1979 in Japanese music

1979 in music By location

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Overview of the events of 1979 in Japanese music

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Japanese music accounted for sixty percent of record sales in the Japanese music market in 1979 (Shōwa 54), the rest being sales of foreign music.[1] During that year, Japan continued to have the second largest music market in the world.[2]

## Awards, contests and festivals

[edit]

The 12th Japan record sales awards (Japanese: 日本レコードセールス大賞) were held in 1979.[3] The 21st Osaka International Festival (Japanese: 大阪国際フェスティバル) was held from 8 to 24 April 1979.[4][5][6][7] The 17th Yamaha Popular Song Contest was held on 6 May 1979.[8] The 8th Tokyo Music Festival was held on 17 June 1979.[9][10][11] The 18th Yamaha Popular Song Contest was held on 7 October 1979.[12]

The 10th World Popular Song Festival was held from 9 to 11 November 1979.[13] The song Daitokai [ja] by Crystal King, and the song Sitting on the Edge of the Ocean by Bonnie Tyler, won the grand prix awards.[14]

The 10th Japan Music Awards were held on 23 November 1979.[15]

The final of the 8th FNS Music Festival was on the 18 December 1979.[16][17] The grand prize winner was Hideki Saijo.[18]

The 21st Japan Record Awards were held on 31 December 1979.[19][20] The song Miserarete [ja] by Judy Ongg won the Japan Record Award.[21]

The 30th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen was held on 31 December 1979.[22]

The 28th Otaka prize was won by Yoriaki Matsudaira.[23]

## Concerts

[edit]

The "Japan Jam" was held on 4 to 5 August. The Southern All Stars appeared.[24][25]

## Number one singles

[edit]

Oricon

Main article: List of Oricon number-one singles of 1979

The following reached number 1 on the weekly Oricon Singles Chart:[26][27][28][29]

Issue date  | Song  | Artist(s)

|
|

January 1  | "Chameleon Army"  | Pink Lady
January 8
January 15
January 22
January 29  | "Champion [ja]"  | Alice
February 5
February 12
February 19
February 26  | "Hero (Hero ni Naru Toki, Sore wa Ima) [ja]"  | Kai Band [ja]
March 5
March 12  | "Young Man (Y.M.C.A.) [ja]"  | Hideki Saijo
March 19
March 26
April 2
April 9
April 16  | "Miserarete [ja]"  | Judy Ongg
April 23
April 30
May 7
May 14
May 21
May 28
June 4
June 11
June 18  | "Kimi no Asa [ja]"  | Satoshi Kishida [ja]
June 25
July 2
July 9
July 16
July 23  | "Omoide-zake [ja]"  | Sachiko Kobayashi
July 30  | "Kanpaku Sengen [ja]"  | Masashi Sada
August 6
August 13
August 20
August 27
September 3
September 10
September 17
September 24
October 1
October 8  | "Sexual Violet No. 1 [ja]"  | Masahiro Kuwana [ja]
October 15
October 22
October 29  | "Oyaji no Ichiban Nagai Hi [ja]"  | Masashi Sada
November 5
November 12
November 19
November 26
December 3
December 10  | "Ihōjin"  | Saki Kubota
December 17
December 24
December 31

The Best Ten

The following reached number 1 on The Best Ten chart:

* 26 July, 2 August, 9 August and 16 August: Kariforunia Konekushon [ja] (California Connection) by Yutaka Mizutani[30]
* 23 August, 30 August, 6 September, 13 September, 20 September, 27 September: The Galaxy Express 999 by Godiego[31][30]
* 27 December: Ihojin by Saki Kubota[32]

## Number one albums and LPs

[edit]

Oricon

Main article: w:ja:Template:オリコン週間LPチャート第1位 1979年

The following albums reached number 1 on the Oricon chart:

* 31 December: Yumegatari by Saki Kubota[33]
* Shin'ai Naru Mono e by Miyuki Nakajima reached number 1 on the Oricon chart.[34]

Music Labo

The following reached number 1 on the Music Labo chart:

