1981 in Japanese music


In 1981, 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, eleven percent of all record sales took place in that country, and the value of tapes and records made there was $1.15 billion.

Awards, contests and festivals

The 10th Tokyo Music Festival was held on 29 March 1981. The 23rd Osaka International Festival was held from 8 to 28 April 1981. The 21st Yamaha Popular Song Contest was held on 10 May 1981. The 22nd Yamaha Popular Song Contest was held on 4 October 1981. The 12th World Popular Song Festival was held on 1 November 1981. The 12th Japan Music Awards were held on 12 November 1981. The final of the 10th FNS Music Festival was held on 15 December 1981. The 23rd Japan Record Awards were held on 31 December 1981. The 32nd NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen was held on 31 December 1981.
The 30th Otaka prize was won by Toshi Ichiyanagi and Atsutada Otaka.

Concerts

The economic recession adversely affected concerts. Pioneer Live Special concerts were held in 1981.

Number one singles

Oricon
The following reached number 1 on the weekly Oricon Singles Chart:
Issue dateSongArtist
January 5""Masahiko Kondō
January 12""Masahiko Kondō
January 19""Masahiko Kondō
January 26""Toshihiko Tahara
February 2""Toshihiko Tahara
February 9""Seiko Matsuda
February 16""Seiko Matsuda
February 23""Seiko Matsuda
March 2""Seiko Matsuda
March 9""Chanels
March 16""Chanels
March 23""Chanels
March 30""Akira Terao
April 6""Akira Terao
April 13""Akira Terao
April 20""Akira Terao
April 27""Akira Terao
May 4""Akira Terao
May 11""Akira Terao
May 18""Akira Terao
May 25""Akira Terao
June 1""Akira Terao
June 8""Seiko Matsuda
June 15""Seiko Matsuda
June 22""Masahiko Kondō
June 29""Masahiko Kondō
July 6""Masahiko Kondō
July 13""Chiharu Matsuyama
July 20""Chiharu Matsuyama
July 27""Chiharu Matsuyama
August 3""Seiko Matsuda
August 10""Seiko Matsuda
August 17""Seiko Matsuda
August 24""
August 31""
September 7""
September 14""
September 21""
September 28""
October 5""
October 12""Masahiko Kondō
October 19""Masahiko Kondō
October 26""Seiko Matsuda
November 2"Gingiragin ni Sarigenaku"Masahiko Kondō
November 9"Gingiragin ni Sarigenaku"Masahiko Kondō
November 16"Gingiragin ni Sarigenaku"Masahiko Kondō
November 23"Gingiragin ni Sarigenaku"Masahiko Kondō
November 30""Miyuki Nakajima
December 7""Miyuki Nakajima
December 14""Miyuki Nakajima
December 21""Hiroko Yakushimaru
December 28""Hiroko Yakushimaru

The Best Ten
The following reached number 1 on The Best Ten chart:
  • 27 August: "" - Seiko Matsuda
Music Labo
The following reached number 1 on the Music Labo chart:

Number one albums and LPs

Oricon
The following reached number 1 on the Oricon chart:
  • 12 October, 19 October and 26 October: Tsukasa -
Music Labo
The following reached number 1 on the Music Labo chart:
Cash Box of Japan
The following reached number 1 on the Cash Box of Japan chart:

Film and television

The music of Station, by Ryudo Uzaki, won the 36th Mainichi Film Award for Best Music, and the 5th Japan Academy Film Prize for Best Music.
Idol Punch was first broadcast on 4 April 1981. was first broadcast on 7 April 1981..

Compositions

Overseas

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

Groups disbanded

Pink Lady disbanded on 31 March 1981.

Other singles released

Other albums released

History

The song by the was recorded on 14 November 1981.
The Sayonara Nichigeki Western Carnival event took place in 1981. Cf. .