On September 27th, a press conference to announce the "Kohaku supporters" for NHK's annual music show on New Year�s Eve �NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen� was held, and it was revealed that AKB48 and Terry Ito have been chosen as the supporters for the second straight year.

At the press conference, Terry Ito and AKB48's Oshima Yuko, Kashiwagi Yuki, Shinoda Mariko, Watanabe Mayu, Kojima Haruna, Takahashi Minami, Minegishi Minami, Shimazaki Haruka, Yokoyama Yui, SKE48's Matsui Jurina, Matsui Rena, NMB48's Watanabe Miyuki, Yamamoto Sayaka, and HKT48's Sashihara Rino all made an appearance, and expressed their eagerness for the program.

The theme of this year's Kohaku will be "Uta de Aitai. (= Meeting through music)", and they will start promoting it on various programs and events.

At the press conference, the general manager of AKB group, Takahashi stated earnestly, "This was the year of change for AKB48, as Maeda Atsuko graduated from the group, and we achieved our long-cherished Tokyo Dome concert. It's no exaggeration to say that 'The second chapter of AKB48 has begun'. �We will try our hardest together to send energy to everybody with the power of music."

"The 63rd NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen" will air from 7:15 pm ~ 11:45 pm on New Year�s Eve.

Source & Image: Cinematoday