# 2016 in Japanese music

The year 2016 in Japanese music.

## Events

* 67th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen

## Number-ones

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

## Best-sellers
### Artists

The following is a list of the 5 best-selling music artists in Japan in 2016 by value of sales, including sales of records and of DVDs and Blu-rays, according to Oricon.
| Rank | Artist | Value |
| 1 | Arashi | ¥12.183 billion |
| 2 | Sandaime J Soul Brothers | ¥8.256 billion |
| 3 | Nogizaka46 | ¥7.437 billion |
| 4 | AKB48 | ¥6.947 billion |
| 5 | Kanjani8 | ¥4.788 billion |

### Albums

The following is a list of the top 10 best-selling albums in Japan in 2016, according to Oricon.
| Rank | Album | Artist | Copies |
| 1 | Are You Happy? | Arashi | 747,115 |
| 2 | The JSB Legacy | Sandaime J Soul Brothers | 643,115 |
| 3 | Fantôme | Hikaru Utada | 569,963 |
| 4 | Ano Hi, Ano Toki | Kazumasa Oda | 412,496 |
| 5 | High & Low Original Best Album [ja] | Various Artists | 362,024 |
| 6 | Your Name | Radwimps | 351,811 |
| 7 | Sorezore no Isu | Nogizaka46 | 331,848 |
| 8 | Fuku no Oto | Masaharu Fukuyama | 302,628 |
| 9 | Cho Ikimonobakari ~Tennen Kinen Members’ BEST Selection~ | Ikimonogakari | 294,207 |
| 10 | DEAR | Hey! Say! JUMP | 292,426 |

### Singles
#### Oricon

The following is a list of the top 10 best-selling singles in Japan in 2016, according to Oricon.
| Rank | Single | Artist | Copies |
| 1 | "Tsubasa wa Iranai" | AKB48 | 1,519,387 |
| 2 | "Kimi wa Melody" | AKB48 | 1,294,962 |
| 3 | "Love Trip / Shiawase wo Wakenasai" | AKB48 | 1,213,660 |
| 4 | "High Tension" | AKB48 | 1,202,533 |
| 5 | "Sayonara no Imi" | Nogizaka46 | 910,811 |
| 6 | "Hadashi de Summer" | Nogizaka46 | 851,229 |
| 7 | "I Seek/Daylight" | Arashi | 828,533 |
| 8 | "Harujion ga Sakukoro" | Nogizaka46 | 828,315 |
| 9 | "Fukkatsu Love" | Arashi | 541,121 |
| 10 | "Power of the Paradise" | Arashi | 471,619 |

#### Billboard Japan

The following is a list of the top 10 best-selling singles in Japan in 2016, according to Billboard Japan's year-end Top Singles Sales chart.
| Rank | Single | Artist | Copies |
| 1 | "Tsubasa wa Iranai" | AKB48 | 2,507,000 |
| 2 | "Kimi wa Melody" | AKB48 | 1,482,000 |
| 3 | "High Tension" | AKB48 | 1,438,000 |
| 4 | "Love Trip / Shiawase wo Wakenasai" | AKB48 | |
| 5 | "Sayonara no Imi" | Nogizaka46 | 918,000 |
| 6 | "Hadashi de Summer" | Nogizaka46 | |
| 7 | "I Seek/Daylight" | Arashi | |
| 8 | "Harujion ga Sakukoro" | Nogizaka46 | |
| 9 | "Fukkatsu Love" | Arashi | |
| 10 | "Chicken Line" | SKE48 | |

