NHK New Year’s Program to Feature Demon Slayer and Evangelion

NHK announced LiSA and Yoko Takahashi will appear during the NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen New Year’s program to perform Demon Slayer and Neon Genesis Evangelion music. Yoko Takahashi will perform “Cruel Angel’s Thesis” from Neon Genesis Evangelion during the program. Additionally, LiSA will perform “Homura” the theme of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Mugen Train during the NHK New Year’s Program. The Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra will also appear during the program to perform music from the Dragon Quest series. The program will begin at 7:30pm JST and end at 11:45pm JST. [Thanks, Famitsu!]

NHK picked these performances based on the relevance the series, or artists, had on 2021. Specifically, NHK will have Takashi perform “Cruel Angel’s Thesis” during the New Year’s program due to the release of Evangelion 3.0+1.0, or Shin Evangelion. This will also be the first time the song will be performed at Kohaku Uta Gassen. Additionally, the Demon Slayer performance will feature an animated video that will play behind LiSA as she performs the song.

Both Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Mugen Train and Neon Genesis Evangelion were among the top trending topics in Japan in 2021. Demon Slayer took third place on the list. Other notable names on the list included Fate/Grand Order and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.