On July 1 at 18:30, Fuji TV will air the live music special 「2026 FNS歌謡祭 夏」 (2026 FNS Kayōsai Natsu)—and this year’s lineup includes a first-time appearance by the 宝塚歌劇団 花組 (Takarazuka Kagekidan Hanagumi, Takarazuka Revue’s Flower Troupe).
The broadcast will run for about three and a half hours and will be delivered as a 生放送 (namahousou)—a live broadcast—adding excitement and unpredictability to every performance.
Flower Troupe × M!LK: “好きすぎて滅！”
The Flower Troupe will appear with top star 永久輝せあ (Towa Teru Seia), along with 聖乃あすか (Seino Asuka), 極美慎 (Kiwami Shin), 侑輝大弥 (Yuki Daiya), and 希波らいと (Kinami Raito).
They will team up in a コラボ (korabo, collaboration) with the group M!LK to perform 「好きすぎて滅！」 (Suki Sugite Metsu!)—literally, “I love you so much I’m dead!” The dramatic 滅！ (metsu!) is playful slang, exaggerating emotion in a way that feels very modern and youthful.
For the Flower Troupe, this marks their first appearance on the program, placing them firmly in the national spotlight.
Rei Makoto × Hiroko Shimabukuro
Another highlight: former Takarazuka Star Troupe top star 礼真琴 (Rei Makoto) will perform SPEED’s classic song 「ALIVE」 together with 島袋寛子 (Shimabukuro Hiroko), a member of SPEED herself.
Seeing a former Takarazuka top star and a J-pop icon share the stage is sure to attract 注目 (chuumoku, attention), especially for fans of 1990s and 2000s Japanese pop culture.
Who Are カキンツハルカ?
The unit カキンツハルカ (Kakintsu Haruka)—made up of 柿澤勇人 (Kakizawa Hayato), ウエンツ瑛士 (Wentz Eiji), and 木南晴夏 (Kinami Haruka)—will also appear.
This musical unit was formed in 2024. According to the article, they came together ミュージカル「ブラッド・ブラザーズ」での共演をきっかけに (myūjikaru “Blood Brothers” de no kyōen o kikkake ni)—that is, “taking their co-starring in the musical Blood Brothers as a trigger.” In Japanese, 結成 (kessei) means the formation of a group, and their 結成 happened as a result of that shared stage experience.
Fans are curious what kind of performance they will 披露する (hirou suru, perform/present) this time.
More Collaborations and a 3.5-Hour Live Show
The program will be hosted by 相葉雅紀 (Aiba Masaki), and the show will be broadcast 約3時間半にわたり (yaku san-jikan han ni watari)—“over approximately three and a half hours.”
Other collaboration performances include:
- 増田貴久 (Masuda Takahisa, NEWS), ELAIZA, and 佐野晶哉 (Sano Masaya, Aぇ! group) performing “WINDING ROAD”
- ダイアモンド☆ユカイ (Diamond☆Yukai) and 佐野勇斗 (Sano Hayato, M!LK) performing “君はともだち”
- 渋谷龍太 (Shibuya Ryuta, SUPER BEAVER) and アイナ・ジ・エンド (Aina the End) performing “Swallowtail Butterfly～あいのうた～”
The full lineup includes a wide range of artists—from idol groups like NiziU and NEWS to rock bands and musical theater stars—making this summer special a cross-section of today’s Japanese music scene.
Cultural Context: What Is the FNS Song Festival?
The FNS歌謡祭 (FNS Kayōsai) is one of Japan’s major televised music festivals. It typically features high-profile artists and unique コラボ performances that you won’t see anywhere else.
The inclusion of the Takarazuka Revue is especially meaningful. Takarazuka is an all-female musical theater company founded in 1913, famous for its glamorous productions and dedicated fan base. Each troupe—like 花組 (Hanagumi, Flower Troupe) and 星組 (Hoshigumi, Star Troupe)—has its own identity and top stars. Appearing on a mainstream pop music program helps connect Takarazuka to new audiences beyond traditional theater fans.
Learn Japanese from This Article
Key Vocabulary
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 生放送 | namahousou | live broadcast |
| 披露する | hirou suru | to perform (in front of others) |
| 結成 | kessei | formation (of a group) |
| きっかけ | kikkake | trigger; opportunity; reason |
| 注目 | chuumoku | attention; spotlight |
| コラボ | korabo | collaboration |
| 滅！ | metsu! | “I’m dead!” (playful exaggeration) |
Try noticing how many of these words are commonly used in entertainment news. Japanese media loves concise, impactful vocabulary.
Grammar Spotlight ①: 〜をきっかけに
Meaning: Triggered by; taking ~ as an opportunity
Structure: Noun + をきっかけに
Example from the article:
- 共演をきっかけに結成された。 Kyōen o kikkake ni kessei sareta. “(They) were formed taking their co-starring as the trigger.”
More examples:
日本旅行をきっかけに、日本語を勉強し始めました。 Nihon ryokō o kikkake ni, nihongo o benkyō shi hajimemashita. “I started studying Japanese after my trip to Japan.”
友達の紹介をきっかけに、この歌手を知りました。 Tomodachi no shōkai o kikkake ni, kono kashu o shirimashita. “I got to know this singer through a friend’s introduction.”
This pattern is extremely common in interviews and profiles.
Grammar Spotlight ②: 〜にわたり
Meaning: Over a period of; throughout
Structure: Time expression + にわたり
From the article:
- 約3時間半にわたり生放送される。 Yaku san-jikan han ni watari namahousou sareru. “It will be broadcast live over approximately three and a half hours.”
More examples:
- 3日間にわたりイベントが開催された。 Mikka-kan ni watari ibento ga kaisai sareta. “The event was held over three days.”
This is a formal expression often used in news reports.
Useful Expression: 好きすぎて滅！
- 好きすぎて滅！ Suki sugite metsu! “I love it so much I’m dead!”
The 〜すぎて (-sugite) part means “too much,” and 滅！ is a dramatic exaggeration. You’ll often see this kind of playful language in song titles and social media.
Continue Learning
- Numbers and Counters: Contextual Counting Systems Curious about the Japanese used here? Our Numbers and Counters: Contextual Counting Systems lesson covers this in depth.
Major televised music specials like FNS歌謡祭 are treasure troves for language learners. You hear formal news-style Japanese, casual pop lyrics, and natural stage talk—all in one 生放送. Listening closely to these performances can sharpen your ear and deepen your cultural understanding at the same time.
これからもよろしくお願いします。 Kore kara mo yoroshiku onegaishimasu.