## Awards

* 58th Japan Record Awards
* 2016 MTV Video Music Awards Japan

## Albums released
### January

| Date | Album | Artist | Genre | Labels |
| 1 | D×D×D | Shinee | J-pop, dance-pop | SM Entertainment, EMI Music Japan |
| 6 | Love Bebop | Misia | | Ariola Japan |
| 13 | Ryōseibai | Gesu no Kiwami Otome | | Unborde |
| 13 | Odore Balcony | Sawa | | Bellwood Records |
| 13 | Sid All Singles Best | Sid | | Ki/oon Music |
| 13 | Towa | Yuzu | | Toy's Factory |
| 20 | Fake Metal Jacket | BiSH | | Sub Trax |
| 20 | Winter of Love | Koda Kumi | | Rhythm Zone |
| 20 | Miwa Ballad Collection: Graduation | miwa | | Sony Music Entertainment Japan |
| 20 | The Last | Shikao Suga | | Speedstar Records |
| 27 | Sea and the Darkness | Galileo Galilei | | |
| 27 | Best Positive | Lecca | | |
| 27 | Welcome to Ghost Hotel | Pentagon | | Goemon Records |
| 27 | Yama-P | Tomohisa Yamashita | | Sony Music Entertainment Japan |
| 27 | Depend on Me | VIXX | J-pop, dance-pop | Jellyfish Entertainment, CJ Victor Entertainment |
| 29 | Momento | Ayumi Tanaka Trio | | AMP Music & Records |

### February

| Date | Album | Artist | Genre | Labels |
| 3 | Made Series | Big Bang | Dance-pop, PBR&B, hip hop, acoustic | YG Entertainment, Avex Trax |
| 3 | Pow!/L.C.S. | FEMM | | Avex Music Creative |
| 3 | Prism | Rei Yasuda | | Sony Music Entertainment Japan |
| 3 | Vanilla Beans V | Vanilla Beans | | Avex Trax |
| 3 | Yūjō Best | Yusuke | | Sony Music Entertainment Japan |
| 10 | Butterflies | Bump of Chicken | | |
| 10 | E.G. Smile: E-girls Best | E-girls | | Rhythm Zone |
| 10 | Makkō Shōbu | Ken the 390 | | Rhythm Zone |
| 10 | The World's on Fire | Man with a Mission | | Sony Music Entertainment Japan |
| 10 | Uta | Subaru Shibutani | | Teichiku Records |
| 10 | Zard Forever Best: 25th Anniversary | Zard | | B-Gram Records |
| 12 | Unfinished | Jungkyun (Bigflo) | Pop, dance | HO Company |
| 17 | Origin | Kana-Boon | | Ki/oon Music |

### March

| Date | Album | Artist | Genre | Labels |
| 2 | Yellow | Scandal | Pop rock / Alternative rock | Epic Records Japan |
| 2 | Liberty | Miliyah Kato | | Mastersix Foundation |
| 16 | 3 | B1A4 | Pop, dance | Pony Canyon |
| 16 | Spade 3 | White Ash | Rock | VAP |

### April

| Date | Album | Artist | Genre | Labels |
| 1 | Metal Resistance | Babymetal | J-pop, heavy metal | Toy's Factory |
| 6 | N.W.U | F.T. Island | Rock | Warner Music Japan |
| 6 | Cosmic Explorer | Perfume | J-pop | Universal Music Japan |
| 6 | Stroll and Roll | The Pillows | | Delicious Label |
| 13 | High Heels | CLC | Pop, dance | Cube Entertainment Japan |

### May

| Date | Album | Artist | Labels |
| 11 | Heavenly | SpecialThanks | K.O.G.A Records |
| 11 | 2020: T.M.Revolution All Time Best | T.M.Revolution | Epic Records Japan |
| 11 | Aki Kore: MTR&Y Tour 2015 | Tamio Okuda | Ramen Curry Music Record |
| 11 | Renai Shōsetsu 2: Wakaba no Koro | Tomoyo Harada | Verve, Universal Music Japan |
| 11 | JaPo | Ua | Speedstar Records |
| 18 | May Dream | Aiko | Pony Canyon |
| 18 | Kidō: Start Up! | Ayaka Ōhashi | Lantis |
| 18 | Brand New Maid | Band-Maid | Nippon Crown |
| 18 | Eve | Cinema Staff | Pony Canyon |
| 18 | D-project with Zard | D-project | Giza Studio |
| 18 | Kōtetsu-jō no Kabaneri Original Soundtrack | Hiroyuki Sawano | |
| 18 | Wild Lips | Kōji Kikkawa | Warner Music Japan |
| 18 | S | Shouta Aoi | B-Green |
| 18 | Cold Disc | Straightener | Virgin Music |

