Latest news with #MusicAwardsJapan
Japan Times
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Japan Times
Songs, stars and strategy: Japan debuts its newest awards ceremony
Under a wash of blue stage lights inside Kyoto's Rohm Theatre, Haruomi Hosono stood alone. A founding member of influential techno-pop group Yellow Magic Orchestra, he addressed an attentive audience on the closing night of the inaugural Music Awards Japan — not just as a musician in his own right, but on behalf of his late YMO bandmates, Ryuichi Sakamoto and Yukihiro Takahashi, and artists across the country. 'There are two people who couldn't make it here today. It's because of their talent that I'm able to stand here,' said Hosono, adding that he 'felt very honored' the pioneering YMO has been chosen as a kind of 'symbol' to represent that best Japanese music has to offer. Reflecting on the influence of his artistic peers, he expanded on the thing that drives artists to create. 'It's the passion we have for music, our love for it. We tried to come up with something unique to Japan.' J-pop Yoasobi delighted audiences with a performance of 'Idol.' | © CEIPA / MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN 2025 It was a moment steeped in reverence amid a week of celebration as Japan's 'answer to the Grammys' took place in the old capital on May 21 and 22. The Music Awards Japan (MAJ), which also included a YMO tribute concert a day before the ceremonies began, sought to strike a balance between past and present, domestic stardom and international reach. 'This awards ceremony is a source of encouragement for (musicians),' Hosono continued. 'There are many musicians who haven't made it here yet, but I hope they'll continue to mature beyond the boundaries of the entertainment industry. That's what I'm most looking forward to. I truly believe that support from the industry is essential.' Spearheaded by the Japan Culture and Entertainment Industry Promotion Association, a coalition of five major music associations, MAJ brought together around 5,000 musicians, producers and industry experts to recognize achievements in 62 categories. The two ceremonies where the awards were presented — red glass statuettes dubbed 'Rubies' — were broadcast live on NHK and streamed online where they were accompanied by curated playlists, signaling the organizers' intent to not just reward Japanese music but to export it. The launch of MAJ coincides with growing overseas interest in Japanese music thanks to viral hits driven by social media, anime tie-ins, and domestic labels and agencies embracing the internet as a way to reach international listeners. J-pop acts are literally making moves abroad, too. Last year saw a record number of groups — including Yoasobi, Awich, Atarashii Gakko! and Number_i — take the stage at Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in California in April, while singer Ado and idol outfits XG and Travis Japan embarked on world tours. This year also sees singer-songwriters Kenshi Yonezu and Kaze Fujii setting out overseas, as well as groups Wednesday Campanella and Hitsujibungaku. MAJ's aim is to cultivate more of these kinds of stars who have the potential to shine outside of Japan. While focused on current global ambitions, MAJ took the unusual move of awarding past hits, too, as if to say "Japanese music isn't just good now, it has always been good" ... or maybe it was a ploy to try to get some extra star power in attendance. Older songs such as Hikaru Utada's 'Automatic' (1999) and Kurousa-P's "Senbonzakura" (2011) won awards in the best Japanese R&B/contemporary song and best Vocaloid culture song categories, and even Teriyaki Boyz' 2006 track 'Tokyo Drift (Fast & Furious)" got a shout-out in the top Japanese song in Europe section. Rapper Chanmina delivered a rowdy set at the grand awards ceremony at the Music Awards Japan. | © CEIPA / MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN 2025 Meanwhile, the MAJ Timeless Echo award was presented to 75-year-old rocker Eikichi Yazawa, who burst onto the Rohm Theatre stage in a shiny, dark red suit, flipping over his mic stand with flair and swiveling his hips as he sang 'It's Up to You!,' 'Tomaranai Ha~Ha' and 'Yes My Love.' With a nearly 50-year-long career behind him, Yazawa's presence encapsulated the enduring power of Japanese rock. Musical heritage aside, the bulk of the awards went to newer acts like Hitsujibungaku, King Gnu and tuki., and hip-hop duo Creepy Nuts took home a total of nine statuettes — the most of any act — including song of the year for their viral hit 'Bling-Bang-Bang-Born.' Members DJ Matsunaga and R-Shitei earned one of the biggest laughs of the awards when, at the earlier ceremony where they won their first seven awards, a trolley of Rubies was rolled out onto the stage and the pair struggled to hold all the hefty trophies in their arms. MAJ's goal of demonstrating Japan's soft-power supremacy also came in the form of awards presenters — 'The Solitary Gourmet' actor Yutaka Matsushige, figure skater Mao Asada, contemporary author Mieko Kawakami and veteran actor Koji Yakusho all handed out Rubies. The show's live performances also ran the gamut of musical genres. At the May 21 ceremony, audience members were treated to sets ranging from koto player Leo's contemporary approach to traditional Japanese music and the atmospheric beatboxing of Show-go to the powerful vocals of Azumi Takahashi belting the 'Dreamgirls' show tune, 'And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going.' Rocker Eikichi Yazawa received the MAJ Timeless Echo award. | © CEIPA / MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN 2025 The following night upped the ante. In addition to live performances from Yoasobi and Creepy Nuts — as well as a pretaped recording from Hikaru Utada — rapper Chanmina, at one point suspended in the air alongside two acrobats, delivered a rowdy set that included an audacious split. Kaze Fujii, sat at a piano with one foot propped on his knee, exuded a cool charisma as he played a stripped-down 