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New Year's Eve song Festival
As many as 80% of Japanese television viewers watch this year-end programme, broadcast from 9 pm to 11.30 pm on New Year's Eve by NHK (Nihon Hoso Kyokai : Japan Broadcasting Association). Some time before the programme, an announcement is made of the singers who will take part in the festival and they are divided into two competing teams: red, female singers, and white, male singers. The programme was first broadcast on January 30th, 1951, but in 1953 it was moved to New Year's Eve and has since developed into something of a national institution. The title of the programme in Japanese is Kohaku Utagassen.