Times continue to be tough for female idol groups.

The contestants for the 73rd NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen were announced today.

NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen is the most watched music program in Japan and is broadcast every year on New Year's Eve.

The singers representing the year are selected. Participation is an honor, and many singers eagerly await today's announcement.

MCZ initially set a goal to participate in the Kohaku Uta Gassen.

They made their first appearance in 2012 and participated for three consecutive years, but were not selected in 2015, at which point they announced their own "graduation".

Since 2015, MCZ has hosted its own "Momoiro Uta Gassen" at a different venue and on a different broadcast station at the same time as the Kohaku Uta Gassen.

In 2014, when MCZ last participated in the NHK kohaku event, a total of five female idol groups were selected.

Since then, however, the selection of idol groups has become tougher and tougher each year, and this year's announcement finally showed only two groups (Nogizaka46 and Hinatazaka46).

The diversification of tastes among young people seems to be continuing to make times tough for idols.

MCZ is supposed to hold another "Momoiro Uta Gassen" this year, but no details have been announced yet.