# 1980 in Japanese music

In 1980 (Shōwa 55), Japanese music was released on records and performed in concerts, and there were charts, awards, contests and festivals.
During that year, Japan continued to have the second largest popular music market in the world.

## Awards, contests and festivals

The 13th Japan record sales awards (Japanese: 日本レコードセールス大賞) were held in 1980.
The 9th Tokyo Music Festival was held on 30 March 1980. Feeling Old Feelings by Dionne Warwick won the grand prize. Body Language by The Dooleys won the Gold Award.
The 22nd Osaka International Festival (Japanese: 大阪国際フェスティバル) was held from 7 to 27 April 1980. The 19th Yamaha Popular Song Contest was held on 11 May 1980. The 20th Yamaha Popular Song Contest was held on 5 October 1980. The 11th World Popular Song Festival was held on 14 to 16 November 1980. The 11th Japan Music Awards were held on 18 November 1980. The final of the 9th FNS Music Festival was held on 16 December 1980. The 22nd Japan Record Awards were held on 31 December 1980. The 31st NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen was held on 31 December 1980.

## Concerts

The "All Nite Rock Show '80" was held from 21 to 22 June 1980.

## Number one singles

Oricon
The following reached number 1 on the weekly Oricon Singles Chart:
| Issue date | Song | Artist(s) |
| January 7 | "Ihōjin" | Saki Kubota |
| January 14 | "Ihōjin" | Saki Kubota |
| January 21 | "Ihōjin" | Saki Kubota |
| January 28 | "Daitokai [ja]" | Crystal King |
| February 4 | "Daitokai [ja]" | Crystal King |
| February 11 | "Daitokai [ja]" | Crystal King |
| February 18 | "Daitokai [ja]" | Crystal King |
| February 25 | "Daitokai [ja]" | Crystal King |
| March 3 | "Daitokai [ja]" | Crystal King |
| March 10 | "Okuru Kotoba [ja]" | Kaientai [ja] |
| March 17 | "Okuru Kotoba [ja]" | Kaientai [ja] |
| March 24 | "Okuru Kotoba [ja]" | Kaientai [ja] |
| March 31 | "Okuru Kotoba [ja]" | Kaientai [ja] |
| April 7 | "Okuru Kotoba [ja]" | Kaientai [ja] |
| April 14 | "Okuru Kotoba [ja]" | Kaientai [ja] |
| April 21 | "Runaway [ja]" | Chanels |
| April 28 | "Runaway [ja]" | Chanels |
| May 5 | "Runaway [ja]" | Chanels |
| May 12 | "Runaway [ja]" | Chanels |
| May 19 | "Runaway [ja]" | Chanels |
| May 26 | "Runaway [ja]" | Chanels |
| June 2 | "Runaway [ja]" | Chanels |
| June 9 | "Dancing All Night [ja]" | Monta & Brothers [ja] |
| June 16 | "Dancing All Night [ja]" | Monta & Brothers [ja] |
| June 23 | "Dancing All Night [ja]" | Monta & Brothers [ja] |
| June 30 | "Dancing All Night [ja]" | Monta & Brothers [ja] |
| July 7 | "Dancing All Night [ja]" | Monta & Brothers [ja] |
| July 14 | "Dancing All Night [ja]" | Monta & Brothers [ja] |
| July 21 | "Dancing All Night [ja]" | Monta & Brothers [ja] |
| July 28 | "Dancing All Night [ja]" | Monta & Brothers [ja] |
| August 4 | "Dancing All Night [ja]" | Monta & Brothers [ja] |
| August 11 | "Dancing All Night [ja]" | Monta & Brothers [ja] |
| August 18 | "Junko / Namida no Serenade [ja]" | Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi |
| August 25 | "Junko / Namida no Serenade [ja]" | Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi |
| September 1 | "Junko / Namida no Serenade [ja]" | Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi |
| September 8 | "Junko / Namida no Serenade [ja]" | Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi |
| September 15 | "Junko / Namida no Serenade [ja]" | Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi |
| September 22 | "Junko / Namida no Serenade [ja]" | Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi |
| September 29 | "Hatto Shite! Good [ja]" | Toshihiko Tahara |
| October 6 | "Hatto Shite! Good [ja]" | Toshihiko Tahara |
| October 13 | "Kaze wa Aki Iro / Eighteen [ja]" | Seiko Matsuda |
| October 20 | "Kaze wa Aki Iro / Eighteen [ja]" | Seiko Matsuda |
| October 27 | "Kaze wa Aki Iro / Eighteen [ja]" | Seiko Matsuda |
| November 3 | "Kaze wa Aki Iro / Eighteen [ja]" | Seiko Matsuda |
| November 10 | "Kaze wa Aki Iro / Eighteen [ja]" | Seiko Matsuda |
| November 17 | "I'm In the Mood for Dancing" Japanese title: "Dancing Sister" (ダンシング・シスター) | The Nolans |
| November 24 | "I'm In the Mood for Dancing" Japanese title: "Dancing Sister" (ダンシング・シスター) | The Nolans |
| December 1 | "Koibito yo [ja]" | Mayumi Itsuwa |
| December 8 | "Koibito yo [ja]" | Mayumi Itsuwa |
| December 15 | "Koibito yo [ja]" | Mayumi Itsuwa |
| December 22 | "Sneaker Blues [ja]" | Masahiko Kondō |
| December 29 | "Sneaker Blues [ja]" | Masahiko Kondō |
The Best Ten
The following reached number 1 on The Best Ten chart:
* 10 January and 17 January: Ihojin - Saki Kubota. There was no broadcast on 3 January.
* June 26, July 3, July 24, July 31, August 7, August 14, August 21: "Dancing All Night [ja]" - Monta & Brothers [ja]
* 28 August, 4 September and 11 September: "Aishu Deito (New York City Nights)" - Toshihiko Tahara.

