1980 in Japanese music

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Overview of the events of 1980 in Japanese music

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In 1980 (Shōwa 55), Japanese music was released on records and performed in concerts, and there were charts, awards, contests and festivals.

During that year, Japan continued to have the second largest popular music market in the world.[1]

## Awards, contests and festivals

[edit]

The 13th Japan record sales awards (Japanese: 日本レコードセールス大賞) were held in 1980.[2]

The 9th Tokyo Music Festival was held on 30 March 1980.[3][4] Feeling Old Feelings by Dionne Warwick won the grand prize. Body Language by The Dooleys won the Gold Award.[5]

The 22nd Osaka International Festival (Japanese: 大阪国際フェスティバル) was held from 7 to 27 April 1980.[6] The 19th Yamaha Popular Song Contest was held on 11 May 1980.[7] The 20th Yamaha Popular Song Contest was held on 5 October 1980.[8] The 11th World Popular Song Festival was held on 14 to 16 November 1980.[9] The 11th Japan Music Awards were held on 18 November 1980.[10][11] The final of the 9th FNS Music Festival was held on 16 December 1980.[12] The 22nd Japan Record Awards were held on 31 December 1980.[13] The 31st NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen was held on 31 December 1980.[14]

The 29th Otaka prize was won by Tōru Takemitsu.[15]

## Concerts

[edit]

The "All Nite Rock Show '80" was held from 21 to 22 June 1980.[16]

## Number one singles

[edit]

Oricon

Main article: List of Oricon number-one singles of 1980

The following reached number 1 on the weekly Oricon Singles Chart:[17]

Issue date  | Song  | Artist(s)

|
|

January 7  | "Ihōjin"  | Saki Kubota
January 14
January 21
January 28  | "Daitokai [ja]"  | Crystal King
February 4
February 11
February 18
February 25
March 3
March 10  | "Okuru Kotoba [ja]"  | Kaientai [ja]
March 17
March 24
March 31
April 7
April 14
April 21  | "Runaway [ja]"  | Chanels
April 28
May 5
May 12
May 19
May 26
June 2
June 9  | "Dancing All Night [ja]"  | Monta & Brothers [ja]
June 16
June 23
June 30
July 7
July 14
July 21
July 28
August 4
August 11
August 18  | "Junko / Namida no Serenade [ja]"  | Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi
August 25
September 1
September 8
September 15
September 22
September 29  | "Hatto Shite! Good [ja]"  | Toshihiko Tahara
October 6
October 13  | "Kaze wa Aki Iro / Eighteen [ja]"  | Seiko Matsuda
October 20
October 27
November 3
November 10
November 17  | "I'm In the Mood for Dancing"
Japanese title: "Dancing Sister" (ダンシング・シスター) | The Nolans
November 24
December 1  | "Koibito yo [ja]"  | Mayumi Itsuwa
December 8
December 15
December 22  | "Sneaker Blues [ja]"  | Masahiko Kondō
December 29

The Best Ten

The following reached number 1 on The Best Ten chart:

* 10 January and 17 January: Ihojin \- Saki Kubota. There was no broadcast on 3 January.[18][19][20][21]
* June 26, July 3, July 24, July 31, August 7, August 14, August 21: "Dancing All Night [ja]" - Monta & Brothers [ja][22]
* 28 August, 4 September and 11 September: "Aishu Deito (New York City Nights)" - Toshihiko Tahara.[23][24][25][26]

## 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 1980年

The following reached number 1 on the Oricon chart:

* 7 January, 14 January, 21 January, 28 January, 4 February, 11 February: Yumegatari by Saki Kubota[27]
* Public Pressure \- Yellow Magic Orchestra[28]

Music Labo

The following reached number 1 on the Music Labo chart:

* 15 December and 22 December: We Are [ja] \- Off Course[29]
* 1 December and 8 December: Kogarashi Ni Dakarete [ja] \- Chiharu Matsuyama[30]
* 10 November, 17 November and 24 November: The Best [ja] \- Junko Yagami[31]
* 27 October and 3 November: Inshouha [ja] \- Masashi Sada[32]
* 20 October: Koibito Yo [ja] \- Mayumi Itsuwa[33]
* 13 October: Ride on Time \- Tatsuro Yamashita[34]
* 22 September, 29 September and 6 October: Kampai [ja] \- Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi[35]
* 16 September: Alice VIII [ja] \- Alice[36]
* 1 September and 8 September: Gyakuryu [ja] \- Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi[37]
* 11 August, 18 August and 25 August: Act - Monta & Brothers [ja][38]
* 7 July, 14 July, 21 July, 28 July and 4 August: Solid State Survivor \- Yellow Magic Orchestra[39]
* 30 June: X∞Multiplies \- Yellow Magic Orchestra[40]
* 14 January, 21 January, 28 January and 4 February: Yumegatari by Saki Kubota[41]

