The lineup for the 75th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen, Japan’s iconic New Year’s Eve music competition, was announced on November 19. However, the absence of MY FIRST STORY and HYDE has sparked widespread disappointment among fans, as it likely means that songs from Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba will not be performed at this year’s event—breaking a streak that began in 2019.

A Tradition of Demon Slayer at Kōhaku

Since its anime debut in 2019, Demon Slayer has become a cultural phenomenon, with its opening and ending themes performed by prominent artists consistently featured at Kōhaku:

2019: LiSA – "Gurenge" (Demon Slayer Season 1 OP)
2020: LiSA – "Gurenge" and "Homura" (Demon Slayer: Mugen Train movie theme)
2021: LiSA – "Akeboshi" and "Homura" (Demon Slayer: Mugen Train TV arc themes)
2022: Aimer – "Zankyou Sanka" (Demon Slayer: Entertainment District Arc OP)
2023: milet x MAN WITH A MISSION – "Koi Kogare" and "Kizuna no Kiseki" (Demon Slayer: Swordsmith Village Arc themes)

This year, the Hashira Training Arc featured MY FIRST STORY and HYDE performing the OP "Mugen" and ED "Toko Shie." Fans had hoped these tracks would follow the tradition, but with both artists missing from the Kōhaku lineup, this seems increasingly unlikely.

Fan Reactions Online

News of Demon Slayer’s apparent absence has led to a flood of reactions from fans:

"No Demon Slayer songs this year? I was looking forward to MY FIRST STORY and HYDE!"
"What happened to the anime slots? Demon Slayer has been a staple every year!"
"Disappointed that we won’t hear ‘Mugen’ at Kōhaku. This doesn’t feel right."
"Kōhaku is dropping the ball this year—where are all the anime hits?"

Some remain hopeful that NHK might include a special segment featuring Demon Slayer songs from past years, but no such announcement has been made so far.

What is the NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen?

The NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen (commonly referred to as "Kōhaku") is an annual music competition broadcast by NHK on New Year’s Eve in Japan. First aired in 1951, it has become one of the most prestigious and iconic music events in the country, marking the end of the year with performances by Japan’s most popular artists.

Source : ORICON NEWS