### June

| Date | Album | Artist | Genre | Labels |
| 8 | Aiiro Music | Indigo la End | | Unborde |
| 22 | Lovers, Birthday, Music | Lego Big Morl | | Oorong-sha |

### July

| Date | Album | Artist | Genre | Labels |
| 27 | Sayonara Hitori | Taemin | Pop, dance | EMI Music Japan |
| 27 | Chamisma | CLC | Pop, dance | Cube Entertainment Japan |

### August

| Date | Album | Artist | Genre | Labels |
| 10 | Mirage | Especia | | Virgin Records |
| 17 | Zekkyō! | Pentagon | | Goemon Records |
| 17 | Quest | White Ash | Rock | VAP |

### September

| Date | Album | Artist | Labels |
| 14 | This Is Flower This Is Best | Flower | Sony Music Associated Records |
| 21 | Daydream | Aimer | Sony Music Entertainment Japan |
| 21 | N Album | KinKi Kids | Johnny's Entertainment |
| 21 | Life | Plenty | Headphone Music Label |
| 21 | Hallelujah | The Novembers | Hostess Entertainment |
| 28 | White Noise | TK | Sony Music Associated Records |
| 28 | Fantôme | Hikaru Utada | Virgin Records |

### October

| Date | Album | Artist | Genre | Labels |
| 5 | Killer BiSH | BiSH | | Avex Trax |
| 12 | Blue | Androp | | Unborde |
| 12 | Girlz n' Effect | Happiness | | Universal Sigma |
| 12 | P.Y.L | illion | | Warner Music Japan |
| 19 | Euphoria | CNBLUE | Rock | Warner Music Japan |
| 19 | Frederism | Frederic | | A-Sketch |
| 19 | Punky | Kaela Kimura | | ELA |
| 26 | Snack Juju: Yoru no Request | Juju | | Sony Music Associated Records |
| 26 | Now or Never | Nanase Aikawa | | Motorod |
| 26 | Are You Happy | Arashi | Pop, R&B | J Storm |

### November

| Day | Album | Artist | Genre | Labels |
| 9 | Exist! | Alexandros | Rock | Universal Music Japan |
| 19 | 3 Pianos | Tanaka/Lindvall/Wallumrød | Jazz | Nakama Records |
| 22 | unPop | Charisma.com | Hip hop | Warner Music Japan |
| 23 | Dawn | AK-69 | Hip hop | Def Jam Recordings |
| 23 | Cinema Songs | Hiroko Yakushimaru | | Victor Entertainment |
| 23 | Greatest Hits 1991–2016: All Singles + | Maki Ohguro | | Being Inc. |
| 23 | Ningen Kaika | Radwimps | Rock | Universal Music Japan |
| 23 | The Baddest: Collaboration | Toshinobu Kubota | | Sony Music Entertainment Japan |
| 30 | Yano Sanmyaku | Akiko Yano | | Victor Entertainment |
| 30 | Vektor E.P. | Cinema Staff | | Pony Canyon |

