The media have picked up on rumors that actress Masami Nagasawa is being heavily considered as the Red Team host at the upcoming Kohaku Uta Gassen. Usually, selected hosts are celebrities who serve major roles in NHK shows. For example, Yukie Nakama was the team's host for the past two years because she appeared in the taiga drama "Komyo ga Tsuji," and Takako Matsu hosted in 1996 when she appeared in "Hideyoshi." Most of the time, the host is one of the network's announcers.

Even though Nagasawa hasn't done anything big for NHK and has nearly zero experience as a TV show host, the network seems to be banking on her immense popularity at the moment. She frequently appears at the top of celebrity rankings and has a very clean image.

Nagasawa is currently busy filming for the drama series "Hatachi no Koibito," but that ends in mid-December, and her schedule is said to be clear after that.

Because of her inexperience, if she does get chosen as a host, the White Team host will most likely be a TV show veteran. The members of SMAP are among the names being circulated as strong possibilities. An official announcement is expected to be made by mid-November.