Honda and Yabuki appointed as MMA2023 ambassadors and red carpet presenters. MMA2023 to be broadcast live on ABEMA.

The Japanese official ambassador of the largest K-POP award in Korea, "MMA2023 (MelOn Music Awards)," and the presenters of the red carpet, where many artists will perform, have been appointed to HONDA Hitomi and Yabuki Nako. "MMA2023," which has been decided to be exclusively broadcast and fully free live on "ABEMA," is the largest K-POP award in Korea, which will be held for the 15th time this year, hosted by Korea's No. 1 music platform "MelOn." Artists who have fascinated many people, such as Girls' Generation, BTS, TWICE, SHINee, IU, and IVE, have been named as winners, and have walked with the history of K-POP. The winners are selected by the distribution data and user voting on "MelOn" and the music specialist committee, so it attracts a lot of attention every year, and it is the first attempt for "ABEMA" to be fully broadcast live in Japan. Furthermore, it has been announced that it will be held at the Inspire Arena, which is scheduled to open as the first "K-POP dedicated arena" in the Incheon International Airport area for the first time this year, and it is expected to be larger in scale than usual. (C) 2023 MelOn Music Awards (MMA2023) "MMA2023" has been decided to be performed by NCT DREAM as the first appearance artist, BOYNEXTDOOR, ZEROBASEONE, RIIZE as the second appearance artist, aespa, IVE, NewJeans, STAYC, KISS OF LIFE as the third appearance artist, and SHINee as the fourth appearance artist. And today, it has been decided that HONDA Hitomi and Yabuki Nako will be appointed as the Japanese official ambassador of "MMA2023" and the presenters of the red carpet, where many artists will perform. HONDA Hitomi belongs to the idol group AKB48 and was selected as the center for AKB48's 61st single "I really like you." She has been active as a member of the joint Japanese-Korean global group IZ*ONE for about three years since 2018. She is scheduled to graduate from AKB48 in January 2024, but she is attracting attention for her future activities as an actress, such as appearing in the drama "The Best Teacher 1 Year Later, I was □ by the students" (Nippon TV). Yabuki Nako is a former member of the idol group HKT48, and has been active as a member of the joint Japanese-Korean global group IZ*ONE with HONDA Hitomi for about three years since 2018. After graduating from HKT48, she is currently active as an actress and talent. In the drama "18 years old, new wife, I will have an affair." (TV Asahi) being broadcast since October this year, she is challenging the role of the drama heroine for the first time. Regarding the appointment as the Japanese official ambassador of "MMA2023" and the presenter of the red carpet in Korea, HONDA Hitomi commented, "I am very happy to be able to report from the site with Nako-chan, who I was active with in Korea before." Yabuki Nako said, "I was awarded when I was active in Korea, but this time, I am very honored to be involved as the Japanese official ambassador of "MMA2023". I think that there are many groups that debuted after I finished my activities in Korea, and I think that the K-POP world is really exciting in Japan now, so I want to do my best to convey the charm of K-POP to everyone more and more." Also, from 3:00 p.m. on December 2nd (Saturday), it has been decided to broadcast "【Live from the site】 MMA2023 Pre-SP" where HONDA Hitomi and Yabuki Nako will convey the charm of "MMA2023" from Korea. Then, from 4:00 p.m., the red carpet, and from 5:00 p.m., the "MMA2023" award ceremony will be delivered in full for free live. Furthermore, on November 30th (Thursday) and December 1st (Friday), it has been decided to broadcast "【More than 60 songs in total】 2 consecutive nights of MMA furious countdown SP" on "ABEMA". On November 30th, as DAY1, scenes from 2016 to 2018 will be widely publicized. We will deliver valuable performance videos and award scenes of BTS, TWICE, EXO, and other world-famous stars without leaving anything behind. Then, on December 1st as DAY2, we will deliver scenes from 2019 to 2022, including the stages of IVE and NewJeans, representing the 4th generation of K-POP. Please check it out as we head to the live broadcast of "MMA2023" on December 2nd. Which artist will be chosen to symbolize this year? ... Don't miss the precious moments that can only be seen on this day, where gorgeous K-POP artists gather. ◆HONDA Hitomi Comment This time, I was appointed as the Japanese official ambassador of "MMA2023," which will be broadcast live on ABEMA, and the presenter of the red carpet. I am very happy to be able to report from the site with Nako-chan, who I was active with in Korea before! Since it's been a while since I've been to Korea, I hope to deliver the atmosphere of the venue and various information to the viewers while having fun! ◆Yabuki Nako Comment I was awarded when I was active in Korea, but this time, I am very honored to be involved as the Japanese official ambassador of "MMA2023". I think that there are many groups that debuted after I finished my activities in Korea, and I think that the K-POP world is really exciting in Japan now, so I want to do my best to convey the charm of K-POP to everyone more and more. And I have experienced being a presenter of the red carpet once, but this is the first time I will be doing it in Korea, so honestly, I can't imagine it at all, and I'm nervous (laughs). I think that my good friends will also appear, so I will do my best while watching everyone! I want to work hard with Hii-chan! ■Program overview "MMA2023 (The 15th MelOn Music Awards)" Broadcast date: December 2, 2023 (Saturday) from 5:00 p.m. ~ Subtitled version broadcast channel: ABEMA SPECIAL2 Channel program page is here Interpreted version broadcast channel: ABEMA SPECIAL3 Channel program page is here ★【More than 60 songs in total】 2 consecutive nights of MMA furious countdown SP "【More than 60 songs in total】 2 consecutive nights of MMA furious countdown SP DAY1" Broadcast date and time: November 30th (Thursday) from 9:00 p.m. to 10:51 p.m. View it here "【More than 60 songs in total】 2 consecutive nights of MMA furious countdown SP DAY2" Broadcast date and time: December 1st (Friday) from 9:00 p.m. to 11:59 p.m. View it here *The broadcast date and time, and broadcast channel are subject to change without notice. Please note. ■Related links ABEMA "MMA2023" program special site