Cash Box of Japan

The following reached number 1 on the Cash Box of Japan chart:

* 28 June and 5 July: Mr Black [ja] \- Chanels[42]
* 7 June: Roman [ja] \- Chiharu Matsuyama[43]
* 10 May and 24 May: Ikiteite mo Ii Desu ka \- Miyuki Nakajima[44]
* 3 May: Tiny Bubbles [ja] \- Southern All Stars[45]
* 5 April, 12 April, 19 April and 26 April: Love Songs [ja] \- Mariya Takeuchi[46]
* 22 March and 29 March: Kishotenketsu [ja] \- Chiharu Matsuyama[47]

## Film and television

[edit]

The music of Kagemusha, by Shin'ichirō Ikebe, won the 35th Mainichi Film Award for Best Music.[48] The music of A Distant Cry from Spring (1980), by Masaru Sato, won the 4th Japan Academy Film Prize for Best Music (awarded in 1981).[49] Lalabel, the Magical Girl includes songs by Mitsuko Horie.[50][51][52] Animation: The Best Ten 1980, a parody of The Best Ten, was released on 20 December.[53]

## Overseas

[edit]

The single Gandhara by Godiego reached number 56 on the UK singles chart.[54][55]

From 1 March to 4 April, Pink Lady appeared in the television programme, sometimes called Pink Lady and Jeff, broadcast in the United States of America.[56] Pink Lady participated in the World Song Festival held in Seoul in South Korea from 21 to 23 November, and were the first Japanese musicians to perform in a concert in Seoul.[57][58][59]

The eponymous album Yellow Magic Orchestra reached number 81 on the Billboard 200 chart in the United States.[60] The single, "Computer Game", from that album, reached number 17 on the UK singles chart,[61] and number 60 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.[62][63][64] The album X∞Multiplies, by the same band, reached number 177 on the Billboard 200 chart.[65]

The song "Hana" (花〜すべての人の心に花を〜) by Shoukichi Kina was a hit in China, Thailand, Indonesia and other Asian countries, and sold 30 million copies.[66][67]

## Other singles released

[edit]

* Ai Giri Giri, Sekai Eiyushi, Utakata and Remember (Fame) by Pink Lady
* Behind the Mask and Rydeen by Yellow Magic Orchestra
* Ride on Time and My Sugar Babe by Tatsuro Yamashita
* Nijūgoji and Kugatsu No Iro by Saki Kubota
* Ōsaka Shigure by Harumi Miyako
* Aoi Sangoshō [ja] by Seiko Matsuda
* Shanikusai [ja], Rock 'n' Roll Widow [ja], Sayonara no Mukōgawa [ja] and Ichie [ja] by Momoe Yamaguchi

## Other albums released

[edit]

* Turning Point by Pink Lady
* Tenkai and Saudade by Saki Kubota
* Murdered by the Music by Yukihiro Takahashi
* Make Up City by Casiopea
* Landsale by P-Model
* Every Night by Yōsui Inoue
* Rockoon by T-Square
* Tasogare by Mai Yamane[68]
* Harutsugedori [ja], Möbius Game [ja], Phoenix Densetsu [ja] and This is My Trial [ja] by Momoe Yamaguchi
* 21 June: Toki no Nai Hotel \- Yuming[69]
* November: Yume Hikō (Japanese: 夢飛行) by Mioko Yamaguchi[70][71]
* 5 December: On the Street Corner by Tatsuro Yamashita[72]

## History

[edit]

In 2007, Shūkan Shōwa Taimuzu featured Saki Kubota on the back cover as person of the moment (Japanese: 時の人) for 1980.[73]

"Sneaker Blues" by Masahiko Kondō was released on 12 December 1980.[74] Momoe Yamaguchi retired in 1980.[75]

## See also

[edit]

* Timeline of Japanese music
* 1980 in Japan
* 1980 in music
* w:ja:1980年の音楽

## References

[edit]