* 10 and 17 December: Kisho Tenketsu [ja] \- Chiharu Matsuyama[35]
* 26 November and 3 December: Essay [ja] \- Masashi Sada[36]
* 12 November and 19 November: Magic Capsule [ja] \- Godiego[37]
* 22 October, 29 October and 5 November: The Long Run \- Eagles.[38]
* 24 September, 1 October and 8 October: Breakfast in America \- Supertramp[39]
* 20 August, 27 August, 3 September, 10 September and 17 September: Original Sound Track of Gingatetsudo 999[40]
* 16 July, 23 July, 30 July, 6 August and 13 August: Morning [ja] \- Satoshi Kishida [ja][41]
* 9 July: Kiss Me Please [ja] \- Eikichi Yazawa[42]
* 2 July: Alice 7 [ja] \- Alice[43]

Cash Box

The following reached number 1 on the Cash Box chart:

* 7 July: Soraotobu Torinoy Nookakeru [ja] \- Chiharu Matsuyama[44]
* 9 June and 16 June: Voulez-Vous \- ABBA[45]
* 26 May and 2 June: Yumekuyo [ja] \- Masashi Sada[46]
* 21 April and 28 April: Young Man (Y.M.C.A.) \- Hideki Saijo[47]
* 24 February, 17 March, 24 March and 31 March: Sayiyuki \- Godiego[48]
* 17 February: Soundtrack of "Grease"[49]

## Annual or year-end charts

[edit]

The song "Omidezake", by Sachiko Kobayashi, was number 1 on The Best Ten annual chart for 1979, announced on 27 December 1979.[32]

## Radio

[edit]

The program "Mirage Love USA" was broadcast by Tokyo FM.[50] (Cf USA Love Mirage.)

## Film and television

[edit]

The music of Nomugi Pass, by Masaru Sato, won the 34th Mainichi Film Award for Best Music.[51] The music of The Castle of Cagliostro is by Yuji Ohno,[52] and the singer of Hono no Takara Mono (or "Fire Treasure") is Bobby (ボビー).[53][54]

## Genres

[edit]

New music songs were number 1 on the Oricon singles chart for most of 1979.[55]

## Music industry

[edit]

Main article: Japanese music industry

The record industry grossed $62 million in January.[56] Average sales for the 1979 Christmas and New Year season were ten percent higher than those of the 1978 Christmas and New Year season, with particularly high sales for ABBA, Saki Kubota, Masashi Sada and Alice.[57]

PolyGram and Young Japan agreed to enter into a partnership.[58]

## Overseas

[edit]

The song "Kiss in the Dark", by Pink Lady, reached number 37 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States of America.[59] Pink Lady were the first Japanese musicians to enter the record charts in the United States since Kyu Sakamoto in 1963.[60][61]

Yellow Magic Orchestra did a world tour in October and November 1979.[62]

## Debuts

[edit]

* 1 October: Saki Kubota[63]
* Mai Yamane[64]

## Other singles released

[edit]

* Zipangu, Pink Typhoon, Nami Nori Pirates, Monday Mona Lisa Club and Do Your Best by Pink Lady
* Be Silent [ja], Ai no Arashi [ja], Shinayaka ni Utatte [ja] and Aizenbashi [ja] by Momoe Yamaguchi
* Holy and Bright by Godiego
* Kimi wa Bara yori Utsukushī \- Akira Fuse
* Mayonaka no Door \- Miki Matsubara
* 20 December: Wake Up by "Kazuo Zaitsu [ja]"[65]

Foreign music

* Wanted by The Dooleys

## Other albums released

[edit]

* Solid State Survivor by Yellow Magic Orchestra
* Live in Budoukan, Magical Music Tour, Pink Lady and We Are Sexy, by Pink Lady
* A Face in a Vision [ja] and L.A. Blue [ja] by Momoe Yamaguchi
* Okaerinasai by Miyuki Nakajima
* Casiopea and Super Flight by Casiopea
* In a Model Room by P-Model
* Sneaker Dancer by Yōsui Inoue
* Moonglow by Tatsuro Yamashita
* Make Me a Star by T-Square
* 1 December: Kanashii Hodo Otenki [ja] by Yuming[66]

