This page is a timeline of Japanese music and also indexes the individual year in Japanese music pages.
1870s 1878 - Demonstration of phonograph by James Alfred Ewing at Tokyo Imperial University on 16 November"The Oldest Phonograph in Japan". The Japan Times. 16 November 1958. No 21476. p 3. cols 1 to 3. 1879 - Demonstration of phonograph by James Alfred Ewing at Tokyo Chamber of Commerce on 28 MarchKerim Yasar. Electrified Voices: How the Telephone, Phonograph, and Radio Shaped Modern Japan, 1868–1945. 2018. Chapter 3.
1880s 1888 - Kimigayo adopted as national anthem
1890s 1897 - Gunkan kōshinkyoku
1900s 1901 - Kōjō no Tsuki
1910s 1910 - Nipponophone founded 1911 - Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra foundedThe Cambridge Companion to the Orchestra. 2003. p 277. 1912 (Meiji 45 / Taishō 1) - 1st Japanese symphony: by Kōsaku YamadaHandbook of Japanese Music in the Modern Era, p 256. 1914 - Katyusha's Song 1915 - Gondola no Uta
1920s 1921 - by Kōsaku Yamada;Music on the Move, p 123 Sendō Kouta; Nanatsu no Ko 1923 - 太田信一郎. 東京のわらべうた. 東京新聞出版局. 1983. p 60.Kenichiro Yokota. 教科書から消えた唱歌・童謡. Fusosha. 2002. p 41. 1926 (Taishō 15 / Shōwa 1) 1927 - Akatombo
1930s 1931 - King Records founded 1932 - releases "Akemi no Uta" (あけみの唄), composed by Masao Koga, with lyrics by The Movie Times. No 432: 11 April 1932. p 77. GoogleJASRAC No. 000-4690-6 1934 - Nagauta Symphony 1938 - by 発見!意外に知らない昭和史: 誰かに話したくなるあの日の出来事194. Tokyoshoten. 2007. p 36. (alias "Miss Columbia")3 The Japan Times Weekly 422Cf. cover in 1962 charts: Utamatic
1940s 1940 - Kurofune 1942 - Japan Phonogram Record Cultural Association founded 1943 - Akira Ifukube's march【特集記事】伊福部昭、その音楽と吹奏楽. Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra. 27 December 2024. Also called "Auspicious Dance" and 古典風軍楽《吉志舞》. Basis of the Jieitai March (自衛隊マーチ) or Frigate March (フリゲートマーチ). 1945 - Mitsui. Made in Japan: Studies in Popular Music. p 39. 1946 - 1st Mainichi Film Award for Best Music; 1st broadcast of NHK Nodo Jiman 1947 - Osaka Philharmonic Orchestra founded;The Cambridge Companion to the Orchestra. 2003. p 279. Shizuko Kasagi released Tokyo Boogie-Woogie;Nagahara. Tokyo Boogie-Woogie: Japan's Pop Era and Its Discontents. 2017. p 1.Rediscovering Japan's Age of Boogie: How Kasagi Shizuko and Hattori Ryōichi Transformed Entertainment. Nippon.com. 18 October 2023.「東京ブギウギ」大ヒット. Showa Mainichi (昭和毎日), from the Mainichi Shimbun. lack of suitable locations for jukeboxes;Billboard. 9 August 1947. p 129. 1st Students' Music Concour"Music After 1946". The Japan Year Book 1946-48. The Foreign Affairs Association of Japan. p 560.
