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,[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

The economic recession adversely affected concerts.[19] Pioneer Live Special concerts were held in 1981.[20]

Number one singles

Oricon

Main article: List of Oricon number-one singles of 1981

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:

Number one albums and LPs

Oricon

Main article: w:ja:Template:オリコン週間LPチャート第1位 1981年

The following reached number 1 on the Oricon chart:

  • 12 October, 19 October and 26 October: Tsukasa - Tsukasa Itou[25]

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[26]
  • 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[27]
  • 23 February, 2 March and 9 March: Bucchigiri Part II (Japanese: ぶっちぎりII) - Yokohama Ginbae[28]
  • 16 March: Neppu - Chage and Aska[29]
  • 23 March, 30 March, 6 April and 13 April: Ringetsu - Miyuki Nakajima[30]
  • 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[31]
  • 29 June: Toki O Koete - Chiharu Matsuyama[32]
  • 13 July and 20 July: Utsuroi - Masashi Sada[33]
  • 27 July and 3 August: Live at Whiskey A Go Go - Chanels[34]
  • 10 August, 17 August, 24 August and 31 August: Stereo Taiyo Zoku - Southern All Stars[35]
  • 7 September, 14 September, 21 September, 28 September, 5 October and 12 October: Selection 1978-1981 - Off Course[36]
  • 19 October and 26 October: Tsukasa - Tsukasa Itou[37]
  • 2 November and 9 November: Kaze Tachinu - Seiko Matsuda[38]
  • 16 November, 23 November and 30 November: Sakuban Oai Shimashou - Yumi Matsutoya[39]
  • 7 December and 14 December: Kishoutenketsu II - Chiharu Matsuyama[40]
  • 21 December: Over - Off Course[41]

Cash Box of Japan

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

Film and television

The music of Station (1981), by Ryudo Uzaki, won the 36th Mainichi Film Award for Best Music (awarded in 1981),[45] and the 5th Japan Academy Film Prize for Best Music (awarded in 1982).[46]

Idol Punch was first broadcast on 4 April 1981.[47] NHK Pops Hall was first broadcast on 7 April 1981.[48][49][50] (Also translated "NHK Song Hall" and "NHK Kayo Hall").[51]

Compositions

Overseas

Eyes of the Mind, by Casiopea, reached number 33 on the Billboard Jazz LPs chart.[53]

Groups disbanded

Pink Lady disbanded on 31 March 1981.[54]

Other singles released

Other albums released

History

The song Unazuki March by the Unazuki Trio was recorded on 14 November 1981.[56]

The Sayonara Nichigeki Western Carnival (Japanese: サヨナラ日劇ウエスタン・カーニバル 〜 俺たちは走り続けている!) event took place in 1981.[57] Cf. Nichigeki Western Carnival (1958 to 1977).[58]

