Japanese comedian Kano Eiko is back with his yearly tradition, delivering yet another tongue-in-cheek “apology” to fans after jokingly announcing he has once again failed to make it into NHK’s highly anticipated 76th Kohaku Uta Gassen 2025. The post, shared on Twitter, racked up over 288K likes and nearly 10 million views within hours, proving that even without a Kohaku slot, Kano has more than mastered the art of going viral.
This time, the veteran entertainer blamed his absence on a very specific musical setback: his inability to fully express the notes “Mi” and “Fa.” The gag neatly ties into his long-running self-parody persona “Eiko!”, a character who plays up his supposed shortcomings as a singer while doubling down on heartfelt determination.
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| Kano Eikou Goes Viral After Posting His Annual ‘Missed Kouhaku’ Apology |
A Familiar ‘Apology’ Fans Look Forward To Every Year
Kano’s post opened with his signature dramatic flair:
“2025, this year I was unable to appear on Kohaku Uta Gassen. I am truly sorry to all the fans who have supported me. I worked hard and trusted the sound I produced, but I feel I could not overcome my limits or express ‘Mi’ and ‘Fa’ properly.”
He went on to joke that taking a break from music had briefly crossed his mind, before insisting that such a move would be a form of “running away.”
As always, he wrapped it up with a bold vow to return stronger next year, aiming once again for a spot on Japan’s biggest year-end music show.
【ファンの皆様へ】
— 狩野英孝 (@kano9x) November 14, 2025
2025年、今年は紅白歌合戦に出場する事が出来ませんでした。応援して頂いてるファンの皆様本当に申し訳ありませんでした。…
Of course, long-time followers know this is all part of the bit.
Eiko Kano has posted nearly identical “resignation-but-I’ll-try-again” letters in 2018, 2020, 2022, 2023, and 2024, making the annual message something of a fandom in-joke.
Many fans even wait for it as a seasonal marker, much like the show he jokingly claims to miss each year.
Fans Join the Fun with Their Own Musical Puns
Replies on Twitter leaned fully into the humour, with supporters tossing in their own note-themed references, telling him to work on “Ho” and “Ra” next, or cheering him on with deadpan encouragement for the “2026 Mi and Fa comeback.”
Others teased that with the dedication he puts into these posts each year, he might actually deserve a real Kohaku invitation one of these days.
Others simply praised the commitment to the gag, noting how he must have drafted the message in advance and that the whole routine had become part of their year-end entertainment.
Although Kano performs music under the “50TA” stage name and occasionally appears on mainstream music programmes, his comedic identity remains rooted in parody songs, self-mockery, and larger-than-life declarations of artistic struggle.
This yearly apology plays directly into that image while helping maintain a loyal fanbase that appreciates his style of earnest silliness.
Even without a Kohaku slot, Kano Eikou proves once again that he doesn’t need a New Year’s Eve stage to stay relevant. A single satirical post is enough to keep millions talking.
Source: Twitter, not X.