1950s 1951 - 1st Kōhaku Uta Gassen; New Symphony Orchestra became NHK Symphony Orchestra; Toho Symphony Orchestra became Tokyo Symphony OrchestraWade. Composing Japanese Musical Modernity. p 218. 1952 - 1st Otaka prize on 26 DecemberNHK交響楽団50年史 1926-1977: The NHK Symphony Orchestra: Fifty Years of Its Growth. Nippon Hoso Shuppan Kyokai. Tokyo 1977. p 296. 1953 - Omoide No Warutsu by Izumi Yukimura(1999) 朝日新聞縮刷版 (Asahi Shimbun shukusatsuban). Number 938. 1954 - Godzilla includes music by Akira Ifukube 1955 - Film musicals include Janken MusumeGailbraith. The Toho Studios Story: A History and Complete Filmography. 2008. p 115. 1956 - Japan Philharmonic Orchestra foundedWade. Composing Japanese Musical Modernity. p 219. 1957 - Best selling single: Yūrakuchō de Aimashō by Frank Nagai日本のヒット曲と比較してみると・・・ ビルボード・トップ100～1957年・その4～ さんいん洋楽愛好会. San-in Chuo Shimpo. 17 March 2023. 1958 - 20,000 people attended record festival;"Disk Festival Draws 20,000". Billboard. 22 December 1958. p 1. 1st Osaka International Festival of Music, Drama and ArtsGyo Hani. "Fine Start for Asia's First: Osaka Arts Festival Inaugarated". The Japan Times. 11 April 1958. No 21259. p 1, cols 2 to 4. Continued at p 2, col 4.1958年度のラインナップ. Asahi Shimbun Foundation. 1959 - 1st Japan Record Awards1959年12月27日、第1回日本レコード大賞が開催。受賞曲は水原弘「黒い花びら」. News Online. Nippon Broadcasting System. 27 December 2017.
1960s 1960 - Sega 1000 jukebox;Jérémie Pelletier-Gagnon. Space and Play in Japanese Videogame Arcades. 2024. p 31.History. Sega. 5,616 new record releases;"Revival for Wonderland Disks at All-Time High". Billboard. 27 February 1961. p 14. Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra founded 1961 - 1st broadcast of Minna no Uta; Sapporo Symphony Orchestra founded; 50 record labels from 9 companiesCash Box. 15 April 1961. p 53. 1962 - 1st broadcast of Shichiji ni aimashō; Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra founded 1963 - Sukiyaki reaches number 1 in the USA; estimated 5,000 jukeboxes;Billboard. 6 July 1963. p 41. 56 million records producedBillboard. 11 January 1964, p 1. 1964 - 1st broadcast of Music Fair;About Music Fair. Fuji Television Network. 3rd largest record marketBillboard. 8 August 1964, p 8. 1965 - Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra founded; electric boom (Japanese: エレキブーム, ereki būmu)Stevens. Japanese Popular Music: Culture, Authenticity and Power. p 43.エレキギターの「エレキ」ブームは一九六五年一月のザ・ベンチ.... Tokyo Shimbun. 22 June 2021.1964 to 1967: Michael Furmanovsky, "Electrifying the Japanese Teenager across Generations" in Alisa Freedman, Introducing Japanese Popular Culture, 2nd Ed, chapter 15 1966 - Nagoya Philharmonic Orchestra foundedThe Cambridge Companion to the Orchestra. 2003. p 281 1967 - Oricon founded; $96 million records production;Japan Report. Vol 14. No 2: 31 January 1968. p 8. Japanese musicians sell more records than foreigners;The Ashgate Research Companion to Japanese Music. p 355. Hibari Misora released Makkana Taiyōちょうど50年前･1967/5/25 GSブームから生まれた美空ひばりの大ヒット'真っ赤な太陽'リリース【大人のMusic Calendar】. News Online. Nippon Broadcasting System. 25 May 2017. 1968 - 1st broadcast of Yoru no Hit Studio; CBS/Sony founded; 1st Japan Cable Awards;過去の受賞者一覧. 1st soul music festival日本初のソウル・フェスティヴァル～モータウン・フェス '68. News Online. Nippon Broadcasting System. 12 February 2019. 1969 - 1st Yamaha Popular Song Contest; 2nd largest record market;Billboard. 19 December 1970, p J-16. Suntory Music Award founded;現代用語の基礎知識. Jiyu Kokuminsha. 2001. p 1054. 1st broadcast of 1969年の今日、歌番組の源流となる日本テレビ『紅白歌のベストテン』が放送開始. News Online. Nippon Broadcasting System. 6 October 2017.
