A junior group has secured a spot in the NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen.

It has been reported that the male idol group "M!LK", a junior group to MCZ, is set to make its first appearance on the NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen, the most-watched music program in Japan, broadcast on New Year's Eve.

MiLK has attracted major attention this year, with the phrase "visu(al) ii jan" from their release "Ii jan" being selected as one of the buzzwords of the year.

MCZ had originally set performing in the NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen as a group goal in their early days. They achieved this goal in 2012 and appeared for three consecutive years.

However, after failing to be selected in 2015, they began hosting a music festival during the same time slot, which later evolved into what is now "Momoiro Uta Gassen".

Until the year before last, Momoiro Uta Gassen was strategically scheduled to air in direct competition with the NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen, but starting last year, it was moved to a daytime slot.

Among Mononofus, many speculated that this change was meant to pave the way for MCZ or MCZ's junior groups within the Stardust Promotion lineup to appear in the NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen.

For idols belonging to Stardust Promotion, MiLK will be the first act to participate in Kohaku in ten years, since MCZ.

Selection for the NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen is based on factors such as an artist's achievements that year and public support, and participants are chosen by NHK. Every year around this time, the discussion about who is in and who is out becomes a hot topic.

NHK typically announces the official lineup from mid-November to late November, but it is customary for information about debuting groups and others to be leaked to the media beforehand, heightening public anticipation.

Today's reports also stated that, among female idol groups, FRUITS ZIPPER and CANDY TUNE from the KAWAII LAB. camp are set to make their first appearance.

Within the Stardust Planets, Cho Tokimeki Sendenbu has been attracting attention for their activities, but no good news has arrived yet. We hope for positive developments going forward. 

--

Additional note:
This afternoon, NHK officially announced the performers.
As reported above, it appears that, unfortunately, no female groups belonging to Sta-pla were selected.