1981 in Japanese music

1981 in music By location

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Overview of the events of 1981 in Japanese music

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In 1981 (Shōwa 56), 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 music market in the world,[1][2] eleven percent of all record sales took place in that country,[3] and the value of tapes and records made there was $1.15 billion.[4]

## Awards, contests and festivals

[edit]

The 10th Tokyo Music Festival was held on 29 March 1981.[5][6][7] The 23rd Osaka International Festival (Japanese: 大阪国際フェスティバル) was held from 8 to 28 April 1981.[8] The 21st Yamaha Popular Song Contest was held on 10 May 1981.[9] The 22nd Yamaha Popular Song Contest was held on 4 October 1981.[10] The 12th World Popular Song Festival was held on 1 November 1981.[11][12] The 12th Japan Music Awards were held on 12 November 1981.[13] The final of the 10th FNS Music Festival was held on 15 December 1981.[14][15] The 23rd Japan Record Awards were held on 31 December 1981.[16] The 32nd NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen was held on 31 December 1981.[17]

The 30th Otaka prize was won by Toshi Ichiyanagi and Atsutada Otaka.[18]

## Concerts

[edit]

The economic recession adversely affected concerts.[19] Pioneer Live Special concerts were held in 1981.[20]

## Number one singles

[edit]

Oricon

Main article: List of Oricon number-one singles of 1981

The following reached number 1 on the weekly Oricon Singles Chart:[21][22]

Issue date  | Song  | Artist(s)

|
|

January 5  | "Sneaker Blues [ja]"  | Masahiko Kondō
January 12
January 19
January 26  | "Koi wa Do! [ja]"  | Toshihiko Tahara
February 2
February 9  | "Cherry Blossom [ja]"  | Seiko Matsuda
February 16
February 23
March 2
March 9  | "Machikado Twilight [ja]"  | Chanels
March 16
March 23
March 30  | "Ruby no Yubiwa [ja]"  | Akira Terao
April 6
April 13
April 20
April 27
May 4
May 11
May 18
May 25
June 1
June 8  | "Natsu no Tobira [ja]"  | Seiko Matsuda
June 15
June 22  | "Blue Jeans Memory [ja]"  | Masahiko Kondō
June 29
July 6
July 13  | "Nagai Yoru [ja]"  | Chiharu Matsuyama
July 20
July 27
August 3  | "Shiroi Parasol [ja]"  | Seiko Matsuda
August 10
August 17
August 24  | "High School Lullaby [ja]"  | Imo-kin Trio [ja]
August 31
September 7
September 14
September 21
September 28
October 5
October 12  | "Gingiragin ni Sarigenaku [ja]"  | Masahiko Kondō
October 19
October 26  | "Kaze Tachinu [ja]"  | Seiko Matsuda
November 2  | "Gingiragin ni Sarigenaku"  | Masahiko Kondō
November 9
November 16
November 23
November 30  | "Akujo [ja]"  | Miyuki Nakajima
December 7
December 14
December 21  | "Sailor Fuku to Kikanjū [ja]"  | Hiroko Yakushimaru
December 28

The Best Ten

The following reached number 1 on The Best Ten chart:

* 27 August: "Shiroi Parasol [ja]" - Seiko Matsuda[23]

Music Labo

The following reached number 1 on the Music Labo chart:

* 10 August, 17 August and 24 August: Mamotte Agetai by Yumi Matsutoya[24]

## 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 1981年

The following reached number 1 on the Oricon chart:

* 12 October, 19 October and 26 October: Tsukasa - Tsukasa Itou [ja][25]

Music Labo

The following reached number 1 on the Music Labo chart:

* 21 December: Over [ja] \- Off Course[26]
* 7 December and 14 December: Kishoutenketsu II  [ja] \- Chiharu Matsuyama[27]
* 16 November and 30 November: Sakuban Oai Shimashou [ja] \- Yumi Matsutoya[28]
* 2 November and 9 November: Kaze Tachinu [ja] \- Seiko Matsuda[29]
* 19 October and 26 October: Tsukasa - Tsukasa Itou [ja][30]
* 7 September, 14 September, 21 September, 28 September, 5 October and 12 October: Selection 1978-1981 [ja] \- Off Course[31]
* 10 August, 17 August, 24 August and 31 August: Stereo Taiyo Zoku [ja] \- Southern All Stars[32]
* 27 July and 3 August: Live at Whiskey A Go Go [ja] \- Chanels[33]
* 13 July and 20 July: Utsuroi [ja] \- Masashi Sada[34]
* 29 June: Toki O Koete [ja] \- Chiharu Matsuyama[35]
* 22 June and 6 July: Reflections \- Akira Terao[36]

