (though it prob was a factor) but the fact that Hallyu has somewhat died down. The reason why SNSD, KARA, and DBSK were invited was because they were making waves in Japan and selling big (even bigger than domestic artists) and as of now that wave has kinda died down? I don't know, that's just my honest opinion. Their Japanese music has sucked this year and they haven't performed exceptionally well enough to be invited back onto Kohaku.