Photo/Illutration Singers selected to perform in the “NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen” show are announced at NHK Hall in Tokyo’s Shibuya Ward on Nov. 13. (Yusuke Miyata)

For the first time in 44 years, Japan Broadcasting Corp.'s (NHK) New Year's Eve singing contest will not include any performers from the scandal-hit former Johnny & Associates Inc. talent agency.

The public broadcaster announced the lineup on Nov. 13 of the 44 groups and performers invited to perform in the annual “NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen” (literally, Red and White song battle).

But entertainers from the former Johnny's were left out in the aftermath of the fallout from the sex abuse scandal involving its late founder, Johnny Kitagawa. 

The broadcaster has requested that the talent agency, now renamed Smile-Up and focusing on compensating victims of Kitagawa’s abuse, provide relief to those affected and take preventative measures.

In late September, NHK said that it would not sign new contracts with performers from the agency in any of its programs for the time being. It said the programs include the prestigious "Kohaku Uta Gassen."

Since 1980, performers from the talent agency have participated in the nationally televised singing competition every year. In recent years, multiple idol groups from the agency have taken part.

The show uses a battle-of-the-bands format, in which a red team--mostly female musicians--and a white team--mostly male musicians--compete for votes from the audience and a panel of celebrity judges.

This year, 13 groups and performers will appear on the "Kohaku Uta Gassen" for the first time.

These include singer Ado, famed for her song “Usseewa,” the four-member female dance and vocal unit Atarashii Gakko!, and singer ano, all representing the red team.

Among the newcomers on the white team are the rock band Mrs. Green Apple, the rock band Man with a Mission and the South Korean eight-member idol group Stray Kids.

Actor Yo Oizumi, who served as the show's host for the past three years, will also appear for the first time as a singer.

The most frequent participants are enka singer Sayuri Ishikawa, who will make her 46th appearance for the red team, and singer Hiromi Go, who will be on stage for his 36th appearance for the white team.

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