Cash Box of Japan

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

* 9 May: Heart & Soul [ja] \- Chanels[37]
* 11 April, 18 April, 25 April and 2 May: Ringetsu \- Miyuki Nakajima[38]
* 28 March and 4 April: Bucchigiri II (Japanese: ぶっちぎりII) - Yokohama Ginbae [ja][39]

## Film and television

[edit]

The music of Station (1981), by Ryudo Uzaki, won the 36th Mainichi Film Award for Best Music (awarded in 1981),[40] and the 5th Japan Academy Film Prize for Best Music (awarded in 1982).[41]

NHK Pops Hall [ja] was first broadcast on 7 April 1981.[42][43][44] (Also translated "NHK Song Hall" and "NHK Kayo Hall").

## Compositions

[edit]

* First version of Toward the Sea by Tōru Takemitsu[45]

## Overseas

[edit]

Eyes of the Mind, by Casiopea, reached number 33 on the Billboard Jazz LPs chart.[46]

## Other singles released

[edit]

* Last Pretender and Oh! by Pink Lady
* Suzume by Keiko Masuda
* Orange Airmail Special and Lens Eye by Saki Kubota
* 15 October: Hello Goodbye [ja] by Yoshie Kashiwabara[47]

## Other albums released

[edit]

* A Long Vacation by Eiichi Ohtaki
* Sayonara Pink Lady by Pink Lady
* I My Mie by Mie
* BGM and Technodelic by Yellow Magic Orchestra
* Neuromantic by Yukihiro Takahashi
* Airmail Special by Saki Kubota
* Cross Point by Casiopea
* Potpourri by P-Model
* The Birthday Eve by Loudness
* Magic by T-Square

## History

[edit]

The song Unazuki March [ja] by the Unazuki Trio [ja] was recorded on 14 November 1981.[48]

## See also

[edit]

* Timeline of Japanese music
* 1981 in Japan
* 1981 in music
* w:ja:1981年の音楽

## References

[edit]

* "Music in Japan: Industry Views 1981 With Quiet Optimism". Billboard. 30 May 1981. pp J-1 to J-18. (A Billboard Spotlight).
* 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
* 1981 オリコン年鑑 Oricon Annual Report.
* 1982 オリコン年鑑 Oricon Annual Report
* Oricon No.1 Hits 500. Clubhouse (Japanese: クラブハウス). 1998. ISBN 9784906496129. vol 1 (1968~1985).

