2015 in Japanese music

2015 in music By location

* Australia
* Canada
* China
* Europe
* United Kingdom
* Ireland
* Japan
* Norway
* Philippines
* South Korea
* Sweden
* United States

By genre

* classical
* country
* heavy metal
* hip hop
* jazz
* Latin
* rock

By topic

* List of albums released

Overview of the events of 2015 in Japanese music

List of years in Japanese music

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The year 2015 in Japanese music.

## Notable events

[edit]

* The sold-out two-day Takashi Matsumoto Official 45th Anniversary Project event was held at the Tokyo International Forum on August 21 and 22, celebrating lyricist Takashi Matsumoto's career. Performances included Matsumoto reuniting with the other two surviving members of pioneering Japanese rock band Happy End.[1]
* 66th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen on December 31.

## Number-ones

[edit]

* Oricon number-one albums
* Oricon number-one singles
* Hot 100 number-one singles

## Best-selling records

[edit]

### Best-selling albums

[edit]

The following is a list of the top 10 best-selling albums in Japan in 2015, according to Oricon.[2]

Rank | Album | Artist | Copies

|
|
|

1  | Japonism | Arashi | 981,639
2  | Planet Seven | Sandaime J Soul Brothers from Exile Tribe | 868,247
3  | Dreams Come True The Best! Watashi no Dorikamu | Dreams Come True | 828,505
4  | Koko ga Rhodes da, Koko de Tobe! | AKB48 | 780,591
5  | 0 to 1 no Aida | AKB48  | 687,688
6  | Reflection [ja] | Mr. Children | 576,867
7  | Budō [ja] | Southern All Stars | 534,482
8  | Tree | Sekai no Owari | 484,588
9  | Kanjani Eight no genki ga deru CD!! [ja] | Kanjani Eight | 348,197
10  | Kis-My-World | Kis-My-Ft2 | 336,069

### Best-selling singles

[edit]

The following is a list of the top 10 best-selling singles in Japan in 2015, according to Oricon.[3]

Rank | Single | Artist | Copies

|
|
|

1  | "Bokutachi wa Tatakawanai"  | AKB48 | 1,782,707
2  | "Halloween Night"  | AKB48  | 1,328,411
3  | "Green Flash"  | AKB48  | 1,045,492
4  | "Kuchibiru ni Be My Baby"  | AKB48  | 905,490
5  | "Coquettish Jūtai Chū"  | SKE48 | 702,299
6  | "Ima, Hanashitai Dareka ga Iru"  | Nogizaka46 | 686,539
7  | "Taiyō Nokku"  | Nogizaka46 | 678,481
8  | "Inochi wa Utsukushii"  | Nogizaka46 | 620,555
9  | "Aozora no Shita, Kimi no Tonari"  | Arashi | 571,597
10  | "Don't Look Back!"  | NMB48 | 530,830

## Awards

[edit]

* 57th Japan Record Awards
* 2015 MTV Video Music Awards Japan

## Albums released

[edit]

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (December 2014)

|

### January

[edit]

Date  | Album  | Artist  | Genre  | Labels

|
|
|
|

28  | Planet Seven[4] | Sandaime J Soul Brothers | J-pop | Rhythm Zone

### February

[edit]

Date  | Album  | Artist  | Genre  | Labels

|
|
|
|

4  | Colour by Number[5] | Monkey Majik | Rock | Binyl Records
11  | Imademo[6] | Kim Hyun-joong |  | Universal Music Japan
18  | Call Me...[7] | Pentagon |  | Goemon Records
25  | Last Song[8] | Seo In-guk |  | Nippon Crown

### March

[edit]

Date  | Album  | Artist  | Genre  | Labels

|
|
|
|

4  | Epic Day[9] | B'z | Hard rock, pop rock | Vermillion Records
18  | Action[10] | U-KISS |  | Avex Trax
After School Best[11] | After School |  | Avex Trax
25  | 19: Road to Amazing World[12] | Exile |  | Rhythm Zone

### April

[edit]

Date  | Album  | Artist  | Genre  | Labels

|
|
|
|

1  | Present[13] | Donghae & Eunhyuk |  | Avex Trax
15  | 2PM of 2PM[14] | 2PM |  | Epic Records Japan

### September

[edit]

Date  | Album  | Artist  | Genre  | Labels

|
|
|
|

16  | Positive | Tofubeats | J-pop | Unborde
30  | Colors[15] | CNBLUE | Rock | Warner Music Japan

### November

[edit]

Date  | Album  | Artist  | Genre  | Labels

|
|
|
|

18  | New Beginning[16] | Band-Maid | Hard rock, heavy metal | Gump Records
Close to You | Max Changmin | J-pop | Avex Trax
25  | Love Letter | Jun. K | J-pop | Epic Records Japan

### December

[edit]

Date  | Album  | Artist  | Genre  | Labels

|
|
|
|

2  | Yellow Dancer[17] | Gen Hoshino |  | Speedstar Records
16  | For You[18] | Infinite |  | Delicious Deli Records
23  | °Cmaj9[19] | Cute | J-pop | Zetima

