1986 in Japanese music
In 1986, Japanese music was released on records, and there were charts, awards, contests and festivals.
During that year, Japan continued to have the second largest music market in the world.
Awards, contests and festivals
The 15th Tokyo Music Festival was held on 30 March 1986. The 28th Osaka International Festival was held from 1 to 25 April 1986. The 31st Yamaha Popular Song Contest was held on 11 May 1986. The 32nd Yamaha Popular Song Contest was held on 28 September 1986. The final of the 17th World Popular Song Festival was held on 26 October 1986. The final of the 15th FNS Music Festival was held on 16 December 1986. The 28th Japan Record Awards were held on 31 December 1986. The 37th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen was held on 31 December 1986.Number one singles
The following reached number 1 on the weekly Oricon Singles Chart:| Issue date | Song | Artist |
| 6 January | "" | Akiko Kobayashi |
| 13 January | "" | Eri Nitta |
| 20 January | "" | Eri Nitta |
| 27 January | "" | Eri Nitta |
| 3 February | "" | Ushiroyubi Sasaregumi |
| 10 February | "" | Yukiko Okada |
| 17 February | "Desire (Jōnetsu)" | Akina Nakamori |
| 24 February | Momoko Kikuchi | |
| 3 March | "Jā ne" | Onyanko Club |
| 10 March | "" | Akie Yoshizawa |
| 17 March | "" | Akie Yoshizawa |
| 24 March | "" | Misato Watanabe |
| 31 March | "" | Sonoko Kawai |
| 7 April | "" | Sonoko Kawai |
| 14 April | "" | Nyangilas |
| 21 April | "" | Eri Nitta |
| 28 April | "" | Eri Nitta |
| 5 May | "Otto Chikan!" | Onyanko Club |
| 12 May | "" | Ushiroyubi Sasaregumi |
| 19 May | "" | Sayuri Kokushō |
| 26 May | "" | Momoko Kikuchi |
| 2 June | "" | Satomi Fukunaga |
| 9 June | "Gypsy Queen" | Akina Nakamori |
| 16 June | "" | The Checkers |
| 23 June | "" | Sanae Jonouchi |
| 30 June | "" | Nyangilas |
| 7 July | "" | Mamiko Takai |
| 14 July | "" | Sonoko Kawai |
| 21 July | "" | Shonentai |
| 28 July | "" | Minayo Watanabe |
| 4 August | "Osaki ni Shitsurei" | Onyanko Club |
| 11 August | "" | Eri Nitta |
| 18 August | "" | |
| 25 August | "" | Sayuri Kokushō |
| 1 September | "Aozora no Kakera" | Yuki Saito |
| 8 September | "" | Ushiroyubi Sasaregumi |
| 15 September | "" | Momoko Kikuchi |
| 22 September | "" | Akie Yoshizawa |
| 29 September | "" | Mamiko Takai |
| 6 October | "Fin" | Akina Nakamori |
| 13 October | "" | Akemi Ishii |
| 20 October | "" | Marina Watanabe |
| 27 October | "" | Minayo Watanabe |
| 3 November | "" | Sonoko Kawai |
| 10 November | "Koi wa Question" | Onyanko Club |
| 17 November | "" | |
| 24 November | "" | Eri Nitta |
| 1 December | "" | Ushiroyubi Sasaregumi |
| 8 December | "" | Shonentai |
| 15 December | "" | Sayuri Kokushō |
| 22 December | "" | C-C-B |
| 29 December | "" | Mamiko Takai |
Number one albums
Music LaboThe following reached number 1 on the Music Labo chart:
- 13 January: - S. Kiyotaka & Omega Tribe
- 20 January: - Anzen Chitai
- 27 January, 3 February, 10 February and 17 February: - Rebecca
- 3 March: - Kōji Kikkawa
- 10 March and 17 March: - Junichi Inagaki
- 24 March: Yume Catalogue - Onyanko Club
- 8 April: - Checkers
- 15 April, 21 April and 28 April: Best - Akina Nakamori
- 5 May, 19 May and 26 May: - Tatsuro Yamashita
- 12 May: - Eri Nitta
- 2 June: - Sonoko Kawai
- 9 June, 16 June, 23 June and 30 June: - Seiko Matsuda
- 7 July: Adventure - Momoko Kikuchi
- 14 July and 21 July: - Misato Watanabe
- 28 July, 11 August and 18 August: -
- 25 August, 1 September: Fushigi - Akina Nakamori
- True Blue - Madonna
- 16 September, 23 September, 29 September, 6 October, 20 October: - - Shōgo Hamada
- 13 October: Mode De Sonoko - Sonoko Kawai
- 27 October: Fore! - Huey Lewis and the News
- 3 November, 10 November: - Rebecca
- 1 December: Mona Lisa - Akemi Ishii
- 8 December, 15 December and 22 December: - Yumi Matsutoya
The following reached number 1 on the Oricon chart:
- 17 November: - Boøwy
Music industry
120,000 titles were available on CD.Film and television
The music of Uhohho tankentai, by, won the 41st Best Music. The music of House on Fire, and Rikon Shinai Onna, by won the 10th Japan Academy Film Prize for Best Music. The music of Castle in the Sky is by Joe Hisaishi and includes the song by Azumi Inoue. Songs by Mitsuko Horie, from the cancelled anime "Kamen Senshi Lavithunder" and from its commercial, were released on an EP and on the album Sing It!The first broadcast of Music Station was on 24 October 1986.
Radio
The last time Ryuichi Sakamoto presented the Tuesday was on 18 March 1986.Video games
Koji Kondo composed the music for The Legend of Zelda.Other singles released
- Nonfiction Ecstasy by Akina Nakamori
- Flamingo in Paradise and Dance Beat wa Yoake made by Yōko Oginome
- Toki no Nagare ni Mi o Makase by Teresa Teng
- 100% Danjo Kōsai by Kyoko Koizumi
- Kanashimi yo Konnichi wa and Doyōbi no Tamanegi by Yuki Saito
- 21 October: Yōko Nagayama released "Venus"
- 29 October: Roppongi Junjōha by Yōko Oginome
Other albums and EPs released
- Crimson by Akina Nakamori
- Futurista by Ryuichi Sakamoto
- Raspberry Wind, Heartbeat Express and Non-Stopper by Yōko Oginome
- Promise in the History by Mari Hamada
- 36.5 °C by Miyuki Nakajima
- Sun Sun by Casiopea
- One Pattern by P-Model
- Lightning Strikes by Loudness
- S.P.O.R.T.S. by T-Square
- Panic the World by Onyanko Club
- Chime by Yuki Saito