The jury is back with its verdict on the New Year’s Eve TV ratings – Kohaku had its worst showing ever. The NHK song spectacle pulled less than 50% for the fourth year running. During the first appearance in 13 years by rocker Nagabuchi Tsuyoshi (47), the figure dropped to 35.5% and was overtaken momentarily by the all-too-brief Akebono-Bob Sapp fight on TBS (43%). As soon as the fight was over, the ratings were reversed. The highest rating of the night went to idol group SMAP, in their 12th Kohaku appearance. Leading the White team to victory, SMAP scored a 57.1% rating.