Yumi Matsutoya to appear in special project at Kohaku

It was announced on December 22nd that singer-songwriter Yumi Matsutoya will be appearing as part of a special program at the 76th NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen Gassen, which will be broadcast on New Year's Eve. This will be Matsutoya's seventh appearance at the Kouhaku, and her first appearance three times.

Matsutoya debuted as Arai Yumi in 1972. Affectionately known as Yuming, she has produced many hit songs such as "Hikouki Gumo," "Yasashisa ni Tsutsumareta Nara," "Mamoru Agetai," and "Haru yo, Koi."

This year, she produced an album using AI to study her singing voice from her days as Yumi Arai to the present. This unprecedented work, which combines her younger singing voice with her current singing voice, has garnered attention. She will be performing "Ten Made Todoke," a new yet nostalgic song that evokes the "Yumi Arai" from the album, at the Kohaku Uta Gassen. She will also be specially performing a song released during her time as "Yumi Arai," which could be considered the origin of Yuming.

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).

Matsutoya's comments are as follows:

◇Comment from Yumi Matsutoya

Heartfelt congratulations on the 100th anniversary of broadcasting. Approximately 50 years ago, I stepped into a place far removed from the mainstream of Japanese entertainment, and to think that one day I would be able to appear on this memorable Kohaku Uta Gassen is truly a dream come true. I stand on stage with a feeling of honor and gratitude.