## History

[edit]

In 2008, Shūkan Shōwa Taimuzu featured Judy Ongg on the back cover as person of the moment (Japanese: 時の人) for 1979.[67]

## See also

[edit]

* Timeline of Japanese music
* 1979 in Japan
* 1979 in music
* w:ja:1979年の音楽

## References

[edit]

* "japan 79: a look inside the world's second largest music market". Billboard. 26 May 1979. pp J-1 to J-33.
* 1979 コンフィデンス年鑑 Confidence Annual Report.
* 1980 オリコン年鑑 Oricon Annual Report.
* Morio Takayanagi. "Japan". Derek Elley (ed). International Music Guide 1979. Tantivy Press. p 96.
* International Music Guide 1980.
* Judith Glassman. The Year in Music, 1979. Columbia House.
* Oricon magazine
* Music Labo magazine
* 新譜ジャーナル magazine
* Oricon No.1 Hits 500. Clubhouse (Japanese: クラブハウス). 1998. ISBN 9784906496129. vol 1 (1968~1985).
* Suzie Suzuki. 1979年の歌謡曲. Sairyusha. 2015.

1. ^ Billboard. 26 May 1979. p J-26.
2. ^ Billboard. 22 December 1979. p 14.
3. ^ 日本の作曲家: 近現代音楽人名事典. 2008. p 646.
4. ^ 1979年度のラインナップ. Asahi Shimbun Foundation.
5. ^ 神戸公演チラシ and 第21回大阪国際フェスティバル特別展覧会 in 1979年（昭和54年）. Osaka College of Music.
6. ^ International Music Guide 1979
7. ^ International Music Guide 1980
8. ^ 第17回 ポピュラーソングコンテスト. Yamaha Music Foundation.
9. ^ "Rita Coolidge Is Winner At Tokyo Music Festival". Billboard. 30 June 1979. pp 1 & 62.
10. ^ "Top Talent Performs At Tokyo Music Festival" and "Festive Ambience Fulfills Festival Reception". Billboard. 7 July 1979. pp 56 & 57.
11. ^ "U.S. Starts In Tokyo Fest". Billboard. 5 May 1979. p 1.
12. ^ 第18回 ポピュラーソングコンテスト. Yamaha Music Foundation.
13. ^ "Yamaha Fest Viewed As Product Booster". Billboard. 17 November 1979. p 68.
14. ^ "1979 World Popular Song Festival in Tokyo Climaxes a Decade of Commitment to Popular Music". Billboard. 8 December 1979. p 41.
15. ^ 朝日新聞縮刷版  (Asahi Shimbun shukusatsuban). Number 701. p 27, headed "1979 年(昭和 54 年) 11 月 23 日".
16. ^ (1979) 每日新聞 (Mainichi Shimbun). Issue 360. p 20 headed "1979 年(昭和 54 年) 12 月 18 日(火曜日)".
17. ^ (1979) 31 日本經濟新聞 (Nikkei). p 20 headed "(1979 年) 12 月 18 日".
18. ^ 朝日年監 1980. p 622.
19. ^ 新潟県年鑑. 1981. p 67.
20. ^ 朝日年監 1980. Asahi Shimbun. 1980. p 622.
21. ^ ジュディ・オング「『魅せられて』歌い続けていく」音楽プロデューサー酒井政利さん悼む. Chunichi Shimbun. 19 July 2021.
22. ^ 第30回NHK紅白歌合戦. WEBザテレビジョン.
23. ^ 尾高賞 in "Archive". NHK Symphony Orchestra]].
24. ^ "U.S. Talent Will Appear at Japan Jam". Billboard. 7 July 1979. p 58.
25. ^ "Beach Boys Headline Inaugural Japan Jam". Cash Box. 7 July 1979. p 54.
26. ^ Nippon Broadcasting System
27. ^ Nippon Broadcasting System
28. ^ Nippon Broadcasting System
29. ^ See the weekly issues of Oricon magazine
30. ^ a b 1979年8月2日、水谷豊「カリフォルニア・コネクション」がザ・ベストテンで連続1位を獲得. News Online. Nippon Broadcasting System. 2 August 2019.