1970s 1970 - 1st World Popular Song Festival; 1st publication of Music Labo; 1st Japan Music Awards;日本歌謡大賞も真の1位にあらず 「かりにも一番に...かといって、誰も本当には認めていない」沢田研二、自叙伝で語る. zakII. 24 January 2024. approx start of jukebox boom;Karaoke Around the World: Global Technology, Local Singing. p 183. 11,000 jukeboxes;Billboard. 19 December 1970. p J-28. Kanagawa Philharmonic Orchestra founded; 1971 - Debut of Saori Minami, Mari Amachi and Rumiko Koyanagi;1971年の音楽界 フォーク台頭、洋楽ロック浸透、女性アイドル確立. News ポストセブン. 9 February 2021. Gagaku revival reportedBillboard. 11 September 1971. p 57. 1972 - 1st Tokyo Music Festival; 1st broadcast of Best 30 Kayōkyoku; Hiroshima Symphony Orchestra founded; New Japan Philharmonic founded;Billboard. 5 May 1973. p 53. 1973 - "Shura No Hana" (Japanese: 修羅の花) by Meiko Kaji;梶芽衣子 英名門デッカ・レコードから世界デビュー、「キル・ビル」劇中歌「修羅の花」. Sports Hochi. 29 June 2021. Candies released 1st single9月1日は【キャンディーズのデビュー記念日】驚くべきことになんとあれから半世紀！. Re:minder. 1 March 2023. 1974 - 1st FNS Music Festival; Nippon Music Foundation established;Profile debut of Chieko Matsumoto松本ちえこさん死去 70年代を象徴する記憶に残るアイドルだった. AERA Digital. 6 December 2019. 1975 - 44,000 jukeboxes;Continuum Encyclopedia of Popular Music of the World. 2003. vol 1. p 514. 1st Nippon Television Music Festival 1976 - Number one singles include Oyoge! Taiyaki-kun and Kita no Yadokara 1977 - Debut of Mizue Takada高田みづえ30年ぶり歌番組で硝子坂～一夜限り復活. Nikkan Sports. 9 August 2015. 1978 - 1st broadcast of The Best Ten;「1978」エンタメプレイバック. ZAKZAK. 23 June 2023. Candies Final Carnival concert〈1978年の今日〉4月4日 : キャンディーズ解散コンサート. (今日は何の日：On This Day in Japan). Nippon.com. 4 April 2025.1978年4月4日『キャンディーズ ファイナルカーニバル FOR FREEDOM』開催～ キャンディーズが伝説になった日. News Online. Nippon Broadcasting System. 4 April 2019. 1979 - Number one singles include Chameleon Army, Young Man (Y.M.C.A.) and Ihojin.