See also

References

  1. ^ Tokita and Hughes. The Ashgate Research Companion to Japanese Music. 2008. p 355.
  2. ^ Gronow and Saunio. International History of the Recording Industry. 1998. Reprinted 1999.p 209.
  3. ^ Howard Smith (ed). Inside Japan. BBC. 1981. p 65.
  4. ^ Billboard. 29 May 1982. pp J-1.
  5. ^ The Nolans on stage At 10th Tokyo Music Festival 1981. Getty Images.
  6. ^ "7.00 - 10th Tokyo Music Festival" in "MBS [4]". The Japan Times. 29 March 1981. No 29533. p 7. col 2.
  7. ^ "Nolans Win Grand Prize At Tokyo Music Festival". The Japan Times. 31 March 1981. No 29535. p 2.
  8. ^ 1981年度のラインナップ. Asahi Shimbun Foundation.
  9. ^ 第21回 ポピュラーソングコンテスト. Yamaha Music Foundation.
  10. ^ 第22回 ポピュラーソングコンテスト. Yamaha Music Foundation.
  11. ^ "Winners Chosen For 12th Pop Song Fest In Tokyo". Billboard. 14 November 1981. p 112.
  12. ^ "23 Entries in Yamaha World Festival". Billboard. 3 October 1981. p 59.
  13. ^ 波瀾万丈 山川豊歌い続けて40年. ZAKZAK from the Sankei Shimbun. 5 May 2020.
  14. ^ (1981) 朝日新聞縮刷版 (Asahi Shimbun shukusatsuban). Issue 726. p 24 headed "1981 年(昭和 56 年) 12 月 15 日閉."
  15. ^ "FNS Song Festival '81". The Japan Times. 15 December 1981. No 29789.
  16. ^ 第23回 日本レコード大賞. Japan Composer's Association.
  17. ^ 第32回NHK紅白歌合戦. NHK.
  18. ^ 尾高賞 in "Archive". NHK Symphony Orchestra.
  19. ^ "Japanese Promoters Gear Up For International Acts". Billboard. 22 May 1982. pp 38 & 65.
  20. ^ "Monterey Japan Shows Pull Crowds, Most SRO". Billboard. 14 November 1981. p 99.
  21. ^ 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 Broadcasting System. 9 March 2018.
  22. ^ See the weekly issues of Oricon magazine
  23. ^ 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 Broadcasting System. 27 August 2018.
  24. ^ Billboard. 22 August 1981, p 57. 29 August 1981, p 69. 5 September 1981, p 61.
  25. ^ 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.
  26. ^ "Japan" in "Hits of the World". Billboard. 17 January 1981, p 53. 7 February 1981, p 68. 14 February 1981, p 60. 21 February 1981, p 66.
  27. ^ Billboard. 17 January 1981, p 53. 24 January 1981, p 98. 31 January 1981, p 60.
  28. ^ Billboard. 28 February 1981, p 55. 7 March 1981, p 72. 14 March 1981, p 67.
  29. ^ Billboard. 21 March 1981, p 91.
  30. ^ Billboard. 28 March 1981, p 59. 4 April 1981, p 86. 11 April 1981, p 64. 18 April 1981, p 128.
  31. ^ Billboard. 25 April 1981, p 64. 2 May 1981, p 69. 9 May 1981, p 63. 23 May 1981, p 78. 30 May 1981, p 65. 6 June 1981, p 87. 13 June 1981, p 67. 20 June 1981, p 74. 27 June 1981, p 68. 11 July 1981, p 61.
  32. ^ Billboard. 4 July 1981, p 77.
  33. ^ Billboard. 1 August 1981, p 63. 25 July 1981, p 65. 18 July 1981, p 73.
  34. ^ Billboard. 15 August 1981, p 79. 8 August 1981, p 61.
  35. ^ Billboard. 12 September 1981, p 73. 5 September 1981, p 61. 29 August 1981, p 69. 22 August 1981, p 57.
  36. ^ Billboard. 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.
  37. ^ Billboard. 7 November 1981, p 75. 31 October 1981, p 101. 24 October 1981, p 73.
  38. ^ Billboard. 14 November 1981, p 101. 7 November 1981, p 75.
  39. ^ Billboard. 5 December 1981, p 69. 28 November 1981, p 70. 21 November 1981, p 87.
  40. ^ Billboard. 19 December 1981, p 74. 12 December 1981, p 53.
  41. ^ Billboard. 26 December 1981, p 82.
  42. ^ Cash Box. 4 April 1981, p 35. 28 March 1981, p 43. See 7 March 1981, p 37 for this spelling.
  43. ^ Cash Box. 2 May 1981, p 38. 25 April 1981, p 35. 18 April 1981, p 76. 11 April 1981, p 33.
  44. ^ Cash Box. 9 May 1981, p 36.
  45. ^ 第36回 日本映画大賞
  46. ^ Prizes.
  47. ^ "Idol Punch". The Japan Times. 4 April 1981. No 29539. p 9.
  48. ^ "8:00-**NHK Pops Hall". The Japan Times. 7 April 1981. No 29542. p 10. col 1.
  49. ^ NHK歌謡ホール. NHK.
  50. ^ 歌謡番組. NHK.
  51. ^ TV Guide. Los Angeles Metropolitan Edition. 16 July 1982. p A-101.
  52. ^ Stacy and Henderson (eds). Encyclopedia of Music in the 20th Century. p 625.
  53. ^ Billboard. 11 July 1981. p 57.
  54. ^ 昭和56年3月31日、ピンクレディー解散. Showa Mainichi (昭和毎日), from the Mainichi Shimbun. March 2008.
  55. ^ 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.
  56. ^ 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.
  57. ^ 『サヨナラ日劇ウエスタンカーニバル』リハーサルでの出来事. News Online. Nippon Broadcasting System. 22 January 2018.
  58. ^ Toru Mitsui. Made in Japan: Studies in Popular Music. p 143.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.