Every year NHK airs its Kōhaku Uta Gassen ("Red and White Song Contest") that pits two teams of female singers (the red team) and male singers (the white team) against each other. It's a New Year's Eve tradition, but voice actor Jouji Nakata saw room to expand it.

The first Seiyū Red and White Singing Contest will be held on April 14, 2019 with Junichi Suwabe signed on to host. The idea started with a casual Twitter post made by Nakata. He floated the idea of a voice actor version of the annual contest and was surprised with how much support he received from fans.

Nakata is the founder of the contest with Suwabe and Kana Ueda as moderators. Organizers will announce some of the contest participants in January.

Fans might know Nakata best as the voice of Kirei Kotomine in the Fate franchise. He's currently voicing Toshizō Hijikata in Golden Kamuy and Pantalone in Karakuri Circus. Suwabe and Ueda are fellow Fate alumni. Suwabe voices Archer in the franchise and is currently starring in JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Golden Wind as Leone Abbacchio. Ueda is the voice of Rin Tohsaka.

This year's Kōhaku Uta Gassen will feature special performances by the Love Live! Sunshine!! franchise's Aqours group and the Touken Ranbu stage musical's Touken Danshi group. DAOKO, King & Prince, Suchmos, Junretsu, and YOSHIKI feat. HYDE will make their program debuts alongside regulars like Sayuri Ichikawa, Fuyumi Sakamoto, and Hiroshi Itsuki.

Source: Comic Natalie via Otakomu