1981 in Japanese music
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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,[1][2] eleven percent of all record sales took place in that country,[3] and the value of tapes and records made there was $1.15 billion.[4]
Awards, contests and festivals
The 10th Tokyo Music Festival was held on 29 March 1981.[5][6][7] 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.[8] The 21st Yamaha Popular Song Contest was held on 10 May 1981.[9] The 22nd Yamaha Popular Song Contest was held on 4 October 1981.[10] The 12th World Popular Song Festival was held on 1 November 1981.[11][12] The 12th Japan Music Awards were held on 12 November 1981.[13] The final of the 10th FNS Music Festival was held on 15 December 1981.[14][15] The 23rd Japan Record Awards were held on 31 December 1981.[16] The 32nd NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen was held on 31 December 1981.[17]
The 30th Otaka prize was won by Toshi Ichiyanagi and Atsutada Otaka.[18]
Concerts
Number one singles
Oricon
The following reached number 1 on the weekly Oricon Singles Chart:[21][22]
| Issue date | Song | Artist(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 5 January | "Sneaker Blues" | Masahiko Kondō |
| 12 January | ||
| 19 January | ||
| 26 January | "Do!" | Toshihiko Tahara |
| 2 February | ||
| 9 February | "Cherry Blossom" | Seiko Matsuda |
| 16 February | ||
| 23 February | ||
| 2 March | ||
| 9 March | "Machikado Twilight" | Chanels |
| 16 March | ||
| 23 March | ||
| 30 March | "Ruby no Yubiwa" | Akira Terao |
| 6 April | ||
| 13 April | ||
| 20 April | ||
| 27 April | ||
| 4 May | ||
| 11 May | ||
| 18 May | ||
| 25 May | ||
| 1 June | ||
| 8 June | "Natsu no Tobira" | Seiko Matsuda |
| 15 June | ||
| 22 June | "Blue Jeans Memory" | Masahiko Kondō |
| 29 June | ||
| 6 July | ||
| 13 July | "Nagai Yoru" | Chiharu Matsuyama |
| 20 July | ||
| 27 July | ||
| 3 August | "Shiroi Parasol" | Seiko Matsuda |
| 10 August | ||
| 17 August | ||
| 24 August | "High School Lullaby" | Imo-kin Trio |
| 31 August | ||
| 7 September | ||
| 14 September | ||
| 21 September | ||
| 28 September | ||
| 5 October | ||
| 12 October | "Gingiragin ni Sarigenaku" | Masahiko Kondō |
| 19 October | ||
| 26 October | "Kaze Tachinu" | Seiko Matsuda |
| 2 November | "Gingiragin ni Sarigenaku" | Masahiko Kondō |
| 9 November | ||
| 16 November | ||
| 23 November | ||
| 30 November | "Akujo" | Miyuki Nakajima |
| 7 December | ||
| 14 December | ||
| 21 December | "Sailor Fuku to Kikanjū" | Hiroko Yakushimaru |
| 28 December |
The Best Ten
The following reached number 1 on The Best Ten chart:
- 27 August: "Shiroi Parasol" - Seiko Matsuda[23]
Music Labo
The following reached number 1 on the Music Labo chart:
- 15 June and 22 June: Hurricane by Chanels[24]
- 10 August, 17 August and 24 August: Mamotte Agetai by Yumi Matsutoya[25]
Number one albums and LPs
Oricon
The following reached number 1 on the Oricon chart:
- 12 October, 19 October and 26 October: Tsukasa - Tsukasa Itou[26]
Music Labo
The following reached number 1 on the Music Labo chart:
- 5 January, 2 February, 9 February and 16 February: We Are - Off Course[27]