## Debuting

[edit]

Main article: List of Japanese musical groups (2010s) § 2015

### Debuting groups

[edit]

* 2o Love to Sweet Bullet
* 3776
* Akishibu Project
* Billie Idle
* Bish
* Camellia Factory
* Earphones
* Ebisu Muscats
* Exo
* Fate Gear
* High4
* The Hoopers
* Idol Renaissance
* Iginari Tohoku San
* Kolme
* La PomPon
* Ladybaby
* lol
* Magnolia Factory
* Mrs. Green Apple
* Myth & Roid
* Official Hige Dandism
* OxT
* Pasocom Music Club
* The Peggies
* Pentagon
* POP
* Srv.Vinci
* Sora tob sakana
* Suchmos
* Tacoyaki Rainbow
* Tahiti
* Tokimeki Sendenbu
* TrySail
* Wednesday Campanella
* Whiteeeen

### Debuting soloists

[edit]

* Aimyon
* Anly
* Daoko
* Inori Minase
* Max Changmin
* Reol
* Sakura Fujiwara

## Deaths

[edit]

* July 6 – Masabumi Kikuchi, Japanese-American pianist and composer (b. 1939)

## See also

[edit]

* 2015 in Japan
* 2015 in Japanese television
* List of Japanese films of 2015

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "松本隆、45周年公演で細野晴臣&鈴木茂に感謝「素晴らしいメンバー」". Oricon (in Japanese). 2015-08-21. Retrieved 2020-01-23.
2. ^ "2015年 年間音楽ランキングを発表！ 年間アルバムランキング 1位～25位". Oricon Style. Oricon. 23 December 2015. Retrieved February 29, 2016.
3. ^ "2015年 年間音楽ランキングを発表！ 年間シングルランキング 1位～25位". Oricon Style. Oricon. 23 December 2015. Retrieved February 29, 2016.
4. ^ 三代目 J Soul Brothersニューアルバム詳細明らかに. Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. December 26, 2014. Retrieved December 6, 2016.
5. ^ MONKEY MAJIK、結成15周年彩る新アルバム. Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. September 12, 2014. Retrieved December 6, 2016.
6. ^ キム・ヒョンジュン、2ndアルバム「今でも」2/11発売＆日本全国ツアー決定. Musicman-NET (in Japanese). F.B.Communications, Magnet Company. December 19, 2014. Retrieved December 6, 2016.
7. ^ ペンタゴン 「CALL ME...」. Visulog (in Japanese). Fakestar Company. Retrieved December 6, 2016.
8. ^ ソ・イングク、ジャパン・ベスト・アルバム『Last Song』. Tower Records Japan (in Japanese). Tower Records. December 5, 2014. Retrieved December 6, 2016.
9. ^ B'z新アルバム「EPIC DAY」は3月発売＆スタジアムツアー決定. Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. January 26, 2015. Retrieved December 6, 2016.
10. ^ 【質問募集】U-KISS『Action』発売記念イベント（トーク＆ミニライブ）@ 3月19日タワレコ渋谷. Tower Records Japan (in Japanese). Tower Records. February 19, 2015. Retrieved December 6, 2016.
11. ^ AFTERSCHOOL、約4年間の活動凝縮ベスト盤＆キネマ倶楽部でリリパ. Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. February 3, 2015. Retrieved December 6, 2016.
12. ^ EXILE、19人体制で初アルバム＋秋のツアー決定. Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. November 30, 2014. Retrieved December 6, 2016.
13. ^ SUPER JUNIOR D&E、ミニアルバム「Present」携え全国ツアー. Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. April 1, 2015. Retrieved December 6, 2016.
14. ^ 2PM、ニュー・アルバム『2PM OF 2PM』がリリース！. Tower Records Japan (in Japanese). Tower Records. March 13, 2015. Retrieved December 6, 2016.
15. ^ CNBLUE、「色」を軸にしたニューアルバム＆全国ツアー. Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. July 24, 2015. Retrieved December 6, 2016.
16. ^ メイド姿でハードロックを奏でるガールズ・ロック・バンド BAND-MAID、11/4リリースの2ndミニ・アルバムより「Don't Let Me Down」のMV公開！レコ発企画も決定！. Geki-Rock (in Japanese). Geki-Rock Entertainment. October 6, 2015. Retrieved December 6, 2016.
17. ^ 星野源、2年7カ月ぶり新アルバム「YELLOW DANCER」リリース決定. Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. October 14, 2015. Retrieved December 6, 2016.
18. ^ INFINITE、12/16発売のニューアルバム「For You」のジャケット写真が公開！. Kstyle (in Japanese). Line Corporation. November 20, 2015. Retrieved December 6, 2016.
19. ^ °C-ute、9枚目のアルバム「°Cmaj9」にtofubeatsリミックス. Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. November 11, 2015. Retrieved December 6, 2016.

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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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