As unofficial information about the Kohaku contestants gradually begins to emerge, there are several idols and artists that come to mind as candidates for their first appearance, but a question suddenly arises. I suddenly have a question: “Come to think of it, will MISIA be performing the last song this year as well?” I was wondering if MISIA was going to be the finalist this year as well. Yes, for the past six years in a row, MISIA has graced the final of the red group. In the past, ballads by Enka and Seiko Matsuda were the norm for Omisowo, but ballads themselves have been disappearing from the charts in recent years, and only fast-paced songs get buzz on TikTok. However, the “last song of Kohaku” is still “the type of song that makes you sing so hard you can reach for the sky. …… Such stereotypes persist. However, this act of “singing up” actually requires a very high degree of self-consciousness. It is an art that can only be performed by those who are allowed to fully open up their emotions and become intoxicated with their own world. In the social networking society of 2021, however, it is this “degree of self-consciousness” that becomes the center of attention. For example, Tomomi Hanahara and Ayumi Hamasaki.
Tomomi and Ayu, who lived for “beauty” and “love
In early October, a photo of Tomo-chan’s launch posted on X became the talk of the town. I am sure that I am not the only one of the TK generation who was concerned that she might be too thin, or that she might be overdoing it again, given her chubby cheeks and the shadows falling under her eyes. However, it is possible that it is processing, but in any case, it is the “change in appearance, especially in body shape” that attracts attention. Thinking back, Ayu also posted a photo after a long time, and the Internet was buzzing that she had “lost weight” and “returned to the old Ayu”. Both of these women have been unable to escape the “fate of being seen” throughout the ages. In the Heisei Era, when they were at the height of their popularity, Tomo-chan was the symbol of “a woman in love. Along with hit songs produced by Tetsuya Komuro, love itself was at the core of her career. To be a star was to play the role of “being loved. She called herself “Tomo-chan,” talked about her love affairs with TK in a high-spirited manner, and wore a Cartier love bracelet on her CD jacket. Living out the Cinderella story of the Heisei era was her expression, and it was perfectly in tune with the atmosphere of the times. Ayu was also a self-produced genius. Not only her songs, but also her own visuals, fashion, and everything else are her “works of art. Her debutantes included MISIA, Hikaru Utada, Ringo Shiina, aiko, and many others, but Ayu was more dedicated to “showing off” than anyone else. Her fair-skinned, blonde hair and curly hair created a “white gal” boom, and the streets were filled with copies of her. Despite her glamorous looks, her lyrics about loneliness and despair also drew tremendous sympathy from women. The Heisei era was a time when emotion, beauty, and pain could all shine through if they were thoroughly staged. Today, MISIA, another “songstress of the Heisei era,” dominates the Kohaku (red and white) National TV show. Shiina-san has a mastery of both politics and artistry, and Utada-san continues to earn the respect of young artists such as Yonezu Genji and produce hit songs. In contrast, there are moments when Tomo and Ayu seem to be somewhat left behind; their social networking posts always generate a buzz, but many of them are dismissed as “painful.