171 members success in “The Fastest Costume Change”
AKB48 made the “Japan La La La” human character for the New Year’s Eve broadcasted live from NHK Hall in Shibuya, Tokyo for the “63rd NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen”.
With a total of 171 members, including their sister groups, and costume change with the interval of a mere 4 seconds, AKB48 and their sister groups succeed in carving the fastest costume change in history.
Appeared on this show are 64 AKB48 members, 54 SKE48 members, 34 NMB48 members, 14 HKT48 members, 5 JKT48 members and 2 SNH48 members which then showcases “UZA” in a black and red leathery style costume and then changing in an instant to a glamorous skirt to sang “Gingham Check”. Then later on everyone appeared in “Manatsu no Sounds Good” and formed the letter “Japan La La La”
This year, a total of 50 performers appeared on the Kohaku Uta Gassen. This year’s theme is “Japan La La La♪ I want to see you through songs”, the popular group Arashi hosted the White team while the actress Horikita Maki hosted Red team and Udo Yumiko, NHK announcer, served as overall host on the show.
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Thank you Tokyo Pop for helping me translating this article 
I also saw “Kouhaku Uta Gassen” on Dec.31st(Ohmisoka = The final day of the year), 2012 on TV with my all family members in our living room togather. This TV program represents the final entertainment of the year for so many years in Japan. JKT48Stuff already refered this show. So I try to bring one spot light on another final entertainment show in Japan. It’s “Nihon Record Taishou(Just my private translation, not autholized), Japan Record GrandPrix” on Dec.30th, 2012. AKB48 won the GrandPrix again(They won on 2011 too). And more, the one thing that I was surprized was Mr. Yasushi Akimoto won the best lyrics aouthor award as the 1st time. I thought he won this award already with the legendary song “Kawano Ngare No Youni”, 1988. Sung by the legendary female singer, Ms. Hibari Misora. But Mr. Akimoto has not yet be awareded till now. From “Kawano Nagare”, I and many “Kayou Kyoku (= J-POP?)” fans already found out Mr. Akimoto’s talent.
Akimoto-san surely deserves the award.
AKB (and subsequently the sister groups)’s strength is not just limited to cuteness overload, but their songs are invigorating in their own ways.