1983 in Japanese music


In 1983, 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, and the value of tapes and records made there was $1.198 billion.

Awards, contests and festivals

The 12th Tokyo Music Festival was held on 27 March 1983. The 25th Osaka International Festival was held from 8 April to 8 May 1983. The 25th Yamaha Popular Song Contest was held on 15 May 1983. The 26th Yamaha Popular Song Contest was held on 2 October 1983. The 14th World Popular Song Festival was held from 29 to 30 October 1983. The final of the 12th FNS Music Festival was held on 20 December 1983. The 25th Japan Record Awards were held on 31 December 1983. The 34th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen was held on 31 December 1983.
The 32nd Otaka prize was won by Toshi Ichiyanagi.

Concerts

Yumi Matsutoya had a concert at the Nippon Budokan on 6 July 1983.

Number one singles

The following reached number 1 on the weekly Oricon Singles Chart:
Issue dateSongArtist
3 January""Hiroshi & Kibo
10 January""Hiroshi & Kibo
17 January"Second Love"Akina Nakamori
24 January"Second Love"Akina Nakamori
31 January""Masahiko Kondō
7 February""Masahiko Kondō
14 February""Seiko Matsuda
21 February""Seiko Matsuda
28 February""Toshihiko Tahara
7 March"½ no Shinwa"Akina Nakamori
14 March"½ no Shinwa"Akina Nakamori
21 March"½ no Shinwa"Akina Nakamori
28 March"½ no Shinwa"Akina Nakamori
4 April"½ no Shinwa"Akina Nakamori
11 April"½ no Shinwa"Akina Nakamori
18 April""Takashi Hosokawa
25 April""Takashi Hosokawa
2 May""Takashi Hosokawa
9 May""Masahiko Kondō
16 May""Seiko Matsuda
23 May""Rats & Star
30 May""Toshihiko Tahara
6 June""Hiroko Yakushimaru
13 June""Hiroko Yakushimaru
20 June""Hiroko Yakushimaru
27 June""Hiroko Yakushimaru
4 July""Hiroko Yakushimaru
11 July""Hiroko Yakushimaru
18 July""Hiroko Yakushimaru
25 July""Masahiko Kondō
1 August""Masahiko Kondō
8 August""Masahiko Kondō
15 August""Seiko Matsuda
22 August""Toshihiko Tahara
29 August""Toshihiko Tahara
5 September"Flashdance... What a Feeling"
Japanese title: 		Irene Cara
12 September"Flashdance... What a Feeling"
Japanese title: 		Irene Cara
19 September"Kinku"Akina Nakamori
26 September"Cat's Eye"Anri
3 October"Cat's Eye"Anri
10 October"Cat's Eye"Anri
17 October"Cat's Eye"Anri
24 October"Cat's Eye"Anri
31 October"Glass no Ringo / Sweet Memories"Seiko Matsuda
7 November""Seiko Matsuda
14 November"Royal Straight Flash" Masahiko Kondō
21 November"Hitomi wa Diamond / Aoi Photograph"Seiko Matsuda
28 November""Toshihiko Tahara
5 December""Toshihiko Tahara
12 December""Toshihiko Tahara
19 December"Love Is Over"Ouyang Fei Fei
26 December"Love Is Over"Ouyang Fei Fei

Number one albums and LPs

Music Labo
The following reached number 1 on the Music Labo chart:
Cash Box
The following reached number 1 on the Cash Box of Japan chart:
Oricon
The following reached number 1 on the Oricon LP chart:

Music industry

Polydor Japan introduced the uniform coding system.

Film and television

The music of Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence, by Ryuichi Sakamoto, won the 38th Mainichi Film Award for Best Music. The music of The Geisha and Kairei and Sensei, by Masaru Sato, won the 7th Japan Academy Film Prize for Best Music. Musicals include Toshi in Takarazuka – Love Forever.

Overseas

The song Forbidden Colours, by David Sylvian and Ryuichi Sakamoto, reached number 16 on the UK singles chart, and also charted in Ireland, Australia and Iceland. The single Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence, by Ryuichi Sakamoto, reached number 93 on the UK singles chart, and also charted in Australia and New Zealand. The album Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence, by Ryuichi Sakamoto, reached number 36 on the UK albums chart, and also charted in Australia, New Zealand, Sweden, Iceland and the Netherlands.

Debuts

  • April: Azumi Inoue released her debut single "Star Storm". The song is included in her first album "Space Fantasy".

Other singles released

Other albums released