It’s been reported that two variety shows featuring JE groups will be broadcasted in a “relay style” for New Year’s Day. Running for five and a half hours, the two shows have been identified as “THE Ultraman DASH Kiseki no 3-pun kan wo Mokugeki seyo” and “Arashi ni Shiyagare New Year’s Day 2.5 hours special“.
For the first, it will be hosted by the members of TOKIO, who will introduce experts on difficult subjects or interests; the group members report on the experts completing unique tasks, such as getting fully-dressed while sky diving, or breaking an egg while bungee jumping. TOKIO’s special will air at 6:00 p.m to 8:54 p.m on January 1st.
Right after TOKIO’s show ends, Arashi’s “Arashi ni Shiyagare New year’s day 2.5 hours special” will air. The show is a special edition of their variety show “Arashi ni Shiyagare“. On this program, the group will welcome two sets of secret guests to the show – interestingly enough, the Arashi member will not be informed of who these special guests will be. “Arashi ni Shiyagare New Year’s Day 2.5 hour special” will air from 9:00 PM to 11:24 PM.
Although their concepts are completely different, in the beginning of each show, there will be a talk portion in which both TOKIO and Arashi members come out together.
As for their juniors, there's gonna be Johnny’s Jr. singing battle (like a "Young Kohaku") to be aired on New Year’s Eve.
On November 27th, a huge concert featuring Johnny's Jr. members and trainees – "Nenmatsu Young Touzai Uta Gassen! Touzai Jr. Senbatsudaishugo 2010!" – was held at the NHK Hall. The concert was held in the format of a singing battle between the "A.B.C-Z + Johnny’s Jr. Senbatsu" (East) team and the "Nakayama Yuma + Kansai Johnny's Jr. Senbatsu" (West) team.
A.B.C-Z members acted as hosts, and a total of 250 Jr.'s performed on the stage; there were 4 stages in all (once on the 26th, and three times on the 27th), which pulled in approximately 14,400 fans.
For the 27th’s afternoon concert, KAT-TUN's Kamenashi Kazuya and NEWS' Yamashita Tomohisa showed up as "Shuji to Akira" (a special temporary unit) and performed "Seishun Amigo" together. NYC also appeared as a guest, but one of the more exciting factors was that a new group was introduced for the first time! Named "Ja(PA)Nese(HI)! (ジャPAニーズHI!)", the group consists of 52 members who were chosen amongst the trainees by audition.
On New Year's Eve, the concert from the night of the 27th will be broadcasted as "Toshiwasure! Johnny's Touzai Uta Gassen" on TV Asahi (15:30-16:45 PM).
Additionally, the president of JE, Johnny Kitagawa, stated that he was aware of NHK's "Kohaku", and that he always wanted to make a "Young Kohaku" since it's difficult for young artists to be invited to the awards show. He also said that he is planning to make it an annual event like "Kohaku".
Source: Sanspo, Chunichi sports
Credit: Tokyohive