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 through the years (21–30)
CAN YOU CELEBRATE?Amuro Namie
The Grand Prize in 1997.
Namie Amuro won for the second consecutive year, following the previous year.
Around this time, the “Amurer” phenomenon emerged, with fans imitating Amuro’s fashion.
This song, now a wedding staple, was the theme for the Fuji TV drama “Virgin Road.” It was Namie Amuro’s last single before her maternity leave.
Just by you being herekome kome CLUB
The Grand Prize of 1992.
That year, it was a double award together with Miyako Otsuki’s “Shiroi Kaikyō.” This song was the theme for the Fuji TV drama “Sugao no Mama de.” Amid the trendy-drama boom, the song became a hit along with the show, selling 2.895 million copies.
It’s well known that the song was originally created in conjunction with a marriage between members.
Japan Record Award Winning Songs Through the Years (31–40)
Overnight Sensation ~The era is entrusted to you~TRF
The Grand Prize of 1995.
TRF, a unit with a then-innovative lineup of two female dancers, one male dancer, a DJ, and a vocalist, was a pioneer among artists produced by Tetsuya Komuro, known as the “Komuro Family.” This song evokes the sound of 1970s disco dance music.
budKobukuro
The grand prize of 2007.
It is the theme song for the Fuji TV drama “Tokyo Tower: Mom and Me, and Sometimes Dad.” It was the first time a male folk duo had won the Japan Record Award.
The song recorded 3 million ringtone downloads in 2008.
Odoru Pompoko RinB.B. Kuīnzu
Grand Prize in 1990 (Heisei 2).
That same year, it was a double award together with Takao Horiuchi’s “Koiuta Tsuzuri.” It is the opening or ending theme song of the Fuji TV anime “Chibi Maruko-chan.” Even as of 2017 (Heisei 29), the same song continues to be used with different singers.
At the time, its nonsensical lyrics were a hit and sparked a comic song boom.
wanna Be A Dreammakerglobe
The Grand Prize in 1998.
globe is a three-member unit that includes music producer Tetsuya Komuro.
Their tracks are characterized by extensive use of synthesizers, collectively known as the “Komuro Sound.” This song was used as the campaign commercial theme for NISSEKI’s Ena Card.
Mi AmoreNakamori Akina
She won the Japan Record Award with “Mi Amore” in 1985, and then won again the following year with “DESIRE,” earning the honor two years in a row.
It was her 11th single overall and received awards such as the FNS Grand Prix, the Excellence Popular Music Award, and the Cable Broadcast Grand Prize.
As someone often called a diva, her vocal ability is outstanding.