## Number one albums and LPs

Oricon
The following reached number 1 on the Oricon chart:
* 7 January, 14 January, 21 January, 28 January, 4 February, 11 February: Yumegatari by Saki Kubota
* Public Pressure - Yellow Magic Orchestra
Music Labo
The following reached number 1 on the Music Labo chart:
* 15 December and 22 December: We Are [ja] - Off Course
* 1 December and 8 December: Kogarashi Ni Dakarete [ja] - Chiharu Matsuyama
* 10 November, 17 November and 24 November: The Best [ja] - Junko Yagami
* 27 October and 3 November: Inshouha [ja] - Masashi Sada
* 20 October: Koibito Yo [ja] - Mayumi Itsuwa
* 13 October: Ride on Time - Tatsuro Yamashita
* 22 September, 29 September and 6 October: Kampai [ja] - Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi
* 16 September: Alice VIII [ja] - Alice
* 1 September and 8 September: Gyakuryu [ja] - Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi
* 11 August, 18 August and 25 August: Act - Monta & Brothers [ja]
* 7 July, 14 July, 21 July, 28 July and 4 August: Solid State Survivor - Yellow Magic Orchestra
* 30 June: X∞Multiplies - Yellow Magic Orchestra
Cash Box of Japan
The following reached number 1 on the Cash Box of Japan chart:
* 28 June and 5 July: Mr Black [ja] - Chanels
* 7 June: Roman [ja] - Chiharu Matsuyama
* 10 May and 24 May: Ikiteite mo Ii Desu ka - Miyuki Nakajima
* 3 May: Tiny Bubbles [ja] - Southern All Stars
* 5 April, 12 April, 19 April and 26 April: Love Songs [ja] - Mariya Takeuchi
* 22 March and 29 March: Kishotenketsu [ja] - Chiharu Matsuyama

## Film and television

The music of Kagemusha, by Shin'ichirō Ikebe, won the 35th Mainichi Film Award for Best Music. The music of A Distant Cry from Spring (1980), by Masaru Sato, won the 4th Japan Academy Film Prize for Best Music (awarded in 1981). Lalabel, the Magical Girl includes songs by Mitsuko Horie. Animation: The Best Ten 1980, a parody of The Best Ten, was released on 20 December.

## Overseas

The single Gandhara by Godiego reached number 56 on the UK singles chart.
From 1 March to 4 April, Pink Lady appeared in the television programme, sometimes called Pink Lady and Jeff, broadcast in the United States of America. Pink Lady participated in the World Song Festival held in Seoul in South Korea from 21 to 23 November, and were the first Japanese musicians to perform in a concert in Seoul.
The eponymous album Yellow Magic Orchestra reached number 81 on the Billboard 200 chart in the United States. The single, "Computer Game", from that album, reached number 17 on the UK singles chart, and number 60 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The album X∞Multiplies, by the same band, reached number 177 on the Billboard 200 chart.
The song "Hana" (花〜すべての人の心に花を〜) by Shoukichi Kina was a hit in China, Thailand, Indonesia and other Asian countries, and sold 30 million copies.

## Other singles released

* Ai Giri Giri, Sekai Eiyushi, Utakata and Remember (Fame) by Pink Lady
* Behind the Mask and Rydeen by Yellow Magic Orchestra
* Ride on Time and My Sugar Babe by Tatsuro Yamashita
* Nijūgoji and Kugatsu No Iro by Saki Kubota
* Aoi Sangoshō [ja] by Seiko Matsuda

## Other albums released

* Turning Point by Pink Lady
* Tenkai and Saudade by Saki Kubota
* Murdered by the Music by Yukihiro Takahashi
* Make Up City by Casiopea
* Landsale by P-Model
* Every Night by Yōsui Inoue
* Rockoon by T-Square
* 21 June: Toki no Nai Hotel - Yuming
* November: Yume Hikō (Japanese: 夢飛行) by Mioko Yamaguchi
* 5 December: On the Street Corner by Tatsuro Yamashita

## History

In 2007, Shūkan Shōwa Taimuzu featured Saki Kubota on the back cover as person of the moment (Japanese: 時の人) for 1980.
"Sneaker Blues" by Masahiko Kondō was released on 12 December 1980.