Aside from visiting local shrines and eating boxed meals called osechi, one of Japan’s biggest New Year’s traditions is gathering around the TV on New Year’s Eve to catch Kohaku Uta Gassen, an annual music show where the year’s most notable pop stars break into male and female teams and do musical battle.
Notable acts from the 65th Kohaku, which aired last night, included Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, Arashi, Momoiro Clover Z, and May J., who performed the Japanese version of Frozen’s “Let It Go.”
In the end, it was the male team who claimed victory for the third year in a row.