- 12 January, 19 January and 26 January: "Happy Date with the Nolans" or "Koi No Happy Date" (Japanese: 恋のハッピー・デート) - The Nolans[28]
- 23 February, 2 March and 9 March: Bucchigiri Part II (Japanese: ぶっちぎりII) - Yokohama Ginbae[29]
- 16 March: Neppu - Chage and Aska[30]
- 23 March, 30 March, 6 April and 13 April: Ringetsu - Miyuki Nakajima[31]
- 20 April, 27 April, 4 May, 11 May, 18 May, 25 May, 1 June, 8 June, 15 June, 22 June and 6 July: Reflections - Akira Terao[32]
- 29 June: Toki O Koete - Chiharu Matsuyama[33]
- 13 July and 20 July: Utsuroi - Masashi Sada[34]
- 27 July and 3 August: Live at Whiskey A Go Go - Chanels[35]
- 10 August, 17 August, 24 August and 31 August: Stereo Taiyo Zoku - Southern All Stars[36]
- 7 September, 14 September, 21 September, 28 September, 5 October and 12 October: Selection 1978-1981 - Off Course[37]
- 19 October and 26 October: Tsukasa - Tsukasa Itou[38]
- 2 November and 9 November: Kaze Tachinu - Seiko Matsuda[39]
- 16 November, 23 November and 30 November: Sakuban Oai Shimashou - Yumi Matsutoya[40]
- 7 December and 14 December: Kishoutenketsu II - Chiharu Matsuyama[41]
- 21 December: Over - Off Course[42]
Cash Box of Japan
The following reached number 1 on the Cash Box of Japan chart:
- 10 January, 7 February and 14 February: Kogarashini Dakarete - Chiharu Matsuyama[43]
- 31 January: Double Fantasy - John Lennon and Yoko Ono[44]
- 21 February, 7 March and 21 March: We Are - Off Course[45]
- 28 March and 4 April: Bucchigiri II (Japanese: ぶっちぎりII) - Yokohama Ginbae[46]
- 11 April, 18 April, 25 April and 2 May: Ringetsu - Miyuki Nakajima[47]
- 9 May: Heart & Soul - Chanels[48]
- 23 May, 30 May, 6 June, 20 June, 27 June and 4 July: Reflections - Akira Terao[49]
- 8 August: Utsuroi - Masashi Sada[50]
- 15 August: Bucchigiri/Third (仏恥義理蹉䵷怒) (ぶっちぎりさあど) - Yokohama Ginbae[51]
- 22 August: Live at Whiskey A Go Go - Chanels[52]
- 5 September and 3 October: Stereo Taiyo Zoku - Southern All Stars[53]
- 10 October, 24 October and 31 October: Selection 1978-1981 - Off Course[54]
- 14 November: Tsukasa - Tsukasa Itou[55]
- 12 December: Kaze Tachinu - Seiko Matsuda[56]
Film and television
The music of Station (1981), by Ryudo Uzaki, won the 36th Mainichi Film Award for Best Music (awarded in 1981),[57] and the 5th Japan Academy Film Prize for Best Music (awarded in 1982).[58]
Idol Punch was first broadcast on 4 April 1981.[59] NHK Pops Hall was first broadcast on 7 April 1981.[60][61][62] (Also translated "NHK Song Hall" and "NHK Kayo Hall").[63]
The music of Urusei Yatsura includes Lum's Love Song.[64]
Compositions
- First version of Toward the Sea by Tōru Takemitsu[65]
Overseas
Eyes of the Mind, by Casiopea, reached number 33 on the Billboard Jazz LPs chart.[66]
Debuts
- Yuko Machida (Japanese: 街田祐子)[67]
Groups disbanded
Pink Lady disbanded on 31 March 1981.[68]
Other singles released
- Last Pretender and Oh! by Pink Lady
- Suzume by Keiko Masuda
- Orange Airmail Special and Lens Eye by Saki Kubota
- 15 October: Hello Goodbye by Yoshie Kashiwabara[69]
Other albums released
- A Long Vacation by Eiichi Ohtaki
- Pink Lady and 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
- The Rainbow Goblins and Alone by Masayoshi Takanaka