It was announced on November 14th that the seven-member idol group FRUITS ZIPPER will be making their first appearance on the 76th NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen, which will be broadcast on New Year's Eve. At a press conference held at NHK (Shibuya Ward, Tokyo) on the same day, the members spoke of their joy at their first appearance.
The group was formed in April 2022. Their song "Watashi no Ichiban Kawaii Tokoro" (My Cutest Thing) released in the same year became a huge hit, and they were selected for the Best New Artist Award at The Japan Record Awards in 2023. Last year, they won the Outstanding Work Award at the same awards for "NEW KAWAII."
They received the news of their participation at their agency that morning. Suzuka Chinzei said with a smile, "I was so happy I was grinning, but most of the other members were in tears. (Producer) Kimura Misa also heard the announcement with us, and I was so happy to find out at the same time as the staff who support us."
They will be making their first appearance on Kohaku with CANDY TUNE, a junior group from their agency, Asobi System. Manaka Mana said, "CANDY TUNE arrived at the venue about five minutes early, so that's how I found out they were going to be performing. I was so happy when I saw them sitting in my dressing room. Apparently the other members of CANDY TUNE had asked their manager, 'How was Fulppah?' and when I heard that they were excited, wondering if we were going to be there, I cried."
Last year, despite growing expectations that they would be able to perform at Kohaku, they were unsuccessful. Manaka reflected, "This year, I set the goal of 'ROAD TO Kohaku' and worked hard all year. I believed that all the work I received would lead to this year's end, so I gave it my all!"
The theme of the 76th NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen is "Connecting, Connecting, New Year's Eve," and it will be hosted by Hiroiki Ariyoshi, Haruka Ayase, Mio Imada, and announcer Naoko Suzuki. It will be broadcast from 7:20 pm to 11:45 pm on December 31st (with some news breaks).
