The program divides the most popular music artists of the year into competing teams of red and white.

In addition to the actual music performances, the costumes, hair-styles, makeup, dancing, and lighting are given focus.

At the same time, a demographic survey is conducted regarding the most popular singers for each and what kind of music people want to hear.

As of the 54th (2003) and 55th editions (2004), viewers who watch the program through ISDB-S on NHK BS Hi-vision could vote by having their own head count in their respective households.

The 71st edition (2020) featured off-venue voting only as there was no live audience in attendance due to concerns that arose from the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan.

The song is based on the Scottish "Auld Lang Syne" that is commonly sung at New Year parties in the west.

One major factor was that New Year's Eve in Japan is a holiday traditionally spent at home (see Ōmisoka).

[4] The 2021 Kōhaku program set a record low for the second portion of the show with a 34.3 viewership rating in the Kantō region.

[6] Outside Japan, Taiwan also hosts a similar Kōhaku competition, Super Star (超級巨星紅白藝能大賞), which broadcasts on the eve of Chinese New Year.

Unlike Kōhaku, Super Star does not have gender-affiliated teams and the special is pre-recorded weeks before airing instead of being a live broadcast.

Special appearances, supporting musicians or other methods of participation where the artist or group's performance was not accounted for in the overall scoring should not be added to this list.