1981 in Japanese music

In 1981 (Shōwa 56), 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,Tokita and Hughes. The Ashgate Research Companion to Japanese Music. 2008. [https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=W2JTgQGc99EC&pg=PA355#v=onepage&q&f=false p 355].Gronow and Saunio. International History of the Recording Industry. 1998. Reprinted 1999.[https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=paPRxPJ7jjEC&pg=PA209#v=onepage&q&f=false p 209]. eleven percent of all record sales took place in that country,Howard Smith (ed). [https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=JhBxAAAAMAAJ Inside Japan]. BBC. 1981. p 65. and the value of tapes and records made there was $1.15 billion.Billboard. 29 May 1982. pp [https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=byQEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT38#v=onepage&q&f=false J-1].

Awards, contests and festivals

The 10th Tokyo Music Festival was held on 29 March 1981.[https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/the-nolans-perform-on-stage-at-10th-tokyo-music-festival-at-news-photo/1159836480 The Nolans on stage At 10th Tokyo Music Festival 1981]. Getty Images."7.00 - 10th Tokyo Music Festival" in "MBS [4]". The Japan Times. 29 March 1981. No 29533. p 7. col 2."Nolans Win Grand Prize At Tokyo Music Festival". The Japan Times. 31 March 1981. No 29535. p 2. The 23rd Osaka International Festival (Japanese: 大阪国際フェスティバル) was held from 8 to 28 April 1981.[https://www.asahizaidan.or.jp/festival/1978-1987/lineup-1981/ 1981年度のラインナップ]. Asahi Shimbun Foundation. The 21st Yamaha Popular Song Contest was held on 10 May 1981.[https://www.yamaha-mf.or.jp/history/e-history/popcon/pop21.html 第21回ポピュラーソングコンテスト]. Yamaha Music Foundation. The 22nd Yamaha Popular Song Contest was held on 4 October 1981.[https://www.yamaha-mf.or.jp/history/e-history/popcon/pop22.html 第22回ポピュラーソングコンテスト]. Yamaha Music Foundation. The 12th World Popular Song Festival was held on 1 November 1981."Winners Chosen For 12th Pop Song Fest In Tokyo". Billboard. 14 November 1981. [https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=9yQEAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PT123&pg=PT123#v=onepage&q&f=false p 112]."23 Entries in Yamaha World Festival". Billboard. 3 October 1981. [https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=iCQEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT106#v=onepage&q&f=false p 59]. The 12th Japan Music Awards were held on 12 November 1981.[https://www.zakzak.co.jp/article/20210505-KTDV2WLX3VLKZNAHZ5FNGVJ4M4/ 波瀾万丈山川豊歌い続けて40年]. ZAKZAK from the Sankei Shimbun. 5 May 2020. The final of the 10th FNS Music Festival was held on 15 December 1981.(1981) 朝日新聞縮刷版 (Asahi Shimbun shukusatsuban). [https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=XfhXAAAAMAAJ Issue 726]. p 24 headed "1981 年(昭和 56 年) 12 月 15 日閉.""FNS Song Festival '81". The Japan Times. 15 December 1981. No 29789. The 23rd Japan Record Awards were held on 31 December 1981.[https://web.archive.org/web/20200215202318/http://www.jacompa.or.jp/reco23.html 第23回日本レコード大賞]. Japan Composer's Association. The 32nd NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen was held on 31 December 1981.[https://www2.nhk.or.jp/archives/movies/?id=D0009043456_00000 第32回NHK紅白歌合戦]. NHK.

Concerts

The economic recession adversely affected concerts."Japanese Promoters Gear Up For International Acts". Billboard. 22 May 1982. pp [https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=-SMEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT24#v=onepage&q&f=false 38] & 65. Pioneer Live Special concerts were held in 1981."Monterey Japan Shows Pull Crowds, Most SRO". Billboard. 14 November 1981. [https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=9yQEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT110#v=onepage&q&f=false p 99].

