1966 in Japanese music

In 1966, Japanese music was released on records, and there were charts, awards, contests and festivals.

Awards, contests and festivals

The 9th Osaka International Festival was held from 12 April to 28 April 1966. The 8th Japan Record Awards were held on 24 December 1966. The 17th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen was held on 31 December 1966.
The 15th Otaka prize was won by Toshiro Mayuzumi.

The following reached number 1 according to weekly singles charts published in Billboard:

7 January and 5 March: Futari No Sekai - Yūjirō Ishihara
19 March: -
26 March, 2 April, 9 April, 16 April, 23 April, 30 April, 7 May, 14 May and 21 May: -
28 May, 11 June, 18 June, 25 June, 2 July and 9 July: - Yūzō Kayama
13 August, 20 August, 27 August and 3 September: Yogiri No Bojo - Yūjirō Ishihara
10 September, 17 September, 24 September, 1 October and 15 October: - Mina Aoe
22 October, 29 October, 5 November, 12 November, 19 November, 26 November, 3 December, 10 December, 17 December, 24 December and 31 December: - and

Local
The following reached number 1 according to the weekly local singles chart published in Cash Box:

1 January and 8 January: - Harumi Miyako
15 January, 22 January and 29 January: - Chieko Baisho
5 February, 12 February and 19 February: Sakaba Kouta -
26 February: - Hibari Misora
5 March: -
12 March, 19 March, 26 March, 2 April, 9 April, 16 April, 23 April, 30 April, 7 May, 14 May, 21 May, 28 May, 4 June, 11 June and 18 June: - Yūzō Kayama
25 June, 2 July, 9 July and 16 July: Yuhi Wa Akaku - Yūzō Kayama
6 August, 13 August and 20 August: - Yūzō Kayama
27 August, 3 September, 10 September and 17 September: - Teruhiko Saigō
24 September, 1 October and 8 October: - Yukio Hashi
15 October: Nandemonai-Wa - This song is the B side of
22 October: - Kazuo Funaki
29 October, 5 November, 12 November, 19 November, 26 November and 3 December: -
10 December and 17 December: Yozora-O Aoi-De - Yūzō Kayama

International
The following reached number 1 according to the weekly international singles chart published in Cash Box:

1 January: - Johnny Tillotson and Kyu Sakamoto
8 January: Il Silenzio - Nini Rosso, Jorge Jouvin and
15 January, 22 January, 29 January, 5 February, 12 February, 19 February, 26 February, 5 March and 12 March: Karelia - Feenades and The Spotnicks
19 March, 26 March and 2 April: We Can Work It Out - The Beatles
16 April and 23 April: Kungsleden - Soundtrack ; Akira Fuse ; ; and Antonio Koga
30 April and 7 May: L' Amour, C' Est Pour Rien - Enrico Macias ; Fubuki Koshiji ; ; . The Japanese name of this song is "Koigokoro".
14 May, 21 May, 28 May and 4 June: The Ballad of the Green Berets - Barry Sadler
11 June and 18 June: A Taste of Honey - Tijuana Brass and The Ventures
25 June, 2 July, 9 July, 16 July, 6 August, 13 August and 20 August: - and Johnny Tillotson
27 August: - Blue Comets
3 September: Paperback Writer - The Beatles
10 September, 17 September, 1 October and 8 October: -
15 October, 22 October and 29 October: -
5 November: - The Blue Comets
12 November, 19 November, 26 November, 3 December, 10 December and 17 December: - The Spiders

Yukio Hashi's was number 1 in the Japanese kayokyoku annual singles chart published in Billboard.

The music of The Face of Another, and Akogare, by Tōru Takemitsu, won the 21st Mainichi Film Award for Best Music.

The value of records production was $88 million.

The Spiders toured Europe, departing from Japan on 24 October, and returning there on 14 November.