31. ^ ザ・ベストテン(1979年9月27日放送). TBS.
32. ^ a b ザ・ベストテン(1979年12月27日放送). TBS.
33. ^ "安室奈美恵の勢い衰えず!ドリカム以来14年8ヶ月ぶりの6週連続首位". Oricon News. 9 September 2008.
34. ^ 1982年4月26日中島みゆき『寒水魚』がオリコン・アルバムチャートの1位を獲得～中島みゆきが音楽を獲得したことを証明するアルバム. News Online. Nippon Broadcasting System. 26 April 2019.
35. ^ Billboard. 22 December 1979, p 71. 15 December 1979, p 40.
36. ^ Billboard. 8 December 1979, p 48. 1 December 1979, p 47.
37. ^ Billboard. 24 November 1979, p 59. 17 November 1979, p 72.
38. ^ Billboard. 3 November 1979, p 79. 17 November 1979, p 72.
39. ^ Billboard. 20 October 1979, p 63. 6 October 1979, p 68.
40. ^ Billboard. 29 September 1979, p 63. 15 September 1979, p 68. "Hits of the World", 8 September 1979.
41. ^ Billboard. 25 August 1979, p 70. 11 August 1979, p 76. 4 August 1979, p 54. 28 July 1979, p 51.
42. ^ Billboard. 28 July 1979, p 51.
43. ^ Billboard. 14 July 1979, p 86.
44. ^ Cash Box. 7 July 1979, p 54
45. ^ Cash Box. 9 June 1979, p 45. 16 June 1979, p 54.
46. ^ Cash Box. 26 May 1979, p 50. 2 June 1979, p 50.
47. ^ Cash Box. 21 April 1979, p 48. 28 April 1979, p 51.
48. ^ Cash Box. 31 March 1979, p 75. 24 March 1979, p 54. 17 March 1979, p 46. 24 February 1979, p 46.
49. ^ Cash Box. 17 February 1979, p 50.
50. ^ "Tokyo FM Station Airing U.S. Music Series". Billboard. 17 November 1979. p 69.
51. ^ 第34回 日本映画大賞
52. ^ Beck. The Animated Movie Guide. p 49.
53. ^ 炎のたからもの、久しぶりにスクリーンに甦ったカリオストロの城. Re:minder. 25 February 2016.
54. ^ ステレオサウンド オリジナルソフトの魅力を語る 名盤ソフト 聴きどころ紹介44 ／『ルパン三世 カリオストロの城 オリジナルサウンドトラックBGM集〜for Audiophile〜』Stereo Sound REFERENCE RECORD. Stereo Sound Online. Stereo Sound Publishing. 16 December 2022.
55. ^ 松田聖子とSMAPが音楽史において別格な理由 時代を変えた「アイドル」の共通点とは. AERA Digital. 24 October 2021.
56. ^ "Jan. Sales Down In Japan Market". Cash Box. 24 March 1979. p 55.
57. ^ "Holiday Record, Tape Sales Up By 10% in Japan". Cash Box. 2 February 1980. p 37.
58. ^ "Partnership Ties Polygram With Tokyo's Young Japan". Billboard. 22 December 1979. p 5
59. ^ Billboard. 19 February 2011. p 4
60. ^ The Billboard Book of Number One Hits. p 137.
61. ^ "Pink Lady ends drouth". Billboard. 23 June 1979. p 9.
62. ^ 1980年2月21日YMO『パブリック・プレッシャー／公的抑圧』がリリース. News Online. Nippon Broadcasting System. 21 February 2019.
63. ^ 久保田早紀の名曲「異邦人」あの日 運命を背負って生まれた歌. Re:minder. 10 December 2020.
64. ^ 山根麻以. CDJournal.
65. ^ 1979年12月20日、財津和夫「Wake Up」が発売～初回プレスは無色透明の“カラーレコード”. News Online. Nippon Broadcasting System. 20 December 2018.
66. ^ 1979年の12月1日、ユーミンの『悲しいほどお天気』がリリース. News Online. Nippon Broadcasting System. 1 December 2017.
67. ^ "1979". 週刊昭和タイムズ (Shūkan Shōwa Taimuzu). DeAgostini. No 36. 10 June 2008.

