Shirogumi won just barely and in a show that from the start set a rather strange retro tone.
Hamasaki Ayumi playing a medley of songs from ten years ago started a retro flavor that continued throughout the whole show and for both teams.
In this 63rd edition of the show, all performers were confined to one scenario that resembled a tunnel which was kept stable for all. With the exception of choreography, the singers did not have many possibilities of individualization and as a result all performances where rather plain and almost forcibly standardized.
In a year when women performed their best and sold records in high numbers it was quite puzzling to see some of the things that happened in the 4.5 hours of performances. Why were there artists like Nakajima Mika, Yuki, Ayaka and Koda Kumi in the show when they clearly were not top selling artists in 2012? Why was the whole Enka category so weak? and why was Missia in the show when she clearly did not exist in 2012?.....and why sending her to perform from a desert in Namibia?
On the side of the men things were slightly different and equally puzzling with songs being performed not by non-existent performers, but by current artists who appear to have benefited by the retro tone. This comes as no surprise since they never had a chance to win in the first place. Their overall performance and track record of 2012 was quite weak and there was clearly no real winner in their team. They all had to relate to old songs to make an impact forward.
Good performers from Akagumi with great performances this year were: AKB48, Momoiro CloverZ, Yui, Ikimono Gakari, Carry Pamyu Pamyu, Perfume, and Sakamoto Fuyumi.
Good performances from Shirogumi: Arashi, NYC, Golden Bombers, Sato Kazuyoshi, AAA, Naoto Intiraimi, and Tachi Hiroshi.
In summary, the overall retro trend helped the men and hadn’t it been for it Akagumi would have won rightly as they deserved.
