The DVD and Blu-ray version of “The 3rd AKB48 Kohaku Uta Gassen" (annual singing contest between red and white) will be released on April 9 -- and newly signed Yankees pitcher Masahiro Tanaka will be getting a copy in New York.

The event itself was held on Dec 17 in Tokyo Dome City Hall. All 127 AKB members were divided into two groups, red and white, for the singing contest.

Tanaka, who is said to be a big AKB48 fan, was a special guest at the contest and posed for photos with members of the popular group, Sankei Shimbun reported. He told the girls that he would like to bring their DVD with him to the U.S.

Tanaka, who left for New York on Feb 9, will be getting a box packed with AKB48 DVDs.

AKB member Minami Takahashi, 22, said of the DVD: "We joke around, have fun, and it feels like a festival.”

The DVD contains 33 songs with “behind the scenes” segments.

© Japan Today