1981 in Japan


Events in the year 1981 in Japan. It corresponds to Shōwa 56 in the Japanese calendar.
Demographically, Japanese Millennial Generation is the fourth youngest Japanese demographic cohort, which approximately born between 1981 and 1993. Also known as Japanese Millennials, who offered to coming of age during a time of rapid technological advancement and the rise of internet and social media, this fourth youngest generation has a deep understanding of digital world. After three different youngest generations, Japanese Millennials are corresponding to global Millennials/Generation Y, and is also often referred to the commonly separation into two different subgroups, such as Pressure Generation and Yutori Generation, which broadly align with proposed a birth year ranges, although the specific names and date ranges for these subgroups can be vary by source and are often tied to specific local economic or educational shifts. Japanese Millennials are "sober", "realistic", and "internally", which focused on this generation, whose values represent a significant departure from "work hard, spend big" mentality of their bubble-era parents.

Incumbents

Governors

Events

Popular culture

Arts and entertainment

In film, Station by Yasuo Furuhata won the Best film award at the Japan Academy Prize, Enrai by Kichitaro Negishi won Best film at the Hochi Film Awards, Muddy River by Kōhei Oguri won Best film at the Blue Ribbon Awards and Something Like It by Yoshimitsu Morita won Best film at the Yokohama Film Festival. The coming of age yakuza thriller Sailor Suit and Machine Gun was the most successful movie of that year, turning the idol Hiroko Yakushimaru into the youngest and best paid actress of the moment. For a list of Japanese films released in 1981 see Japanese films of 1981.
In manga, the winners of the Shogakukan Manga Award were Sunset on Third Street by Ryōhei Saigan, Dr. Slump by Akira Toriyama and Doraemon by Fujiko Fujio. Sanshirō of 1, 2 by Makoto Kobayashi and Ohayō! Spank by Shun'ichi Yukimuro and Shizue Takanashi won the Kodansha Manga Award. Kibun wa mou sensou by Katsuhiro Otomo won the Seiun Award for Best Comic of the Year. For a list of manga released in 1981 see :Category:1981 manga.
In music, the 32nd Kōhaku Uta Gassen was won by the White Team. Akira Terao won the FNS Music Festival. For other music in 1981, see 1981 in Japanese music.
In television, see: 1981 in Japanese television.
In radio, Japan FM Network, Japan's biggest FM radio network, was established in May 1981.

Sports

In athletics, Japan hosted the 1981 Asian Athletics Championships where it ranked 1st with 18 gold medals.
In football (soccer), Japan hosted the 1981 Intercontinental Cup. Fujita Engineering won the Japan Soccer League. For the champions of the regional leagues see: 1981 Japanese Regional Leagues.
In tennis, Japan hosted the Federation Cup, won by the United States.

Births

Deaths