* J-POPの歴史「1980年と1981年、劇的だった80年代の幕開け」. Rolling Stone Japan. 23 December 2019.
* Oricon magazine
* Music Labo magazine
* 新譜ジャーナル magazine
* 1980 オリコン年鑑 Oricon Annual Report.
* 1981 オリコン年鑑 Oricon Annual Report
* International Music Guide 1980.
* 今から38年前の今日1980年1月16日、ウイングス初の日本公演ツアーのため成田に到着したポール・マッカートニーが税関で逮捕される. News Online. Nippon Broadcasting System. 16 January 2018.
* "1980年（昭和55年）" in 山口百恵、松田聖子、中森明菜...激動の昭和を駆け抜けた不滅のヒット曲、一挙に解説！. Diamond Online, from Diamond, Inc. 25 May 2025.
* Oricon No. 1 Hits 500. Clubhouse (Japanese: クラブハウス). 1998. ISBN 9784906496129. vol 1 (1968~1985).

1. ^ Billboard. 20 December 1980. p 87.
2. ^ 新訂現代日本人名錄 98 (Contemporary Who's Who in Japan 1998). Nichagai Associates. 1998. vol 2. p 515.
3. ^ "Today's TV Choice". The Japan Times. 30 March 1980. No 29177. p 6.
4. ^ "Tokyo Music Festival Winners". The Japan Times. 5 April 1980. No 29183. p 9.
5. ^ Dionne Warwick captures grand prize at Tokyo Music Festival. Stars and Stripes. 3 April 1980.
6. ^ 1980年度のラインナップ. Asahi Shimbun Foundation.
7. ^ 第19回 ポピュラーソングコンテスト. Yamaha Music Foundation.
8. ^ 第20回 ポピュラーソングコンテスト. Yamaha Music Foundation.
9. ^ "11th World Popular Song Festival Ushers in the Eighties On a Promising Note". Billboard. 20 December 1980. p 86.
10. ^ 視聴率の正体. 1983. p 217.
11. ^ 燃える恋歌. 1989. p 21.
12. ^ "7.00 - FNS Popular Music '80 Grand Prix" in "KTV [8]". The Japan Times. 16 December 1980. No 29433. p 8. col 5.
13. ^ 第22回 日本レコード大賞. Japan Composer's Association.
14. ^ 第31回NHK紅白歌合戦. NHK.
15. ^ 尾高賞 in "Archive". NHK Symphony Orchestra]].
16. ^ "All Night Rock Show Is Success In Tokyo". Billboard. 26 July 1980. p 64.
17. ^ See the weekly issues of Oricon magazine
18. ^ ザ・ベストテン(1979年12月27日放送). TBS.
19. ^ 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.
20. ^ Taichi Kameyama. 固定客は一人もいない. 日本工業新聞社 (Nihon Kōgyō Shinbunsha). 1983. ISBN 4-8191-0592-2. p 205. National Diet Library.
21. ^ ザ・ベストテン 1980年度. Idol.ne.jp. 11/1/2019.
22. ^ 1980年8月14日、もんた&ブラザーズ「ダンシング・オールナイト」が『ザ・ベストテン』で4週連続（通算6週）の1位を獲得. News Online. Nippon Broadcasting System. 14 August 2018.
23. ^ 1980年8月28日、田原俊彦「哀愁でいと」がザ・ベストテンの1位獲得～ジャニーズ帝国への第1投. News Online. Nippon Broadcasting System. 28 August 2018.
24. ^ 『ザ・ベストテン』研究 テレビ欄表記から見る田原と聖子の仲. News ポストセブン. 3/11/2020.
25. ^ 【1980年7月】哀愁でいと/予感はあった 田原俊彦 デビュー曲にして最大のヒット曲. Sponichi Annex. 10 July 2011.
26. ^ 田原俊彦「哀愁でいと」デビュー曲は洋楽カバーのダンスフィーリング！. Re:minder. 12/8/2021.
27. ^ "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.
28. ^ 1970-1989 Oricon Chart Book LP Edition. オリコンチャートブック〈LP編(昭和45年-平成1年)〉. Oricon Books. May 1990. ISBN 4871310256. p 74.
29. ^ Billboard. 27 December 1980, p 57. 20 December 1980, p 85.
30. ^ Billboard. 6 December 1980, p 41. 20 December 1980, p 85.
31. ^ Billboard. 29 November 1980, p 66. 22 November 1980, p 66. 15 November 1980, p 86.
32. ^ Billboard. 8 November 1980, p 56. 1 November 1980, p 84.
33. ^ Billboard. 25 October 1980, p 74.
34. ^ Billboard. 25 October 1980, p 74.
35. ^ Billboard. 18 October 1980, p 62. 11 October 1980, p 54. 4 October 1980, p 103. 27 September 1980, p 59.
36. ^ Billboard. 20 September 1980, p 66.
37. ^ Billboard. 13 September 1980, p 63. 6 September 1980, p 68.
38. ^ Billboard. 30 August 1980, p 81. 16 August 1980, p 63.
39. ^ Billboard. 16 August 1980, p 63. 9 August 1980, p 65. 2 August 1980, p 53. 26 July 1980, p 63. 18 July 1980, p 69. 12 July 1980, p 51.
