Written by Swikblog Entertainment Desk
Updated: 3 December 2025
Japan’s year-end TV season officially begins tonight as “2025 FNS歌謡祭 (FNS Music Festival 2025)” opens its winter edition on Fuji TV. The sprawling live music special runs over two consecutive Wednesdays and packs more than eight hours of performances from J-pop royalty, veteran legends and a wave of K-pop and idol acts.
For international fans in the UK, US and beyond, the festival has quickly become a cult December watch — a chance to see Japan’s music scene, from Perfume and Snow Man to Number_i, Ado and Ayumi Hamasaki, all share one stage in a single night.
Broadcast time and how to watch in Japan, UK and US
According to Fuji TV, Day 1 of the 2025 FNS Music Festival is broadcast live on Wednesday 3 December from 18:30–23:18 JST across the Fuji TV network. The second night follows on 10 December at the same local start time.
- Japan (JST): 18:30–23:18
- UK (GMT): 09:30–14:18
- US Eastern: 04:30–09:18
- US Pacific: 01:30–06:18
In Japan, viewers can watch on terrestrial Fuji TV, with catch-up and simulcast expected via FOD (Fuji TV On Demand) and the free platform TVer after the show. Overseas access depends on regional availability and rights; some fans rely on Japanese streaming accounts or local cable channels that carry Fuji TV. Always check local listings and legal streaming options before the show begins.
Why FNS still matters after 50 years
The FNS Music Festival has been running since the 1970s and has evolved from a straightforward song contest into a lavish, multi-hour live production. It is famous for its unexpected collaborations — veteran crooners sharing the stage with anime singers, idol groups performing Shōwa-era ballads, and K-pop acts re-imagining Japanese classics.
This winter’s edition arrives under extra scrutiny after a turbulent year for Fuji TV and the cancellation of the spring FNS special, but the broadcaster is leaning on spectacle: two marathon nights, a cross-generational line-up and heavy promotion on X (Twitter), Instagram and Japanese entertainment sites.
FNS Music Festival 2025 – Day 1 Timetable (Highlights)
Fuji TV and Japanese music outlets have released a detailed timetable for the first night, running roughly by the hour. As it is a live show, exact timings can shift, but here is a Guardian-style snapshot of when to expect the biggest moments (all times JST):
| Time (JST) | What to watch | International talking points |
|---|---|---|
| 18:30–19:00 | Opening medley featuring kids’ favourites like Gachapin & Mukku, K-pop groups TWS and TREASURE, and a huge all-star version of “YOUNG MAN (Y.M.C.A.)”. | Early-evening family segment; good window for overseas fans to tune in before work. |
| 19:00 hour | Veteran singer ASKA, viral star Ado, idol collaborations with 乃木坂46 (Nogizaka46), theatre cast of Miss Saigon and the first appearance of Mrs. GREEN APPLE. | Mix of nostalgic covers and musical-theatre power; heavy social-media buzz expected in Japan. |
| 20:00 hour | High-impact block featuring Snow Man, Perfume, Da-iCE, RIP SLYME and cross-label collabs. This is where the show flips from warm-up to full stadium-energy mode. | Perfume’s appearance is particularly emotional, as the trio head toward a “cold sleep” hiatus at the end of 2025. |
| 21:00 hour | Diva slot with Ayumi Hamasaki, more from Mrs. GREEN APPLE, girl-group favourites and the “Shōwa 100 Years” medley celebrating classic Japanese hits. | Expect nostalgic ballads, big choruses and plenty of Japanese TV reaction memes. |
| 22:00 hour | Late-night climax: AI, Ado, ATEEZ, LiSA, THE ALFEE, a second Snow Man performance and headline sets from Number_i. | Prime slot for K-pop and anime-song fans; Number_i’s performance is already trending on Japanese social media. |
The full minute-by-minute timetable — including every collaboration and song title — is available on the official Fuji TV FNS site and on Japanese music outlet CINRA’s timetable breakdown.
Key performances to circle on your schedule
- Perfume – A rare winter TV appearance as the group edges toward its planned hiatus; expect precision choreography and a reflective mood.
- Number_i × RIP SLYME – A crossover that pairs one of Japan’s most talked-about new boy groups with a legendary hip-hop crew, including a re-imagined “Rakuen Baby” moment.
- Snow Man – Two separate stages across the night, showcasing both their current single and a darker late-hour performance concept.
- Ado and LiSA – Different segments of the show, but together they give anime-song and rock-vocal fans plenty to shout about on X.
- Ayumi Hamasaki – Still the queen of late-night ballads, bringing a dose of early-2000s nostalgia to a new generation.
Why this matters beyond Japan
For many overseas viewers, FNS is the closest thing Japan has to a Grammys-meets-Christmas-special hybrid. English-language fan accounts are already translating the timetable, sharing viewing guides and organising live-tweet sessions.
The 2025 edition also arrives at a time when global interest in Japanese and Korean pop culture is at a peak, with artists like ATEEZ, TREASURE and Number_i bringing in fans from Europe and North America who might not otherwise tune in to mainstream Japanese TV.
If you follow sports as well as music, Swikblog is also tracking another December obsession: the North London Derby build-up, which has been dominating UK search trends alongside FNS in Japan.
How to get the best FNS experience tonight
- Check your time zone and set alarms around your favourite hour block above.
- Use legal streams such as Japanese TV packages, FOD or TVer where available in your country.
- Follow live coverage through the official @fns_kayousai account and Japanese music media hashtags.
- Keep an eye on social media clips if you cannot watch the full five hours live — many performances trend globally soon after broadcast.
Whether you’re in Tokyo, London or New York, tonight’s FNS Music Festival 2025 is set up as a showcase of how Japan stages big-budget TV music — nostalgic, chaotic, and often unexpectedly emotional — all crammed into a single winter night.