'Michiteyuku.' Later, Awich performed with fellow rappers Ai, Nene and MaRi on a rousing version of 'Bad Bitch Bigaku,' followed by a duet with Ai on 'Not So Different Remix.' The highlight performance came from rock band Mrs. Green Apple toward the end of the night, as two full rows of string players were dramatically revealed for a lush, emotional rendition of 'Darling.' The show was not without its quirks, though. At times, the backstage crew's voices and shifting set pieces were audible during speeches and presentations. A mismatched video package played after one award was announced, forcing presenters to improvise. Awich performed with fellow rappers Ai, Nene and MaRi. | © CEIPA / MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN 2025 The aforementioned Mrs. Green Apple bookended the ceremonies by winning both the first and last awards presented over the two days — best Japanese song artist and artist of the year, respectively. 'This year marks our 10th anniversary since our debut, and we've been talking nonstop about what to do in the future, what kind of interesting things we can do and what the future holds,' said Mrs. Green Apple vocalist Motoki Ohmori while accepting the artist of the year award. 'We've been focusing on the long-term vision for over a decade, but this year, we finally took the time to reflect on the past 10 or so years and truly appreciate each other. We've been able to keep going thanks to the support of so many people, but above all, because I truly love creating music with these members. It's been a blessing. Thank you so much.' Mrs. Green Apple bookended the Music Awards Japan ceremonies by winning both the first and last awards presented over the course of two days — best Japanese song artist and artist of the year, respectively. | © CEIPA / MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN 2025 Amid the domestic bliss was also plenty of love for overseas acts with genre-specific prizes going to Coldplay, Kendrick Lamar and Ariana Grande, among others. Country-specific awards rewarded artists from Japan's Asian neighbors, including Seventeen (South Korea), Zhou Shen (China) and Lola Amour (the Philippines). It's too early to tell if a Ruby will one day be as coveted as a Grammy, but as far as debuts go MAJ had something for pretty much everyone. The real test will be if next year's celebration is able to live up to the first. For more information about the Music Awards Japan, visit
Pink Villa
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
BLACKPINK's Rosé, NewJeans win big at Music Awards Japan 2025; know when and where to watch Day 2 event live
K-pop stars once again made their influence felt by bagging prestigious awards in international events like the Music Awards Japan. The first edition of the event is to take place on May 22 and 23, 2025. Day 1 of the award show bestowed accolades on BLACKPINK member Rosé and NewJeans, as reported by K-media outlet Chosun Biz. K-pop fans are thrilled at the girl group members' achievement. Find out how to stream the event live and catch the winners accept their honors. BLACKPINK 's Rosé won the Best International Pop Song in Japan award for her hit single APT., featuring Bruno Mars. Meanwhile, popular fourth-gen girl group NewJeans took home the Best K-pop Song in Japan award for their track Ditto. The main awards ceremony for day 1 of the Music Awards Japan will be held live on May 22 and its live broadcast will start 30 minutes after the ceremony's commencement. Watch the event live at 7:30 PM JST (4 PM IST). Day 2 will be broadcast at the same time on May 23. Japanese viewers can also catch it live on NHK television channel. Rosé's APT. has become a global phenomenon right after its release. Japan, too, couldn't escape its charms and it got nominated for the big title of Song of the Year. Besides Rosé and NewJeans, two other K-pop groups, aespa and rising stars PLAVE, have also bagged nominations at the Music Awards Japan 2025. aespa with Supernova and PLAVE with Way 4 Luv, are nominated for Best Song Asia. The main ceremony will reveal the winners of six main categories—Song of the Year, Artist of the Year, New Artist of the Year, Album of the Year, Top Global Hit from Japan, and Best Song Asia. The Music Awards Japan 2025 aims at recognizing outstanding achievements in music, with winners selected by a panel of over 5,000 professionals from the Japanese music industry, spanning 62 distinct categories.
CNA
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CNA
Singaporean singer Regina Song nominated at inaugural Music Awards Japan
Singapore's pop sensation, Regina Song, 21, has been nominated at the inaugural Music Awards Japan (MAJ), making her the only Singaporean nominee at the event. She is competing in the Best Song Asia category for her hit single, The Cutest Pair, taken off her debut album Fangirl. The other nominees in this category are: Supernova by Aespa, Way 4 Luv by Plave, Satu Bulan by Bernadya and Ghost by Jeff Satur. The announcement of the final nominees was made ahead of the award ceremony, which takes place on May 21 and 22 at Rohm Theater in Kyoto, Japan. Song said of the nomination: 'It feels extremely surreal to be part of the top five nominees in the Best Song Asia category. It would be my absolute dream and honour to take this award home, but this nomination is already such a blessing, and I am so grateful for every person that has been cheering me on.' The MAJ is organised by the Japan Culture and Entertainment Industry Promotion Association, in collaboration with Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. Song's single, The Cutest Pair, garnered over 44 million streams on Spotify since its release in June 2024 and she currently has more than one million monthly listeners on the platform. She staged a Southeast Asia tour in January 2025, performing in cities like Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok and Manila. She also took part in Wanderland Festival in March 2025 and is set to perform at Indonesia's LaLaLa Fest next.