40. ^ Billboard. 5 July 1980, p 63.
41. ^ Billboard. 19 January 1980, p 82. 26 January 1980. p 61. 2 February 1980, p 54. 9 February 1980, p 54.
42. ^ Cash Box. 28 June 1980, p 51. 5 July 1980, p 43.
43. ^ Cash Box. 7 June 1980, p 37.
44. ^ Cash Box. 10 May 1980, p 36. 24 May 1980, p 50.
45. ^ Cash Box. 3 May 1980, p 36.
46. ^ Cash Box. 5 April 1980, p 37. 12 April 1980, p 42. 19 April 1980, p 41. 26 April 1980, p 19.
47. ^ Cash Box. 29 March 1980, p 93. 22 March 1980, p 40.
48. ^ 第35回 日本映画大賞
49. ^ Prizes.
50. ^ (1994) 7 AERA, 13.6.1994, p 41.
51. ^ 現代日本女性人名録. 2001. p 938.
52. ^ Nippon Columbia catalogue number SCS-499
53. ^ '80アニメーション ザ・ベストテン. Motion Picture Producers Association of Japan.
54. ^ Paul Gambaccini. British Hit Singles. 1991. pp 113 & 326
55. ^ Gandhara (Theme from Monkey). Official Charts.
56. ^ Inman. Television Variety Shows. p 352.
57. ^ "Pink Lady Pair Set To Dissolve, Go Solo". Billboard. 20 September 1980. p 67.
58. ^ "Future Uncertain of Seoul Music Contest". Billboard. 13 December 1980. p 70.
59. ^ Pink Lady – World Song Festival In Seoul '80. Hyundai Records catalogue number HSJ가60.
60. ^ Billboard 200. 22 March 1980.
61. ^ "Computer Game (Theme From The Invaders). Official Charts.
62. ^ Bronson. The Billboard Book of Number One Hits. 1997. p 131.
63. ^ Made in Japan: Studies in Popular Music. p 222.
64. ^ Billboard
65. ^ Billboard
66. ^ Urbain. Music and Conflict Transformation. p 6.
67. ^ (1996) 潮 p 21.
68. ^ ユリイカ. Seidosha. vol 41, no 9 (August 2009). p 193.
69. ^ 1980年6月21日、松任谷由実のアルバム『時のないホテル』がリリース～大きな転換期となる1枚. News Online. Nippon Broadcasting System. 21 June 2019.
70. ^ Canyon Records catalogue number C28A0131
71. ^ 山口美央子、オリエンタルなシンセポップの名作『夢飛行』、『NIRVANA』、『月姫』が 紙ジャケ仕様で一挙再発. BARKS. 5 February 2018.
72. ^ 1980年12月5日山下達郎『オン・ザ・ストリート・コーナー』リリース～オールディーズ・マニアの真骨頂. News Online. Nippon Broadcasting System. 5 December 2018.
73. ^ "1980". 週刊昭和タイムズ (Shūkan Shōwa Taimuzu). DeAgostini. No 12. 18 December 2007.
74. ^ 1980年12月12日、近藤真彦「スニーカーぶる～す」がリリース～この曲がジャニーズのデビュー戦略の端緒となる. News Online. Nippon Broadcasting System. 12 December 2018.
75. ^ 首相は大平正芳、鈴木善幸 富士山、地下、バス...夏に悲劇が続いた昭和55年をデータで. Sankei Shimbun. 29 June 2025.

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Music of Japan

"Kimigayo" (National anthem)

Traditional|

Instruments

| Genres and styles|

*     * Bugaku
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|

Post Meiji Restoration

(1868–present)|

* Commercial song [ja]
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Post-War

(1945–present)|

| 1945–present|

* Kayōkyoku
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|

1970–present|

* Anime song
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* Disco [ja]
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* Ōenka (cheering song)
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1990–present|

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

Ethnic and regional|

* Ainu music
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* 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
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* 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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