Number one singles

Oricon

The following reached number 1 on the weekly Oricon Singles Chart:[https://news.1242.com/article/138889 1981年3月9日シャネルズの「街角トワイライト」がオリコン・シングル・チャート1位を獲得]. News Online. Nippon Broadcast System. 9 March 2018.See the weekly issues of Oricon magazine

scope="row"\|January 5 \|rowspan="3"\|"{{ill\|Sneaker Blues\|ja\|スニーカーぶる〜す}}" \|rowspan="3"\|Masahiko Kondō
class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align: center" !width="80"\|Issue date !width="100"\|Song !width="100"\|Artist(s)
scope="row"\|January 12
scope="row"\|January 19
scope="row"\|January 26 \|rowspan="2"\|"{{ill\|Koi wa Do!\|ja\|恋=Do!}}" \|rowspan="2"\|Toshihiko Tahara
scope="row"\|February 2
scope="row"\|February 9 \|rowspan="4"\|"{{illm\|Cherry Blossom (song)\|lt=Cherry Blossom\|ja\|チェリーブラッサム}}" \|rowspan="4"\|Seiko Matsuda
scope="row"\|February 16
scope="row"\|February 23
scope="row"\|March 2
scope="row"\|March 9 \|rowspan="3"\|"{{ill\|Machikado Twilight\|ja\|街角トワイライト}}" \|rowspan="3"\|Chanels
scope="row"\|March 16
scope="row"\|March 23
scope="row"\|March 30 \|rowspan="10"\|"{{ill\|Ruby no Yubiwa\|ja\|ルビーの指環}}" \|rowspan="10"\|Akira Terao
scope="row"\|April 6
scope="row"\|April 13
scope="row"\|April 20
scope="row"\|April 27
scope="row"\|May 4
scope="row"\|May 11
scope="row"\|May 18
scope="row"\|May 25
scope="row"\|June 1
scope="row"\|June 8 \|rowspan="2"\|"{{ill\|Natsu no Tobira\|ja\|夏の扉}}" \|rowspan="2"\|Seiko Matsuda
scope="row"\|June 15
scope="row"\|June 22 \|rowspan="3"\|"{{ill\|Blue Jeans Memory\|ja\|ブルージーンズメモリー}}" \|rowspan="3"\|Masahiko Kondō
scope="row"\|June 29
scope="row"\|July 6
scope="row"\|July 13 \|rowspan="3"\|"{{ill\|Nagai Yoru\|ja\|長い夜 (松山千春の曲)}}" \|rowspan="3"\|Chiharu Matsuyama
scope="row"\|July 20
scope="row"\|July 27
scope="row"\|August 3 \|rowspan="3"\|"{{ill\|Shiroi Parasol\|ja\|白いパラソル}}" \|rowspan="3"\|Seiko Matsuda
scope="row"\|August 10
scope="row"\|August 17
scope="row"\|August 24 \|rowspan="7"\|"{{ill\|High School Lullaby\|ja\|ハイスクールララバイ}}" \|rowspan="7"\|{{ill\|Imo-kin Trio\|ja\|イモ欽トリオ}}
scope="row"\|August 31
scope="row"\|September 7
scope="row"\|September 14
scope="row"\|September 21
scope="row"\|September 28
scope="row"\|October 5
scope="row"\|October 12 \|rowspan="2"\|"{{ill\|Gingiragin ni Sarigenaku\|ja\|ギンギラギンにさりげなく}}" \|rowspan="2"\|Masahiko Kondō
scope="row"\|October 19
scope="row"\|October 26 \|rowspan="1"\|"{{illm\|Kaze Tachinu (song)\|lt=Kaze Tachinu\|ja\|風立ちぬ (松田聖子の曲)}}" \|rowspan="1"\|Seiko Matsuda
scope="row"\|November 2 \|rowspan="4"\|"Gingiragin ni Sarigenaku" \|rowspan="4"\|Masahiko Kondō
scope="row"\|November 9
scope="row"\|November 16
scope="row"\|November 23
scope="row"\|November 30 \|rowspan="3"\|"{{ill\|Akujo\|ja\|悪女 (中島みゆきの曲)}}" \|rowspan="3"\|Miyuki Nakajima
scope="row"\|December 7
scope="row"\|December 14
scope="row"\|December 21 \|rowspan="2"\|"{{illm\|Sailor Fuku to Kikanjū (song)\|lt=Sailor Fuku to Kikanjū\|ja\|セーラー服と機関銃 (曲)}}" \|rowspan="2"\|Hiroko Yakushimaru
scope="row"\|December 28

