Does anyone know about Kohaku Utagassen?

Question:

If you happen to know anything about this Japanese show could you tell me about it?

i need to write a paper for it for my Japanese class. The guidelines say i have to write the main ideas of the topic such as: what, who, when, where, and how.

if i could get some pictures or video clips of it that would be great too.

Answer:

Its an annual show on New Years Eve aired on NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation) where lots of popular Japanese music groups come out to perform. Included are both traditional (old time) and jpop groups. The program divides the most popular music artists of the year and some of the past traditional music (Enka) into 2 groups. They are "Aka gumi" (Red group, which consists of female groups) and "Shiro gumi" (White group, which includes all the males). This coming one is going to be the 62nd "Kouhaku Utagassen". This year is special because the theme focusses on the recovery from the earthquake disaster, and how the music groups supported the devasted ("Uta no chikara"). There is also a theme song to the show its here if you want it http://www9.nhk.or.jp/kouhaku/about/index.html. Every year at the end of the show, votes are gathered in from viewers and the winner of either the "Aka gumi" or "Shiro gumi" is chosen. The show ends shortly before midnight (when NHK switches to a frenzy of "Happy New Year" greetings from around the nation). The songs and performers are examined by a selection committee put together by NHK. The basis for selection are record sales and adaptability to the edition's theme. The honor of performing on Kōhaku is strictly by invitation, so only the most successful J-Pop artists and enka singers can perform. The costumes, hair-style, make-up, and lights are also very important. The NHK Kouhaku Utagassen is the top-rated and most viewed musical event each year. If you want to learn more about it go to wikipedia as mentioned below~