Yamaha Popular Song Contest


The Yamaha Popular Song Contest, generally known as Popcon, was a Japanese popular music contest which ran from 1969 to 1986. It was sponsored by the Yamaha Music Foundation and was held annually at the Yamaha Resort Tsumagoi in Kakegawa, Shizuoka, Japan.
The grand prix winners were to be qualified for the World Popular Song Festival.

History

  • 1969: The first competition, as the '69 Composition Concours, took place at the Yamaha Resort Nemu no Sato in Shima, Mie, Japan.
  • 1972: The contest was renamed Popular Song Contest.
  • 1973: From this year, the event was held twice a year.
  • May 1974: The contest venue was changed to the Yamaha Resort Tsumagoi from this year.
  • May 1984: Due to a gas explosion in Tsumagoi the previous year, the Nakano Sun Plaza temporarily hosted the event.
  • September 1986: The 32nd competition was held as the final Popcon event.
  • 1987: Teens Music Festival replaced the Popcon.

Notable participants

The following professional singers have won in some division of awards.

Winners

1st Composition Concours (1969)

At the Nemu no Sato Yamaha Music Hall, on November 23, 1969.

2nd Composition Concours (1970)

At the Nemu no Sato Indoor Hall, on November 5, 1970

3rd Composition Concours (1971)

At the Nemu no Sato Outdoor Hall, on October 9, 1971
  • Grand Prix
  • *Hide and Rosanna

4th Popcon (1972)

At the Nemu no Sato Outdoor Hall, on October 8, 1972

5th Popcon (1973)

At the Nemu no Sato Outdoor Hall, on May 20, 1973

6th Popcon (1973)

At the Nemu no Sato Outdoor Hall, on October 13, 1973
  • Awards
  • *Akiko Kosaka

Popcon Grand Prix '73 (1973)

At the Nemu no Sato Outdoor Hall, on October 14, 1973
  • Grand Prix
  • *Kouichi Ise and Manji
  • *Akiko Kosaka

7th Popcon (1974)

At the Tsumagoi Exhibition Hall, on May 5, 1974
  • Grand Prix
  • *Kyoko Kosaka
  • Top Prizes
  • *Akira Yamazaki
  • *Yuki Katsuragi

8th Popcon (1974)

At the Tsumagoi Exhibition Hall, on October 13, 1974
  • Chewing Gum

9th Popcon (1975)

At the Tsumagoi Exhibition Hall, on May 18, 1975

10th Popcon (1975)

At the Tsumagoi Exhibition Hall, on October 12, 1975

11th Popcon (1976)

At the Tsumagoi Exhibition Hall, on May 16, 1976
  • Grand Prix
  • *Sandii
  • Best Son Award
  • *Yukio Sasaki

12th Popcon (1976)

At the Tsumagoi Exhibition Hall, on October 3, 1976
  • Grand Prix
  • *White House II

13th Popcon (1977)

At the Tsumagoi Exhibition Hall, on May 8, 1977

14th Popcon (1977)

At the Tsumagoi Exhibition Hall, on October 2, 1977
  • Grand Prix
  • *Masanori Sera & Twist

15th Popcon (1978)

At the Tsumagoi Exhibition Hall, on May 7, 1978

16th Popcon (1978)

At the Tsumagoi Exhibition Hall, on October 1, 1978

17th Popcon (1979)

At the Tsumagoi Exhibition Hall, on May 6, 1979

18th Popcon (1979)

At the Tsumagoi Exhibition Hall, on October 7, 1979
  • Grand Prix
  • *Crystal King
  • Best Song Awards
  • *Hironori Kaneko
  • *Gypsy and Arere no Re

19th Popcon (1980)

At the Tsumagoi Exhibition Hall, on May 11, 1980

20th Popcon (1980)

At the Tsumagoi Exhibition Hall, on October 5, 1980
  • Grand Prix
  • *Eddy Yamamoto

21st Popcon (1981)

At the Tsumagoi Exhibition Hall, on May 10, 1981
  • Grand Prix
  • *Toshihiro Itoh

22nd Popcon (1981)

At the Tsumagoi Exhibition Hall, on October 4, 1981
  • Grand Prix
  • *Aladdin
  • Award
  • *Yuiko Tsubokura
  • Kawakami Prize
  • *Megumi Shiina

23rd Popcon (1982)

At the Tsumagoi Exhibition Hall, on May 16, 1982

24th Popcon (1982)

At the Tsumagoi Exhibition Hall, on October 3, 1982

25th Popcon (1983)

At the Tsumagoi Exhibition Hall, on May 15, 1983

26th Popcon (1983)

At the Tsumagoi Exhibition Hall, on October 2, 1983
  • Grand Prix
  • *Midori Karashima

27th Popcon (1984)

At the Nakano Sun Plaza, on May 13, 1984

28th Popcon (1984)

At the Tsumagoi Exhibition Hall, on October 7, 1984

29th Popcon (1985)

At the Tsumagoi Exhibition Hall, on May 12, 1985

30th Popcon (1985)

At the Tsumagoi Exhibition Hall, on October 6, 1985
  • Grand Prix
  • *Kazuyuki Ozaki & Coastal City
  • Best Song Award
  • *Rika

31st Popcon (1986)

At the Tsumagoi Exhibition Hall, on May 11, 1986
  • Award
  • *Jinnouchi Taizō

32nd Popcon (1986)

At the Tsumagoi Exhibition Hall, on September 29, 1986