# List of Oricon number-one singles of 1981

The highest-selling singles in Japan are ranked in the Oricon Singles Chart, which is published by Oricon Style magazine. The data are compiled by Oricon based on each singles' physical sales. This list includes the singles that reached the number one place on that chart in 1981.

## Oricon Weekly Singles Chart

| Issue date | Song | Artist(s) |
| January 5 | "Sneaker Blues [ja]" | Masahiko Kondō |
| January 12 | "Sneaker Blues [ja]" | Masahiko Kondō |
| January 19 | "Sneaker Blues [ja]" | Masahiko Kondō |
| January 26 | "Koi wa Do! [ja]" | Toshihiko Tahara |
| February 2 | "Koi wa Do! [ja]" | Toshihiko Tahara |
| February 9 | "Cherry Blossom [ja]" | Seiko Matsuda |
| February 16 | "Cherry Blossom [ja]" | Seiko Matsuda |
| February 23 | "Cherry Blossom [ja]" | Seiko Matsuda |
| March 2 | "Cherry Blossom [ja]" | Seiko Matsuda |
| March 9 | "Machikado Twilight [ja]" | Chanels |
| March 16 | "Machikado Twilight [ja]" | Chanels |
| March 23 | "Machikado Twilight [ja]" | Chanels |
| March 30 | "Ruby no Yubiwa [ja]" | Akira Terao |
| April 6 | "Ruby no Yubiwa [ja]" | Akira Terao |
| April 13 | "Ruby no Yubiwa [ja]" | Akira Terao |
| April 20 | "Ruby no Yubiwa [ja]" | Akira Terao |
| April 27 | "Ruby no Yubiwa [ja]" | Akira Terao |
| May 4 | "Ruby no Yubiwa [ja]" | Akira Terao |
| May 11 | "Ruby no Yubiwa [ja]" | Akira Terao |
| May 18 | "Ruby no Yubiwa [ja]" | Akira Terao |
| May 25 | "Ruby no Yubiwa [ja]" | Akira Terao |
| June 1 | "Ruby no Yubiwa [ja]" | Akira Terao |
| June 8 | "Natsu no Tobira [ja]" | Seiko Matsuda |
| June 15 | "Natsu no Tobira [ja]" | Seiko Matsuda |
| June 22 | "Blue Jeans Memory [ja]" | Masahiko Kondō |
| June 29 | "Blue Jeans Memory [ja]" | Masahiko Kondō |
| July 6 | "Blue Jeans Memory [ja]" | Masahiko Kondō |
| July 13 | "Nagai Yoru [ja]" | Chiharu Matsuyama |
| July 20 | "Nagai Yoru [ja]" | Chiharu Matsuyama |
| July 27 | "Nagai Yoru [ja]" | Chiharu Matsuyama |
| August 3 | "Shiroi Parasol [ja]" | Seiko Matsuda |
| August 10 | "Shiroi Parasol [ja]" | Seiko Matsuda |
| August 17 | "Shiroi Parasol [ja]" | Seiko Matsuda |
| August 24 | "High School Lullaby [ja]" | Imo-kin Trio [ja] |
| August 31 | "High School Lullaby [ja]" | Imo-kin Trio [ja] |
| September 7 | "High School Lullaby [ja]" | Imo-kin Trio [ja] |
| September 14 | "High School Lullaby [ja]" | Imo-kin Trio [ja] |
| September 21 | "High School Lullaby [ja]" | Imo-kin Trio [ja] |
| September 28 | "High School Lullaby [ja]" | Imo-kin Trio [ja] |
| October 5 | "High School Lullaby [ja]" | Imo-kin Trio [ja] |
| October 12 | "Gingiragin ni Sarigenaku [ja]" | Masahiko Kondō |
| October 19 | "Gingiragin ni Sarigenaku [ja]" | Masahiko Kondō |
| October 26 | "Kaze Tachinu [ja]" | Seiko Matsuda |
| November 2 | "Gingiragin ni Sarigenaku" | Masahiko Kondō |
| November 9 | "Gingiragin ni Sarigenaku" | Masahiko Kondō |
| November 16 | "Gingiragin ni Sarigenaku" | Masahiko Kondō |
| November 23 | "Gingiragin ni Sarigenaku" | Masahiko Kondō |
| November 30 | "Akujo [ja]" | Miyuki Nakajima |
| December 7 | "Akujo [ja]" | Miyuki Nakajima |
| December 14 | "Akujo [ja]" | Miyuki Nakajima |
| December 21 | "Sailor Fuku to Kikanjū [ja]" | Hiroko Yakushimaru |
| December 28 | "Sailor Fuku to Kikanjū [ja]" | Hiroko Yakushimaru |