January 2, 2026 Entertainment News: New Year’s Special Shows and Celebrity Highlights

Exciting New Year’s Special Programs Air Back-to-Back — Featuring Snow Man, Ryohei Suzuki, and More Star Guests

On January 2nd, fans can tune in to watch **Snow Man** compete against actors like Ryohei Suzuki and Yuki Yamada in the highly anticipated game show “Snow Friend Park.” The showdown among these stars is already creating buzz online. [1]

Also catching attention is the premiere of the special drama “Snowstorm Chase,” based on Keigo Higashino’s work. Fans are excited as **Aoi Igarashi** makes a bold declaration in her diary, raising expectations for the episode.

Hilarious Comedy Shows Kick Off the New Year with Laughter

On TBS, the “Dream East-West Comedy Battle” features a veteran comedian with 46 years of experience, surprising the studio audience. During the show, **Juki Tanaka** questions the shock value of a popular comedian’s routine, even wondering if Hamada Masatoshi is speechless. [2]

• **Red Carpet Comedy 2026 New Year’s Edition**: Featuring 99 comedians performing quick, punchy sketches — a comedy marathon!
• **Chihara Junior’s Comedy King New Year’s Special**: An energetic, mixed martial arts-style comedy showdown that keeps viewers laughing.

Due to health issues, **Nishino Nishi** had to skip his stand-up set, with **Nadaru** stepping in as a replacement. Fans are talking about the last-minute change. [2]

TV Tokyo’s “World Diary Kids” — Surprising Stories from Around the Globe

Set to air on January 2nd at 10:55 PM, “World Diary Kids — What Are You Drawing?” features **Anne** and **Chinatsu Wakatsuki** exploring children’s drawings from different countries, revealing fascinating glimpses into their daily lives. [3]

This episode takes viewers on a journey to a village in Thailand where elephants gather for a festival, along with discoveries like uninhabited island vacations and delicious new desserts. It’s a fun, eye-opening look at kids’ perspectives worldwide.

Latest Celebrity Moves and Industry News

Actor **Nobunari Fukuchi** has signed with Ogi Production, joining a family of entertainers that includes his father, **Sho Aikawa**, and sister, **Momoko Fukuchi**. The family’s presence in the entertainment scene is drawing attention. [2]

**Anna Nakagawa** shared behind-the-scenes photos showing her covered in mud during filming, highlighting her dedication to her role. It was also revealed that she is distantly related to the show’s original host, adding an interesting family connection. [2]

Other Exciting New Year’s Programs to Watch

Various special broadcasts are lined up for the holiday season:

• **Nino’s New Year’s Special**: A unique project starring Arashi’s Kazunari Ninomiya.
• **First Time’s the Charm! New Year’s 3-Hour Celebration**: Heartwarming stories and family moments.
• **Home Visit New Year’s 2-Hour Special**: Real-life stories and human drama.
• **Travis Japan on Loan!**: Spotlighting the rising J-pop dance group’s activities.

Plus, Uchimura Teruyoshi, Kazuya Ohkura, and Jun Nagura are planning a comeback with a surfing adventure — their first in 20 years! [1]

Recent Celebrity Highlights

On January 1st, **Masami Nagasawa** announced her marriage to a film director, making headlines. The same day, the comedy duo **Tenchizumu** announced their disbandment, sparking conversations across social media. [5]

These stories are fueling excitement in Japan’s entertainment world and kicking off the new year with energy and buzz.