1978 in Japanese music
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Japanese music accounted for fifty-eight percent of record sales in the Japanese music market in 1978 (Shōwa 53), the rest being sales of foreign music.[1] During that year, Japan continued to have the second largest music market in the world.[2]
The 20th Osaka International Festival (Japanese: 大阪国際フェスティバル) was held from 10 April to 5 October 1978.[3] The 15th Yamaha Popular Song Contest was held on 7 May 1978.[4] The 7th Tokyo Music Festival was held on 18 June 1978.[5] The 16th Yamaha Popular Song Contest was held on 1 October 1978.[6] The final of the 9th World Popular Song Festival was held on 12 November 1978.[7][8] The final of the 7th FNS Music Festival was held on 19 December 1978.[9] The 20th Japan Record Awards were held on 31 December 1978.[10] The 29th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen was held on 31 December 1978.[11]
The 27th Otaka prize was won by Teizo Matsumura.[12]
Concerts
Number one singles
Oricon
The following reached number 1 on the weekly Oricon Singles Chart:[15][16][17][18]
| Issue date | Song | Artist(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 2 January | "UFO" | Pink Lady |
| 9 January | ||
| 16 January | ||
| 23 January | ||
| 30 January | ||
| 6 February | ||
| 13 February | ||
| 20 February | ||
| 27 February | "Canada Kara no Tegami" | Masaaki Hirao & Yōko Hatanaka |
| 6 March | ||
| 13 March | "Hohoemi Gaeshi" | Candies |
| 20 March | ||
| 27 March | ||
| 3 April | "Southpaw" | Pink Lady |
| 10 April | ||
| 17 April | ||
| 24 April | ||
| 1 May | ||
| 8 May | ||
| 15 May | ||
| 22 May | ||
| 29 May | ||
| 5 June | "Darling" | Kenji Sawada |
| 12 June | "Jikan yo Tomare" | Eikichi Yazawa |
| 19 June | ||
| 26 June | ||
| 3 July | "Mr. Summertime" | Circus |
| 10 July | "Monster" | Pink Lady |
| 17 July | ||
| 24 July | ||
| 31 July | ||
| 7 August | ||
| 14 August | ||
| 21 August | ||
| 28 August | ||
| 4 September | "Hikigane" | Masanori Sera & Twist |
| 11 September | "Kimi no Hitomi wa 10,000 Volt" | Takao Horiuchi |
| 18 September | ||
| 25 September | ||
| 2 October | "Tomei Ningen" | Pink Lady |
| 9 October | "Kimi no Hitomi wa 10,000 Volt" | Takao Horiuchi |
| 16 October | "Tomei Ningen" | Pink Lady |
| 23 October | ||
| 30 October | ||
| 6 November | "Kisetsu no Naka de" | Chiharu Matsuyama |
| 13 November | ||
| 20 November | ||
| 27 November | ||
| 4 December | ||
| 11 December | ||
| 18 December | "Chameleon Army" | Pink Lady |
| 25 December |
Number one albums and LPs
Cash Box
The following reached number 1 on the Cash Box chart:
- 14 January, 21 January, 28 January, 11 February, 25 February, 11 March, 18 March, 25 March and 1 April: Pink Lady Best Hit Album - Pink Lady[19]
- 8 April and 15 April: Feel Happy - Shinji Harada[20]
- 22 April and 29 April: Shikashu (Anthology) - Masashi Sada[21]
- 13 May, 3 June, 10 June and 24 June: Alice VI - Alice[22]
- 8 July, 15 July, 22 July and 29 July: Gold Rush - Eikichi Yazawa[23]
- 5 August, 2 September, 16 September, 23 September and 30 September: Soundtrack of "Saturday Night Fever"[24]
- 12 August: Masanori Sera & Twist - Masanori Sera & Twist[25]
Oricon
The following reached number 1 on the Oricon LP chart:[26]
- 9 January, 16 January, 23 January, 30 January, 6 February, 13 February, 20 February and 27 February: Pink Lady Best Hit Album - Pink Lady
- 6 March, 13 March, 20 March and 27 March: Feel Happy - Shinji Harada
- 3 April and 10 April: Shikashu (Anthology) - Masashi Sada
- 17 April, 24 April, 1 May, 8 May, 22 May and 29 May: Alice VI - Alice
- 15 May: Kaguyahime Today (Kaguyahime Kyō) - Kaguyahime
- 5 June: Candies Final Carnival Plus One - Candies
- 12 June, 19 June, 26 June, 3 July and 10 July: Gold Rush - Eikichi Yazawa
- 17 July, 7 August, 14 August, 21 August, 28 August, 4 September, 11 September and 18 September: Soundtrack of "Saturday Night Fever"
- 24 July and 31 July: Masanori Sera & Twist - Masanori Sera & Twist
- 25 September, 7 October and 9 October: Aitsu Ga Shinda Ban (Japanese: あいつが死んだ晩) - Takao Horiuchi
- 16 October, 23 October, 30 October, 6 November, 13 November, 20 November and 27 November: Eikou E No Dasshutsu ~ Budoukan Live - Alice[27]
- 4 December: Aruki Tsuzukeru Toki - Chiharu Matsuyama
- 11 December and 25 December: Kon Na Sizuka Na Yoru - Kōsetsu Minami
- 18 December: Live Korakuen Stadium - Eikichi Yazawa
Film and television
The music of Empire of Passion, by Tōru Takemitsu, won the 33rd Mainichi Film Award for Best Music.[28] The music of Empire of Passion and Moeru Aki (1978), both by Tōru Takemitsu, won the 2nd Japan Academy Film Prize for Best Music (awarded in 1979).[29] Saraba Uchusenkan Yamato Ai No Senshitachi Ongaku-shū is the soundtrack album of Farewell to Space Battleship Yamato.[30]
The Best Ten was first broadcast on 19 January 1978.[31]
Debuts
There were 317 debuts in 1978. The number of re-debuts was 51.[32]
Other singles released
- Playback Part 2, Otomezakyu, Zettai Zetsumei and Ii Hi Tabidachi by Momoe Yamaguchi
- Tsubasa by the Candies
- Gandhara and Monkey Magic by Godiego
- 25 July: Cinderella Honeymoon by Hiromi Iwasaki[33]