Songs that have won the Japan Record Award throughout its history
The Japan Record Awards, cherished as a year-end staple in the music scene.
Launched in 1959, the award has annually honored the songs that drew the most attention that year.
Many of you are probably wondering, “What song will be chosen this year?” or thinking, “It’s got to be that one, right?”
In this article, we present all the past Grand Prize–winning songs at a glance.
Seeing the winners lined up like this lets you enjoy a wealth of masterpieces from Japan’s music history all at once.
Take this opportunity to revisit and listen to the timeless classics that have defined the domestic music scene.
- Masterpieces of the Reiwa Era: Hit Songs That Define the Times
- Old songs from the Showa to Heisei eras: a collection of timeless classics loved across generations
- Hit songs in Japan in the late 1960s
- [Showa Era] A Collection of Enka Hits: Timeless Classics Loved Across Generations
- Songs from the Heisei retro era that will get any generation excited! Timeless tracks you’ll want to listen to now.
- Showa-era love songs: A roundup of timeless love songs cherished across generations
- A roundup of classic Showa-era kayō songs: a comprehensive introduction to timeless tracks loved across generations.
- Just listening to it purifies the heart... A healing song born in the Showa era.
- [Bereavement Song] To you whom I can no longer meet... Tear-jerking songs about death
- Classic Christmas Songs That Resonate with the Hearts of Those in Their 80s
- Evokes the charm of the good old days. Showa-era inspirational songs that are still loved today.
- Resonates across generations! Hit songs that colored the Heisei era, perfect as BGM
- Heisei Song Collection: Iconic Hits That Colored the ’90s and 2000s
Japan Record Award Winning Songs by Year (11–20)
applausechiaki naomi
Released in 1972 by Naomi Chiaki, this song is striking for its contrast between a glamorous stage and profound sorrow.
The image of a singer shining under the spotlight overlaps with the grief of losing someone precious, making a powerful impression.
It won the Japan Record Award that year and became one of her signature works.
This track fully showcases Chiaki’s exceptional vocal ability and deep emotional expression.
Highly recommended for those who want to feel the moments where life’s joy and sadness intersect—it will surely resonate deeply in your heart.
VoyageHamasaki Ayumi
Ayumi Hamasaki’s song that won the Japan Record Award in 2002 is a moving ballad themed around life as a long journey.
Its lyrics, depicting people walking in pursuit of happiness, resonated with many listeners.
Released in September 2002, the song topped the Oricon chart for three consecutive weeks and became a major hit with total sales of 679,000 copies.
It was also used as the theme song for the TBS drama “My Little Chef,” and is loved by a wide range of generations.
It’s a recommended track for those standing at a crossroads in life or for anyone who wants to feel the joy of walking side by side with someone special.
Do whatever the hell you want.sawada kenji
This song portrays the complex emotions of a heartbroken man.
Its lyrics evoke a refined, adult sense of sorrow, and it features a bold structure that shifts from a ballad to a hard rock style.
Released in May 1977, it topped the Oricon weekly chart for five consecutive weeks and won the Japan Record Award that same year.
A striking performance on television also drew attention, and the song is known as one of Kenji Sawada’s signature works.
It’s a piece that stands beside those trying to look forward while bearing the pain of heartbreak.
For anyone who has experienced parting with someone dear, this may be a song that gently stays by your side.
Ti AmoEXILE
The Grand Prize in 2008.
EXILE also won the Grand Prize in 2009, 2010, and 2013.
EXILE is a group that fuses twin vocalists with a dance group.
While they have many danceable, up-tempo songs, they won their first Grand Prize with a mellow ballad brimming with mature allure.
R.Y.U.S.E.I.Sandaime Jē Sōru Burazāzu fromu Eguzairu Toraibu
Their 13th single won the Japan Record Award in 2014, and it also topped the karaoke rankings for two consecutive years in 2014 and 2015.
It’s a stylish and cool song that encourages you when you’re feeling down.
They won the Record Award again the following year with “Unfair World.”
From the northern innMiyako Harumi
This song is known as a representative piece of Japan’s enka genre.
Harumi Miyako’s powerful, emotionally rich voice vividly depicts the northern landscapes and the lives of the people who live there.
The lyrics symbolically express the loneliness and lingering feelings of a woman knitting a sweater, resonating deeply with listeners.
Released in 1975, the song became a major hit, selling over 1.4 million copies, and went on to win the 18th Japan Record Award in 1976.
It’s the perfect song for when you want to feel the chill of winter, the arrival of spring, or when you’re carrying a sense of solitude in your heart.
Japan Record Award-winning songs through the years (21–30)
innocent worldMr.Children
The Grand Prize in Heisei 6 (1994).
Mr.Children also won the Grand Prize ten years later, in Heisei 16 (2004).
This song topped the annual singles chart.
Building on the long-running success of all their previous releases, this track became a breakout hit when it was used as the commercial song for the soft drink “Aquarius.” Mr.Children’s nickname is “Misuchiru.”