1. ^ Tokita and Hughes. The Ashgate Research Companion to Japanese Music. 2008. p 355.
2. ^ Gronow and Saunio. International History of the Recording Industry. 1998. Reprinted 1999.p 209.
3. ^ Howard Smith (ed). Inside Japan. BBC. 1981. p 65.
4. ^ Billboard. 29 May 1982. pp J-1.
5. ^ The Nolans on stage At 10th Tokyo Music Festival 1981. Getty Images.
6. ^ "7.00 - 10th Tokyo Music Festival" in "MBS [4]". The Japan Times. 29 March 1981. No 29533. p 7. col 2.
7. ^ "Nolans Win Grand Prize At Tokyo Music Festival". The Japan Times. 31 March 1981. No 29535. p 2.
8. ^ 1981年度のラインナップ. Asahi Shimbun Foundation.
9. ^ 第21回 ポピュラーソングコンテスト. Yamaha Music Foundation.
10. ^ 第22回 ポピュラーソングコンテスト. Yamaha Music Foundation.
11. ^ "Winners Chosen For 12th Pop Song Fest In Tokyo". Billboard. 14 November 1981. p 112.
12. ^ "23 Entries in Yamaha World Festival". Billboard. 3 October 1981. p 59.
13. ^ 波瀾万丈 山川豊歌い続けて40年. ZAKZAK from the Sankei Shimbun. 5 May 2020.
14. ^ (1981) 朝日新聞縮刷版 (Asahi Shimbun shukusatsuban). Issue 726. p 24 headed "1981 年(昭和 56 年) 12 月 15 日閉."
15. ^ "FNS Song Festival '81". The Japan Times. 15 December 1981. No 29789.
16. ^ 第23回 日本レコード大賞. Japan Composer's Association.
17. ^ 第32回NHK紅白歌合戦. NHK.
18. ^ 尾高賞 in "Archive". NHK Symphony Orchestra]].
19. ^ "Japanese Promoters Gear Up For International Acts". Billboard. 22 May 1982. pp 38 & 65.
20. ^ "Monterey Japan Shows Pull Crowds, Most SRO". Billboard. 14 November 1981. p 99.
21. ^ 1981年3月9日 シャネルズの「街角トワイライト」がオリコン・シングル・チャート1位を獲得. News Online. Nippon Broadcast System. 9 March 2018.
22. ^ See the weekly issues of Oricon magazine
23. ^ 1981年8月27日、松田聖子「白いパラソル」がザ・ベストテンの1位を獲得～松田聖子の第一期と二期を結ぶ重要曲. News Online. Nippon Broadcast System. 27 August 2018.
24. ^ Billboard. 22 August 1981, p 57. 29 August 1981, p 69. 5 September 1981, p 61.
25. ^ 1981年の本日、10月19日、伊藤つかさ『つかさ』がオリコン・アルバムチャートの1位を獲得. News Online. Nippon Broadcasting System. 19 October 2018.
26. ^ Billboard. 26 December 1981, p 82.
27. ^ Billboard. 19 December 1981, p 74. 12 December 1981, p 53.
28. ^ Billboard. 5 December 1981, p 69. 21 November 1981, p 87.
29. ^ Billboard. 14 November 1981, p 101. 7 November 1981, p 75.
30. ^ Billboard. 7 November 1981, p 75. 31 October 1981, p 101. 24 October 1981, p 73.
31. ^ Billboard. 17 October 1981, p 73. 10 October 1981, p 87. 3 October 1981, p 64. 26 September 1981, p 68. 19 September 1981, p 76.
32. ^ Billboard. 12 September 1981, p 73. 5 September 1981, p 61. 29 August 1981, p 69. 22 August 1981, p 57.
33. ^ Billboard. 15 August 1981, p 79. 8 August 1981, p 61.
34. ^ Billboard. 1 August 1981, p 63. 25 July 1981, p 65. 18 July 1981, p 73.
35. ^ Billboard. 4 July 1981, p 77.
36. ^ Billboard. 11 July 1981, p 61. 4 July 1981, p 77.
37. ^ Cash Box. 9 May 1981, p 36.
38. ^ Cash Box. 2 May 1981, p 38. 25 April 1981, p 35. 18 April 1981, p 76. 11 April 1981, p 33.
39. ^ Cash Box. 4 April 1981, p 35. 28 March 1981, p 43. See 7 March 1981, p 37 for this spelling.
40. ^ 第36回 日本映画大賞
41. ^ Prizes.
42. ^ "8:00-**NHK Pops Hall". The Japan Times. 7 April 1981. No 29542. p 10. col 1.
43. ^ NHK歌謡ホール. NHK.
44. ^ 歌謡番組. NHK.
45. ^ Stacy and Henderson (eds). Encyclopedia of Music in the 20th Century. p 625.
46. ^ Billboard. 11 July 1981. p 57.
47. ^ 1981年の今日10月15日、柏原よしえ（芳恵）の「ハロー・グッバイ」が発売～初出はアグネス・チャンのB面曲だった. News Online. Nippon Broadcasting System. 15 October 2018.
48. ^ 1981年11月14日、大瀧詠一プロデュース「うなずきマーチ」がレコーディング～歌うのは紳助・竜介、ツービート、B&Bのうなずき役によって結成されたうなずきトリオ. News Online. Nippon Broadcasting System. 14 November 2018.

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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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