On October 29, NHK announced that the hosts for the '72nd NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen' will be actor Oizumi Yo (48), actress Kawaguchi Haruna (26), and NHK reporter Wakuda Mayuko. It was also announced that starting this year, there will no longer be separate hosts for the White and Red teams. As such, everyone will just be referred to as 'hosts.' 

This is Oizumi's second consecutive year to serve as the host on the program. He is scheduled to star in next year's Taiga drama 'Kamakuradono no 13-nin.' Meanwhile, this is Kawaguchi's debut on the program. She is set to star in next year's morning drama 'Chimudondon.' 

The theme of this year's program will be "Colorful." NHK hopes to make the last day of 2021 colorful as the days have been lacking in color due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The '72nd NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen' will take place on December 31 from 7:30 pm to 11:45 pm JST.