It was revealed on December 12th that TBS announcer Shinichiro Azumi Yasuzumi and actress Haruna Kawaguchi will be the general hosts of the 67th Shining! The Japan Record Awards (TBS), which will be broadcast on December 30th. This will be Yasuzumi's 14th consecutive year since 2012, and Kawaguchi's third consecutive year. A press conference was recently held with the two in attendance.
This is the first time the same person has hosted the show three years in a row since Masaaki Sakai and Norika Fujiwara did so from 2009 to 2011. Yasuzumi has also served as the show's lead announcer for 11 years since 2001, and is trusted by the artists who perform due to his consistent hosting skills.
Regarding her role as host again this year, Kawaguchi said, "I get nervous and am shy, so I'm grateful to have been able to do this for three years." Regarding her co-host, announcer Yasuzumi, she said, "I find him reassuring. I really rely on him. I always leave it to him and follow him. I think I'll rely on him a lot this year as well. I'm truly honored to be able to host again with Yasuzumi, and I want to enjoy myself and do my best."
Yasuzumi said of Kawaguchi, "When she's on stage she's so glamorous, and you can really feel her star quality, or rather her aura, even when you're standing next to her, so I really feel that she's an actress who is in the spotlight right now." He added, "She has a very cheerful image, but it's true that she can be a little shy around people, and when we first met I couldn't talk to her much, but as we went on to our second and third years she started to talk to me more and more, and I'm happy and relieved that we've been able to talk to her more naturally every year."
When asked which performers they are looking forward to this year, both of them mentioned Mrs. Green Apple, who are aiming for their third consecutive Grand Prize win, and HANA, winners of the Newcomer Award. Kawaguchi, who has been watching HANA since their auditions, said with shining eyes, "I'm really looking forward to seeing them live on stage."
Yasuzumi also expressed his expectations, saying, "Masaaki Sakai was my predecessor (as general host) and I think he did it for about 16 years, and I think Sakai will be performing on stage with the Rockon Social Club members for this year's special award. He's like the 'Mr. Record Award' guy, so I'm looking forward to talking to him."
The 67th The Japan Record Awards will be broadcast live from the New National Theatre (Shibuya Ward, Tokyo) for four and a half hours starting at 5:30 pm on December 30th. John Kabira will be narrating the program again this year.
