2006 December archive at Internet-Okinawa.com

It’s here! As is with every year the Kouhaku comes around, you may be disappointed to find (or is it not find) your favorite artist on their list of performers. (It was reported by nikkansports.com that Cocco—one of my favorite J-pop artists—would be making her initial appearance on the show but she’s nowhere to be found!) Be sure to check out Wikipedia’s Kouhaku entry if you’re unfamiliar or wish to reacquaint yourself with the annual music battle. Artists I’m looking forward to for this year’s show are ayaka, Angela Aki, IMAI Miki, ŌTSUKA Ai, DCT, NAKASHIMA Mika, NAGAYAMA Yōko, NATSUKAWA Rimi, BONNIE PINK, WADA Akiko, SUGA Shikao, and Smap. If it’s any indication, majority of them are from the Aka-gumi who I’m predicting will take it all this year too. (The above image is of the artists who’ll be making their first appearance on the show.)

Note: Number of appearances are in () with “0″ being an artist’s debut on the show. If available, I decided to link to the artist’s (English or Japanese) Wikipedia entry which should also have a link to the artist’s official website. Artists from Okinawa are in bold.

赤組 Aka-gumi (Red Team) Female Artists

aiko (5) J-pop
絢香 ayaka (0) J-pop
アンジェラ・アキ Angela Aki (0) J-pop
石川さゆり ISHIKAWA Sayuri (29) Enka
今井美樹 IMAI Miki (0) J-pop
大塚愛 ŌTSUKA Ai (3) J-pop
川中美幸 KAWANAKA Miyuki (19) Enka
GAM (0) J-pop
& モーニング娘。Morning Musume. (9) J-pop (Group member NIIGAKI Risa is Uchinanchu.)
香西かおり KOZAI Kaori (14) Enka
倖田來未 KODA Kumi (2) J-pop
伍代夏子 GODAI Natsuko (13) Enka
小林幸子 KOBAYASHI Satsuko (28) Enka
坂本冬美 SAKAMOTO Fuyumi (18) Enka
天童よしみ TENDOU Yoshimi (11) Enka
DREAMS COME TRUE (11) J-pop
中島美嘉 NAKASHIMA Mika (5) J-pop
長山洋子 NAGAYAMA Yōko (13) Enka
夏川りみ NATSUKAWA Rimi (5) J/O-pop
浜崎あゆみ HAMASAKI Ayumi (8) J-pop
平原綾香 HIRAHARA Ayaka (3) J-pop
藤あや子 FUJI Ayako (15) Enka
BoA (5) J-pop
BONNIE PINK (0) J-pop
水森かおり MIZUMORI Kaori (4) Enka
mihimaru GT (0) J-pop
森昌子 MORI Masako (15) Enka
和田アキ子 WADA Aiko (30) Vocals