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]
Awards, contests and festivals
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
The Candies Final Carnival concert was held on 4 April 1978.[13][14]
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]
Other albums released
- Yellow Magic Orchestra by Yellow Magic Orchestra
- Thousand Knives by Ryuichi Sakamoto
- Cochin Moon by Haruomi Hosono
- Saravah! by Yukihiro Takahashi
- Cosmos, Dramatic and Manjushaka by Momoe Yamaguchi
- Sōshunfu by the Candies
- Bye Bye Carnival, America! America! America!, '78 Jumping Summer Carnival and Hoshi kara Kita Futari by Pink Lady
- Magic Monkey by Godiego
- Aishiteiru to Ittekure by Miyuki Nakajima
- Pacific by Haruomi Hosono, Tatsuro Yamashita and Shigeru Suzuki
- Lucky Summer Lady and Midnight Lover by T-Square
- Brasilian Skies and On Guitar by Masayoshi Takanaka
- 25 April: Paraiso by Haruomi Hosono[34]
- 25 May: It's a Poppin' Time by Tatsuro Yamashita[35]
- 20 December: Go Ahead! by Tatsuro Yamashita[36]
See also
References
- "Japanese Music: The Challenge of Recession". Billboard. 27 May 1978. pp J-1 to J-31. (A Billboard Spotlight).
- 1978 コンフィデンス年鑑 Confidence Annual Report
- 1979 コンフィデンス年鑑 Confidence Annual Report
- Morio Takayanagi. "Japan". Derek Elley (ed). International Music Guide 1978. Tantivy Press. p 93.
- Judith Glassman. The Year in Music, 1978. Columbia House.
- Oricon magazine
- Music Labo magazine
- 新譜ジャーナル magazine
- Oricon No.1 Hits 500. Clubhouse (Japanese: クラブハウス). 1998. ISBN 9784906496129. vol 1 (1968~1985).
- 市民権得たロック音楽 世良公則＆ツイストと原田真二が大ブレーク、サザンオールスターズやＹＭＯのデビューもこの年. zakII. 21 June 2023.
- キャンディーズとピンク・レディーが交錯、歌謡界は〝激震の年〟 ７０年代を象徴する２つのアイドルグループ. zakII. 19 June 2023.
- ^ Billboard. 27 May 1978. p J-3.
- ^ Billboard. 8 July 1978. p 8.
- ^ 1978年度のラインナップ. Asahi Shimbun Foundation.
- ^ 第15回 ポピュラーソングコンテスト. Yamaha Music Foundation.
- ^ "Al Green & Debby Boone Top Tokyo Fest Winners". Billboard. 1 July 1978. p 8.
- ^ 第16回 ポピュラーソングコンテスト. Yamaha Music Foundation.
- ^ 第9回世界歌謡祭. Yamaha Music Foundation.
- ^ "23 Countries Will Battle At Tokyo's World Song Fest". Billboard. 30 September 1978. p 71.
- ^ "7:00—**FNS Song Festival '78 Grand Prix" and "7:00—'78 FNS Music Festival Grand Prix Song Contest". The Japan Times. 19 December 1978. No 28721. p 9. cols 1 and 5.
- ^ 第２０回 日本レコード大賞. Japan Composer's Association.
- ^ 第29回ＮＨＫ紅白歌合戦. NHK.
- ^ 尾高賞 in "Archive". NHK Symphony Orchestra.
- ^ 〈1978年の今日〉4月4日 : キャンディーズ解散コンサート. (今日は何の日：On This Day in Japan). Nippon.com. 4 April 2025.
- ^ 1978年4月4日『キャンディーズ ファイナルカーニバルFOR FREEDOM』開催～ キャンディーズが伝説になった日. News Online. Nippon Broadcasting System. 4 April 2019.
- ^ See the weekly issues of Oricon magazine
- ^ 1978年の本日、デュエットソングの定番、平尾昌晃/畑中葉子「カナダからの手紙」がオリコンチャートの1位を獲得. News Online. Nippon Broadcasting System. 27 February 2018.
- ^ 1978年7月3日、サーカス「Mr.サマータイム」がオリコン・チャートの1位を獲得. News Online. Nippon Broadcasting System. 3 July 2018.
- ^ 1978年5月21日リリースの沢田研二20代最後のシングルは？. News Online. Nippon Broadcasting System. 21 May 2019.
- ^ Cash Box. 14 January 1978, p 47. 21 January 1978, p 34. 28 January 1978, p 71. 11 February 1978, p 55. 25 February 1978, p 59. 11 March 1978, p 47. 18 March 1978, p 57. 25 March 1978, p 91. 1 April 1978, p 67.
- ^ Cash Box. 8 April 1978, p 59. 15 April 1978, p 62.
- ^ Cash Box. 22 April 1978, p 63. 29 April 1978, p 59.
- ^ Cash Box. 13 May 1978, p 59. 3 June 1978, p 59. 10 June 1978, p 51. 24 June 1978, p 47.
- ^ Cash Box. 8 July 1978, p 40. 15 July 1978, p 46. 22 July 1978, p 57. 29 July 1978, p 46.
- ^ Cash Box. 5 August 1978, p 49. 2 September 1978, p 52. 16 September 1978, p 48. 23 September 1978, p 58. 30 September 1978, p 50.
- ^ Cash Box. 12 August 1978, p 42.
- ^ See the weekly issues of Oricon magazine
- ^ 40年前の今日11月27日、アリス『栄光への脱出～アリス武道館ライヴ』がオリコン・アルバム・チャートの1位を獲得. News Online. Nippon Broadcasting System. 27 November 2018.
- ^ 第33回 日本映画大賞
- ^ Prizes.
- ^ For chart position, see Cash Box, 16 September 1978, p 48.
- ^ わずか１１年の歴史、記憶に残る番組「ザ・ベストテン」と今も続く２４時間テレビ「愛は地球を救う」. ZakII. 23 June 2023.
- ^ デビューアーティスト数推移. Number of Debut Artists. Recording Industry Association of Japan.
- ^ 1978年7月25日、岩崎宏美「シンデレラ・ハネムーン」がリリース～コロッケがモノマネにチョイスした名曲. News Online. Nippon Broadcasting System. 25 July 2019.
- ^ 1978年4月25日、細野晴臣のアルバム『はらいそ』がリリース～YMO結成前夜の名盤. News Online. Nippon Broadcasting System. 25 April 2019.
- ^ 40年前の本日、山下達郎の名ライブ盤『IT’S A POPPIN’ TIME』がリリース. News Online. Nippon Broadcasting System. 25 May 2018.
- ^ 1978年の今日、山下達郎の名盤『ゴー・アヘッド』がリリース. News Online. Nippon Broadcasting System. 20 December 2017.