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Music of Japan

"Kimigayo" (National anthem)

Traditional|

Instruments

| Genres and styles|

*     * Bugaku
* Bushi
* Dainichido Bugaku
* Danmono
* Gagaku
* Gigaku
* Jōruri
* Kouta
* Min'yō
* Nagauta
* Rōkyoku
* Saimon Ondo [ja]
* Komori-uta (lullaby)
* Warabe Uta [ja]
* Kazoe Uta [ja]
* Ekaki Uta [ja]
* Temari Uta [ja]

|

Post Meiji Restoration

(1868–present)|

* Commercial song [ja]
* Gakusēka (student song) [ja]
* Kōka (school song) [ja]
* Ryōka (dormitory song) [ja]
* Daigaku-Ōenka (cheering song of university) [ja]
* Enzetsuka/Enka
* Gunka (military song)
* Jazz
* Kayōkyoku
* Senji-kayō [ja]
* Gunkoku-kayō [ja]
* Radio calisthenics song
* Ryūkōka
* Shichōsonka (municipality song) [ja]
* Shōka [ja]
* Manshū-Shōka [ja]
* Shin-min'yō [ja]

Post-War

(1945–present)|

| 1945–present|

* Kayōkyoku
* Mood-kayō [ja]
* Idol-kayō [ja]
* Group Sounds
* Image song
* J-pop
* Rock

|

1970–present|

* Anime song
* Chiptune
* City pop
* Denpa song
* Disco [ja]
* Electro
* Electropop
* Eurobeat
* Disco [ja]
* Hardcore punk
* Hip hop
* Metal
* Noise
* Noise rock
* Nu-music [ja]
* Ōenka (cheering song)
* Reggae
* Synth-pop
* Ska
* Visual kei
* Italo Disco
* Italo House
* Juliana’s techno

1990–present|

* Bitpop
* Grime
* Being-kei [ja]
* J-core
* Japanese net label scene
* Kawaii metal
* Komuro-kei [ja]
* Onkyokei
* Shibuya-kei
* Akishibu-kei
* Utaite
* Visual kei
* Eroguro kei
* Nagoya kei
* Vocaloid music

Ethnic and regional|

* Ainu music
* Rekuhkara
* Southern Islands

Charts|

| Oricon|

* Singles Chart
* Combined Singles Chart
* Albums Chart
* Combined Albums Chart
* Karaoke Chart

|

Billboard Japan|

* Hot 100
* Hot Albums

Other|

* RIAJ Digital Track Chart (discontinued)

Achievements|

* List of best-selling music artists in Japan
* List of best-selling Western artists in Japan
* List of best-selling albums in Japan
* List of best-selling singles in Japan

Record companies|

| "Big 10"

(as of 2025[update])|

* Avex Group
* Sony Music Entertainment Japan
* Universal Music Japan
* King Record Co.
* J Storm
* Victor Entertainment
* Being Inc.
* Warner Music Group
* Pony Canyon
* Teichiku Entertainment

|

Others|

* Major
* Independent

Musicians|

* List of musical artists from Japan
* List of Japanese musical groups
* List of J-pop artists
* List of Japanese composers
* List of Japanese hip hop musicians
* List of Japanese singers

Timeline and years|

* 1967
* 1979
* 1980
* 1981
* 1982
* 1983
* 1984
* 1985
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024
* 2025

Online distributors|

* iTunes Store
* Apple Music
* Google Play Music
* Amazon Music
* Spotify
* KKBox (the successor of LISMO Unlimited)
* RecoChoku [ja]
* Music.jp [ja]
* Mora
* Dwango.jp
* E-Onkyo music
* Oricon Music Store
* Line Music
* MySound [ja]
* OTOTOY [ja]
* AWA [ja]

Other topics|

* Awards
* Shinto music

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