NHK Working To Bring Namie Amuro On To "Kohaku Uta Gassen"

The performer list for this year's "Kohaku Uta Gassen" has already been released, but NHK is not done booking just yet.

According to executives at NHK, the network that host the annual year-end program, the company is still trying to get Namie Amuro to make an appearance on the program.

Amuro announced in September that she will be retiring from the entertainment industry on September 16, 2018. That makes this year's "Kohaku Uta Gassen" the final one she could participate in, adding to NHK's urgency and tenacity in its efforts to book her.

NHK says it is actively negotiating with Amuro for her appearance on "Kohaku Uta Gassen". The company would not go into detail about what circumstances, if any, were preventing the singer from attending.

Early in her career, Amuro was a staple on "Kohaku Uta Gassen", appearing on the program 9 times. However, her last appearance was in 2003. Efforts to bring the singer on since then have been unsuccessful.

To balance the number of female and male performers, NHK is also in talks with Keisuke Kuwata to join the program's line up.