The Best Ten

The following reached number 1 on The Best Ten chart:

27 August: "{{ill|Shiroi Parasol|ja|白いパラソル}}" - Seiko Matsuda[https://news.1242.com/article/153698 1981年8月27日、松田聖子「白いパラソル」がザ・ベストテンの1位を獲得～松田聖子の第一期と二期を結ぶ重要曲]. News Online. Nippon Broadcast System. 27 August 2018.

Number one albums and LPs

Oricon

The following reached number 1 on the Oricon chart:

12 October, 19 October and 26 October: Tsukasa - {{illm|Tsukasa Itou|ja|伊藤つかさ}}[https://news.1242.com/article/158378 1981年の本日、10月19日、伊藤つかさ『つかさ』がオリコン・アルバムチャートの1位を獲得]. News Online. Nippon Broadcasting System. 19 October 2018.

Music Labo

The following reached number 1 on the Music Labo chart:

21 December: {{illm|Over (Off Course album)|ja|over (オフコースのアルバム)|lt=Over}} - Off CourseBillboard. 26 December 1981, [https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=BCQEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT127#v=onepage&q&f=false p 82].
7 December and 14 December: {{illm|Kishoutenketsu II |ja|起承転結 II}} - Chiharu MatsuyamaBillboard. 19 December 1981, p 74. 12 December 1981, p 53.
16 November and 30 November: {{illm|Sakuban Oai Shimashou|ja|昨晩お会いしましょう}} - Yumi MatsutoyaBillboard. 5 December 1981, p 69. 21 November 1981, p 87.
2 November and 9 November: {{illm|Kaze Tachinu (album)|ja|風立ちぬ (松田聖子のアルバム)|lt=Kaze Tachinu}} - Seiko MatsudaBillboard. 14 November 1981, p 101. 7 November 1981, p 75.
19 October and 26 October: Tsukasa - {{illm|Tsukasa Itou|ja|伊藤つかさ}}Billboard. 7 November 1981, p 75. 31 October 1981, p 101. 24 October 1981, p 73.
7 September, 14 September, 21 September, 28 September, 5 October and 12 October: {{illm|Selection 1978-1981|ja|SELECTION 1978-81}} - Off CourseBillboard. 17 October 1981, p 73. 10 October 1981, p 87. 3 October 1981, p 64. 26 September 1981, p 68. 19 September 1981, p 76.
10 August, 17 August, 24 August and 31 August: {{illm|Stereo Taiyo Zoku|ja|ステレオ太陽族}} - Southern All StarsBillboard. 12 September 1981, p 73. 5 September 1981, p 61. 29 August 1981, p 69. 22 August 1981, p 57.
27 July and 3 August: {{illm|Live at Whiskey A Go Go|ja|LIVE AT WHISKY A GO GO}} - ChanelsBillboard. 15 August 1981, p 79. 8 August 1981, p 61.
13 July and 20 July: {{illm|Utsuroi (album)|ja|うつろひ|lt=Utsuroi}} - Masashi SadaBillboard. 1 August 1981, p 63. 25 July 1981, p 65. 18 July 1981, p 73.
29 June: {{illm|Toki O Koete|ja|時代をこえて}} - Chiharu MatsuyamaBillboard. 4 July 1981, p 77.
22 June and 6 July: Reflections - Akira TeraoBillboard. 11 July 1981, p 61. 4 July 1981, p 77.

