# 2008 in Japanese music

The following is an overview of the year 2008 in Japanese music. It includes notable awards, lists of number-ones, yearly best-sellers, albums released, groups established and disestablished, deaths of notable Japanese music-related people as well as any other relevant Japanese music-related events. For overviews of the year in music from other countries, see 2008 in music.

## Events

* December 31 – 29th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen

## Awards

* May 30 – 2008 MTV Video Music Awards Japan
* December 30 – 50th Japan Record Awards

## Number-ones

* Oricon number-one albums
* Oricon number-one singles
* Hot 100 number-one singles

## Best-sellers
### Artists

The best-selling music artist in Japan in 2008 by value of sales, including sales of records and of DVDs and Blu-rays, according to Oricon, was Exile, with ¥19.58 billion.

### Albums

The following is a list of the top 10 best-selling albums in Japan in 2008, according to Oricon.
| Rank | Album | Artist |
| 1 | Exile Love [ja] | Exile |
| 2 | Best Fiction | Namie Amuro |
| 3 | 5296 | Kobukuro |
| 4 | Exile Catchy Best [ja] | Exile |
| 5 | Heart Station | Hikaru Utada |
| 6 | Exile Ballad Best [ja] | Exile |
| 7 | B'z The Best "Ultra Pleasure" | B'z |
| 8 | A Complete: All Singles | Ayumi Hamasaki |
| 9 | And I Love You [ja] | Dreams Come True |
| 10 | Ā, Domo. Ohisashiburi Desu. | Greeeen |

## Albums released

The following section includes albums by Japanese artists released in Japan in 2008 as well as Japanese-language albums by foreign artists released in the country during this year.
* January 1 – Guilty by Ayumi Hamasaki
* January 23 - Night Fishing by Sakanaction
* January 30 – Kingdom by Kumi Koda
* January 30 – Darling by Yui Horie
* February 13 – Award Supernova: Loves Best by M-Flo
* February 13 – Love Is... by Sachi Tainaka
* February 20 – Complete Single Collection '97–'08 by The Brilliant Green
* February 27 – The Face by BoA
* February 27 – Daiji na Mono by Idoling!!!
* February 27 – Izayoi no Tsuki, Canaria no Koi. by Yukari Tamura
* March 5 – World World World by Asian Kung-Fu Generation
* March 12 – Kyokuto Symphony: The Five Stars Night @Budokan by Nightmare
* March 12 – Namida no Kiseki by Ai Nonaka
* March 19 – Heart Station by Hikaru Utada
* March 26 – Exile Catchy Best [ja] by Exile
* March 26 – Shion by MUCC
* April 2 – Hikari Nadeshiko by Eiko Shimamiya
* April 9 – Gokutama Rock Cafe by An Cafe
* April 9 – I Loved Yesterday by Yui
* April 16 – Game by Perfume
* April 23 – Dream "A" Live by Arashi
* May 14 – Superfly by Superfly
* June 4 – KAT-TUN III: Queen of Pirates by KAT-TUN
* June 18 – B'z The Best "Ultra Pleasure" by B'z
* June 23 – Hayley Sings Japanese Songs by Hayley Westenra
* June 25 – Ā, Domo. Ohisashiburi Desu. by Greeeen
* June 25 – Honey by Chara
* July 9 – Panic Fancy by Orange Range
* July 11 – Envy/Jesu by Envy and Jesu
* July 20 – Best Fiction by Namie Amuro
* July 23 – Hakai by Wagdug Futuristic Unity
* July 23 – Love & Peace by Emi Tawata
* July 30 – Best Fiction by Namie Amuro
* September 3 – Arigatō by Hatsune Okumura
* September 10 – 5 by Berryz Kobo
* September 10 – A Complete: All Singles by Ayumi Hamasaki
* September 17 – B'z The Best "Ultra Treasure" by B'z
* September 24 – Fairy Dance: Kokia Meets Ireland by Kokia
* November 5 – Best Destiny by Miliyah Kato
* November 11 – Uroboros by Dir En Grey
* November 12 – Kanjō Effect by One Ok Rock
* November 12 – My Short Stories by Yui
* November 19 – More! More! More! by Capsule
* November 19 – Color by NEWS
* November 26 – Voice by Mika Nakashima
* December 3 – Exile Ballad Best [ja] by Exile
* December 3 – Me... by Emi Hinouchi
* December 10 – Awake -Evoke the Urge- by Deathgaze
* December 12 – Supermarket Fantasy by Mr. Children
* December 17 – Kirari to Fuyu by Koharu Kusumi
* December 17 – Love Letter by Ai Otsuka

## Groups established

* Afilia Saga
* Dempagumi.inc
* Girl Next Door
* Hangry & Angry
* Happiness
* no3b
* Momoiro Clover Z
* SKE48
* Shugo Chara Egg!
* Watarirouka Hashiritai 7

## Groups disestablished

* Athena & Robikerottsu