Straits Times
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
Singer Regina Song is only Singaporean nominee in inaugural Music Awards Japan
Regina Song performing at Fangirl: The Tour in Kuala Lumpur on Jan 10. PHOTO: COURTESY OF BRYAN ONG SINGAPORE - Local singer-songwriter Regina Song is waving the country's flag high as the only Singaporean to be nominated at the inaugural Music Awards Japan (MAJ), competing in the Best Song Asia category for her song The Cutest Pair. The 21-year-old is among the most-streamed local artistes on Spotify in 2024, with the English-language single - from her debut album Fangirl (2024) - garnering over 44 million streams since its release in June. She also has over one million monthly listeners on Spotify, and has previously charted on the top of Spotify's Viral 50 - Global playlist. She is up against K-pop groups Aespa (Supernova) and Plave (Way 4 Luve), Thai singer Jeff Satur (Ghost) and Indonesian singer Bernadya (Satu Bulan). The MAJ, organised by the Japan Culture and Entertainment Industry Promotion Association in collaboration with Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, aims to honour musical talents from Japan, Asia and the West. The awards show will take place on May 21 and 22 at Rohm Theatre Kyoto. Song, who made her music debut in 2021 with her single Lucas, said in a press release: 'It feels extremely surreal to be part of the top five nominees in the Best Song Asia category. It would be my absolute dream and honour to take this award home, but this nomination is already such a blessing, and I am so grateful for every person that has been cheering me on.' After she started to write her own songs at 13, her love of music blossomed. In 2017, she entered the School of the Arts (Sota) to pursue her interest in the piano, which she has been playing since she was six years old. While at Sota, Song joined the school's a cappella group and a pop band, where she underwent her first vocal training. While Song enrolled in the University of the Arts Singapore in 2024, she is now taking a break from school to focus on her career. Her latest single, Fairy, was released in February 2025, and she is preparing to release her next album. She has also played shows in Singapore, as well as a sold-out South-east Asia tour in January 2025, which took her to cities like Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Jakarta and Manila. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Asahi Shimbun
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Asahi Shimbun
Reaching for the stars, first Music Awards Japan ceremonies near
Nominees for the inaugural Music Awards Japan are announced during a ceremony in Tokyo on April 17. (Chiho Yashiro) The inaugural Music Awards Japan (MAJ) ceremonies will be held on May 21 and 22, with hopes it will gain the prestige of the U.S. Grammys and propel Japanese artists toward international stardom. MAJ has brought together about 5,000 artists, producers and media experts to recognize prize-winning songs and performers in 62 categories. The event is hosted by the Japan Culture and Entertainment Industry Promotion Association (CEIPA), a general incorporated organization founded by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) and four other groups. CEIPA announced the establishment of the awards in October last year. To ensure transparency in the awards selection process, nominees were chosen through an automated system based on music charts and other data. 'Japanese artists are beginning to exert a powerful presence outside the country and achieve results,' said Tatsuya Nomura, president of the Federation of Music Producers Japan who heads MAJ's executive committee. 'We hope to provide a boost for them.' Organizers intend to stream the awards ceremonies worldwide on YouTube, publish playlists of award-winning songs on music streaming services, and offer other forms of support. Shunsuke Muramatsu, the RIAJ chairman who serves as board chair at CEIPA, hopes MAJ will work as a promotional tool for prize-winning musicians when they make their foray into overseas markets. Japanese artists and their managers say they have nothing to write in their 'curriculum vitae' when they talk to media personnel, promoters and business partners outside Japan, he said. 'It's meaningless if winning an award doesn't serve as some kind of endorsement,' Muramatsu said. 'We want to take time to make the awards worthy of such a status.' The Japan Composer's Association has hosted the large-scale Japan Record Awards (JRA) since 1959. At the end of each year, the winners are announced, and they give performances. During the Showa Era (1926-1989), the general public persuaded the JRA to pick the song of the year, according to music critic Suzie Suzuki. But listeners' preferences have diversified in recent years thanks to music streaming services and other factors, and it has become difficult to pick one song that is acceptable to everyone. To remain influential, music awards must present forward-thinking and novel selections that can indicate what will happen next in the music market, Suzuki added. The MAJ awards cover artists and songs during a one-year period until January. The six main categories are: Song of the Year; Artist of the Year; New Artist of the Year; Album of the Year; Top Global Hit from Japan; and Best Song Asia. Creepy Nuts' 'Bling-Bang-Bang-Born' and Yoasobi's 'Idol' are among the nominees in the Song of the Year category. (This article was written by Chiho Yashiro and Shiki Iwasawa.)