### December

| Day | Album | Artist | Genre | Labels |
| 2 | Film bleu | For Tracy Hyde | Dream pop | P-vine Records |
| 6 | Pay Money to My Pain | Pay Money to My Pain | | VAP |
| 7 | 24/7 (Twenty Four/Seven) | BtoB | | Kiss Entertainment |
| 7 | Side by Side | Hilcrhyme | | Universal Music Japan |
| 7 | Suolo | Husking Bee | | Nippon Crown |
| 7 | Alive: Always in Your Heart | My Name | | Universal Music Japan |
| 7 | The Best: 10 Years Story | Nao Matsushita | | Epic Records Japan |
| 7 | PPAP | Pikotaro | | Avex Trax |
| 7 | Dangerman | Seven | | Victor Entertainment |
| 7 | Roll Up the Collectors | The Collectors | | Nippon Columbia |
| 14 | Tokowaka no Kuni | Aoi Yūki | | FlyingDog |
| 14 | Asunarou | Aqua Timez | | Epic Records Japan |
| 14 | Ifudōdō: B.M.C.A. | Boys and Men | | Virgin Music Japan |
| 14 | Urban Night | Cyntia | | Indie Maker |
| 14 | Meshiagare no Gatling | Dish | | Sony Music Entertainment Japan |
| 14 | Stand!! | Fujifabric | | Sony Music Associated Records |
| 14 | Violet Cry | Garnidelia | | Defstar Records |
| 14 | Namari Sora no Stargazer | Good Morning America | | Nippon Columbia |
| 14 | No Shadow | Jun. K | | Epic Records Japan |
| 14 | Shin Enka Meikyoku Collection 4: Kiyoshi no Nihon Zenkoku Uta no Wataridori | Kiyoshi Hikawa | | Nippon Columbia |
| 14 | Lonely Night Magic Spell | Marie Ueda | | Giza Studio |
| 14 | Life | Masayoshi Yamazaki | | EMI Records Japan |
| 14 | Believer | Noriyuki Makihara | | Sony Music Entertainment Japan |
| 14 | Existence | Nothing's Carved in Stone | | Growing Up Inc. Dynamord Label |
| 14 | Journey Without a Map | Takuro | | Pony Canyon |
| 21 | Pink Doll | Apink | | Avex Trax |
| 21 | Another Side Memories: Precious Best II | Deen | | Epic Records Japan |
| 21 | WWDBest: Denpa Ryōkō! | Dempagumi.inc | | Toy's Factory |
| 21 | Doll Memories: Best of Doll Elements | Doll Elements | | Dreamusic |
| 21 | S | Double S 301 | | Pony Canyon |
| 21 | Fes Best | Golden Bomber | | Zany Zap |
| 21 | Veda | LM.C | | Victor Entertainment |
| 21 | Neogene Creation | Nana Mizuki | | King Records |
| 21 | SMAP 25 Years | SMAP | | Victor Entertainment |
| 21 | Live for Live | Saori Hayami | | Warner Bros. Home Entertainment |
| 21 | Maido! Ōkini! | Tacoyaki Rainbow | | Avex Trax |
| 21 | Circle of Life | Tetsuya Kakihara | | Lantis |
| 21 | U-KISS Japan Best Collection 2011–2016 | U-KISS | | Avex Trax |
| 21 | Caravan wa Philia wo Kanaderu | Wataru Hatano | | DIVE II Entertainment |
| 28 | Live at Wembley | Babymetal | | Toy's Factory |
| 28 | Encore | Back Number | | Universal Sigma |
| 28 | The Mobb | MOBB | | YGEX |

## Debuting
### Debuting groups

* 3B junior
* Batten Girls
* B.I.G
* Bis
* Chai
* Chelmico
* CLC
* CocoSori
* DYGL
* FEMM
* FlowBack
* Gang Parade
* Hiragana Keyakizaka46
* Hotshot
* iKon
* Keyakizaka46
* Musubizm
* OnePixcel
* Poppin'Party
* Pyxis
* Reol
* Rock A Japonica
* ShuuKaRen
* Tempalay
* The Sixth Lie
* The World Standard
* Yahyel
* Zenbu Kimi no Sei da.

### Debuting soloists

* Aina Aiba
* Asaka
* Ayaka Sasaki
* Kanna Hashimoto
* Kyuhyun
* Manami Numakura
* Miku Itō
* Momo Asakura
* Momoka Ariyasu
* Mone Kamishiraishi
* Reina Ueda
* Rie Murakawa
* Taichi Mukai
* Uru

## Deaths

* February 10 – Asami Nagakiya, 30, Japanese steel pan player (suspected murder)
* April 3 – Kōji Wada, 42, Japanese singer and songwriter (pharyngeal cancer)