Cash Box of Japan

The following reached number 1 on the Cash Box of Japan chart:

9 May: {{illm|Heart & Soul (Chanels album)|ja|Heart & Soul (シャネルズのアルバム)|lt=Heart & Soul}} - ChanelsCash Box. 9 May 1981, [https://archive.org/details/cashbox42unse_49/page/n35/mode/1up p 36].
11 April, 18 April, 25 April and 2 May: Ringetsu - Miyuki NakajimaCash Box. 2 May 1981, p 38. 25 April 1981, p 35. 18 April 1981, p 76. 11 April 1981, p 33.
28 March and 4 April: Bucchigiri II (Japanese: ぶっちぎりII) - {{illm|Yokohama Ginbae|ja|横浜銀蝿}}Cash Box. 4 April 1981, p 35. 28 March 1981, p 43. See 7 March 1981, p 37 for this spelling.

Film and television

The music of Station (1981), by Ryudo Uzaki, won the 36th Mainichi Film Award for Best Music (awarded in 1981),[https://mainichi.jp/mfa/history/036.html 第36回日本映画大賞] and the 5th Japan Academy Film Prize for Best Music (awarded in 1982).[https://www.japan-academy-prize.jp/prizes/?t=5 Prizes].

{{illm|NHK Pops Hall|ja|NHK歌謡ホール}} was first broadcast on 7 April 1981."8:00-**NHK Pops Hall". The Japan Times. 7 April 1981. No 29542. p 10. col 1.[https://www2.nhk.or.jp/archives/movies/?id=D0009010259_00000 NHK歌謡ホール]. NHK.[https://www2.nhk.or.jp/archives/articles/?id=C0010609 歌謡番組]. NHK. (Also translated "NHK Song Hall" and "NHK Kayo Hall").

Compositions

First version of Toward the Sea by Tōru TakemitsuStacy and Henderson (eds). Encyclopedia of Music in the 20th Century. [https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=m8W2AgAAQBAJ&pg=PA625#v=onepage&q&f=false p 625].

Overseas

Eyes of the Mind, by Casiopea, reached number 33 on the Billboard Jazz LPs chart.Billboard. 11 July 1981. [https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=rCQEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT55#v=onepage&q&f=false p 57].

Other singles released

Last Pretender and Oh! by Pink Lady
Suzume by Keiko Masuda
Mamotte Agetai by Yumi Matsutoya
Orange Airmail Special and Lens Eye by Saki Kubota
15 October: {{illm|Hello Goodbye (Yoshie Kashiwabara song)|ja|ハロー・グッドバイ (アグネス・チャンの曲)#ハロー・グッバイ|lt=Hello Goodbye}} by Yoshie Kashiwabara[https://news.1242.com/article/157945 1981年の今日10月15日、柏原よしえ（芳恵）の「ハロー・グッバイ」が発売～初出はアグネス・チャンのB面曲だった]. News Online. Nippon Broadcasting System. 15 October 2018.

Other albums released

A Long Vacation by Eiichi Ohtaki
Sayonara Pink Lady by Pink Lady
I My Mie by Mie
BGM and Technodelic by Yellow Magic Orchestra
Neuromantic by Yukihiro Takahashi
Airmail Special by Saki Kubota
Cross Point by Casiopea
Potpourri by P-Model
The Birthday Eve by Loudness
Magic by T-Square

History

The song {{illm|Unazuki March|ja|うなずきマーチ}} by the {{illm|Unazuki Trio|ja|うなずきトリオ}} was recorded on 14 November 1981.[https://news.1242.com/article/160858 1981年11月14日、大瀧詠一プロデュース「うなずきマーチ」がレコーディング～歌うのは紳助・竜介、ツービート、B&Bのうなずき役によって結成されたうなずきトリオ]. News Online. Nippon Broadcasting System. 14 November 2018.

References

[https://rollingstonejapan.com/articles/detail/32596/1/1/1 J-POPの歴史「1980年と1981年、劇的だった80年代の幕開け」]. Rolling Stone Japan. 23 December 2019.
Oricon magazine
Music Labo magazine
新譜ジャーナル magazine
1981 [https://ndlsearch.ndl.go.jp/books/R100000002-I000000049549 オリコン年鑑 Oricon Annual Report].
1982 オリコン年鑑 Oricon Annual Report