Amuro Refuses Kouhaku Offer

Namie Amuro along with Southern All Stars, Hikaru Utada, B’z and Mariya Takeuchi were all in discussions with organizers behind this year’s Kouhaku Utagassen but negotiations with each artist yielded no results and none of them will appear on this year’s show. Amuro has appeared on the program a total of ten times, once as a backup dancer for singer Hiroko Moriguchi in 1993 and as a solo artist from 1995 to 2003. In 2004, she was offered an invitation to the program but refused to participate.

In actual appearance news, SPEED who reunited this summer will take part in this year’s festivity. It will be their first appearance on the show since 1999. Appearing on the show for the first time ever will be Mr.Children, who like Amuro, refused several offers before agreeing to appear on this year’s show.
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Source Chunichi Sports