1980s 1980 - Number one singles include Ihojin and I'm in the Mood for Dancing 1981 - A Long Vacation 1982 - Number one singles include Matsu wa and Second Love 1983 - Number one singles include Second Love, ½ no Shinwa, Flashdance... What a Feeling, Kinku and Cat's Eye 1984 - Number one singles include Southern Wind, Amaoto wa Chopin no Shirabe, Jukkai (1984) and Kazari ja Nai no yo Namida wa 1985 - Number one singles include Meu amor é..., Akaitori Nigeta and Sand Beige (Sabaku e) 1986 - 1st broadcast of Music Station; number one singles include Desire (Jōnetsu), Gypsy Queen, Fin, Jā ne, Otto Chikan!, Osaki ni Shitsurei, Koi wa Question and Aozora no Kakera 1987 - Number one singles include No More Renai Gokko, Tango Noir, Katatsumuri Samba, Blonde, Sayonara no Kajitsutachi, Kindan no Telepathy, Nanpasen and Catch Me 1988 - Number one singles include Stranger Tonight, Al-Mauj, You're My Only Shinin' Star, Stardust Dream, Tattoo, Fu-ji-tsu, Mermaid, Mugon... Iroppoi and Witches 1989 (Shōwa 64 / Heisei 1) - Number one singles include Koi Hitoyo, Ai ga Tomaranai (Turn It Into Love), Rosécolor, Namida wo Misenaide ~Boys Don't Cry~, Liar, Arashi no Sugao, Return to Myself, Diamonds, Sekai de Ichiban Atsui Natsu, Samishii Nettaigyo, Kōsa ni Fukarete and One Night in Heaven (Mayonaka no Angel)
1990s 1990 - Debut of Rumi Shishido;宍戸留美、デビュー曲「コズミック・ランデブー」ほかソニーミュージック時代の全音源が全世界配信. CDJournal. 20 January 2021. Sherry (pseudonym of ) released OVA song "Kaze No Fantasia" (Japanese: 風のファンタジア)加藤いづみ、足跡を振り返る2枚組自選ベスト. Natalie. 4 April 2014.シングル売上TOP1作品. Oricon News. 1991 - 1st ;Wade. Composing Japanese Musical Modernity. p 164. debut of Mi-Ke1991年(平成3年)2月14日、Mi-Keのデビュー曲「想い出の九十九里浜」がリリース～"カタログ・ソング"と言われる所以とは？. News Online. Nippon Broadcasting System. 14 February 2018. 1992 - Moonlight Densetsu;「セーラームーン」「幽☆遊☆白書」...アニソンの歴史を振り返ろう！1992年,1993年編. USEN encore, from USEN. 14 June 2025. debut of ManishMANISH. CDJournal. 1993 - 1st broadcast of Count Down TV; The Boom released Shima Uta (Original Version)元THE BOOMのボーカリスト、宮沢和史さんが『島唄』の歌詞に秘めた「本当の思い」とは...？. News Online. Nippon Broadcasting System. 11 September 2021. 1994 - 1st broadcast of Hey! Hey! Hey! Music Champ; albumSEEK（Rock）. CDJournal. 1996 - 1st broadcast of Utaban; debut of dosMark Schilling. The Encyclopedia of Japanese Pop Culture. 1997. Weatherhill. 4th printing. 2004. p 103. 1997 - 1st Toru Takemitsu Composition Award 1998 - 1st broadcast of Channel A
2000s 2004 - 1st broadcast of Bokura no Ongaku; Hitomi o Tojite was annual number 1 single;年間ランキング. Oricon Style.2004年度. 年間 シングルランキング. Oricon Style. Utada Hikaru Single Collection Vol. 1 was annual number 1 album2004年度. 年間 CDアルバムランキング. Oricon Style. 2005 - 1st broadcast of J-Melo 2006 - 1st broadcast of Idoling!!!; 1st broadcast of Rock Fujiyama 2007 in Japanese music 2008 in Japanese music 2009 in Japanese music
2010s 2010 in Japanese music 2011 in Japanese music 2012 in Japanese music 2013 in Japanese music 2014 in Japanese music 2015 in Japanese music 2016 in Japanese music 2017 in Japanese music 2018 in Japanese music 2019 (Heisei 31 / Reiwa 1)
2020s 2020 in Japanese music 2021 in Japanese music 2022 in Japanese music 2023 in Japanese music 2024 in Japanese music 2025 in Japanese music 2026 in Japanese music
See also List of Oricon number-one singles List of Oricon number-one albums List of best-selling singles in Japan by year List of best-selling albums in Japan by year
References Tokyo Ongaku Gakko. Kinsei Hogaku Nempyo. Rokugatsu-Kan. Volume 1. 1912. Volume 2. 1914. Volume 3. 1927. Bonnie C Wade. "Chronology". Composing Japanese Musical Modernity. University of Chicago Press. 2014. pp p 217 to 220. 美空ひばりさんデビュー. Showa Mainichi (昭和毎日), from the Mainichi Shimbun. レコード産業界の歴史. Recording Industry Association of Japan.