1985 in Japanese music

In 1985 (Shōwa 60), Japanese music was released on records, and there were charts, awards, contests and festivals. During that year, Japan continued to have the second largest music market in the world. == Awards, contests and festivals == The 14th Tokyo Music Festival was held on 31 March 1985. The 27th Osaka International Festival (Japanese: 大阪国際フェスティバル) was held from 8 to 24 April 1985. The 29th Yamaha Popular Song Contest was held on 12 May 1985. The 30th Yamaha Popular Song Contest was held on 29 September 1985. The final of the 16th World Popular Song Festival was held on 27 October 1985. The final of the 14th FNS Music Festival was held on 17 December 1985. The 27th Japan Record Awards were held on 31 December 1985. The 36th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen was held on 31 December 1985. The 1st Tokyo Summer Festival was held in 1985. == Concerts == A Super Rock '85 concert was held. == Number one singles == The following reached number 1 on the weekly Oricon Singles Chart: == Number one albums and LPs == Music Labo The following reached number 1 on the Music Labo chart: 7 January, 14 January, 19 January, 28 January, 2 February, 11 February, 18 February and 25 February: 9.5 Carats - Yōsui Inoue 4 March and 11 March: Today's Girl - Kyoko Koizumi 18 March and 25 March: Seiko-Train - Seiko Matsuda 1 April: Kaikisen - Yutaka Ozaki 8 April: Innocent Sky - Kōji Kikkawa 15 April and 22 April: Bitter and Sweet - Akina Nakamori 29 April: Oiro Naoshi - Miyuki Nakajima 6 May and 13 May: Soundtrack of Tan Tan Tanuki 20 May, 27 May, 3 June and 10 June: We Are the World - USA for Africa 17 June, 24 June and 8 July: The 9th Wave - Seiko Matsuda 29 June: For Your Love - The Alfee 15 July, 22 July, 29 July and 5 August: Another Summer - S. Kiyotaka & Omega Tribe 12 August: Back Streets of Tokyo - Off Course 19 August: D404ME - Akina Nakamori 26 August: Sound of My Heart - Seiko Matsuda 2 September, 9 September and 16 September: Mainichi Checkers - The Checkers 23 September, 30 September, 7 October, 14 October, 21 October, 28 October, 4 November and 11 November: Kamakura - Southern All Stars 16 November: miss M. - Miyuki Nakajima 25 November and 2 December: Rebecca IV ~maybe tomorrow~ - Rebecca 9 December and 16 December: Da Di Da - Yumi Matsutoya 23 December: First Finale - S. Kiyotaka & Omega Tribe Oricon Soundtrack of Tan Tan Tanuki Rebecca IV ~maybe tomorrow~ by Rebecca == Annual charts == The Checkers' Julia Ni Heartbreak (Julia Ni Shoushin) was number 1 in the Oricon annual singles chart. == Karaoke == Hitachi introduced new karaoke machines. == Music industry == Fewer tapes and disks were produced in January 1985, than were produced in January 1984. == Film and television == The music of Sorekara and Tomo Yo, Shizuka Ni Nemure, by Shigeru Umebayashi, won the 40th Mainichi Film Award for Best Music. The music of Shokutaku No Nai Ie, Fire Festival and Ran (1985), by Tōru Takemitsu won the 9th Japan Academy Film Prize for Best Music (awarded in 1986). The music of Night on the Galactic Railroad is by Haruomi Hosono, and includes the theme song by Kaori Nakahara (Japanese: 中原香織). The music of the first Sukeban Deka television series includes the song Shiroi Honō by Yuki Saito. == Video == 43% of LaserVision disk releases were music, and the most popular included "Off Course Budokan Concert". == Composers and lyricists == The highest selling composers were Kyōhei Tsutsumi, Hiroaki Serizawa and Tetsuji Hayashi. The highest selling lyricists were Masao Urino and Takashi Matsumoto. == Overseas == The album Thunder in the East by Loudness reached number 74 on the Billboard 200. == Debuts == Miho Morikawa == Other singles released == Mukokuseki Romance, Koishite Caribbean, Kokoro no Mama ni (I'm Just a Lady) and Dancing Hero (Eat You Up) by Yōko Oginome Blue Revolution by Mari Hamada Futari no Natsu Monogatari by S. Kiyotaka & Omega Tribe Plastic Love by Mariya Takeuchi Sotsugyō, Hatsukoi and Jōnetsu by Yuki Saito Sailor Fuku o Nugasanai de and Oyoshi ni Natte ne Teacher by Onyanko Club C, Namaiki and Be-Bop High School by Miho Nakayama 7 August: Mizu no Hoshi e Ai wo Komete by Hiroko Moriguchi == Other albums released == Freesia no Ame, Kaigara Terrace and The Best by Yōko Oginome Esperanto by Ryuichi Sakamoto Coincidental Music by Haruomi Hosono Rainbow Dream, Magical Mystery "Mari" and Blue Revolution by Mari Hamada Halle and Casiopea Live by Casiopea Karkador by P-Model Odin by Loudness R.E.S.O.R.T. by T-Square Sonoko by Sonoko Kawai Mizu no Hoshi e Ai wo Komete by Hiroko Moriguchi Axia by Yuki Saito Kick Off by Onyanko Club C and After School by Miho Nakayama Masquerade Show by Show-Ya Traumatic Kyokutotanteyidan by Masayoshi Takanaka == Deaths == 12 August: Kyu Sakamoto was killed in the crash of Japan Air Lines Flight 123 == See also == Timeline of Japanese music 1985 in Japan 1985 in music w:ja:1985年の音楽 == References == Ongaku Nenkan Showa 60-nen Ban (Japanese: 音楽年鑑 昭和 60 年版). Ongaku No Tomo Sha. "Spotlight on Japan". Billboard. 11 May 1985. pp J-1 to J-9. J-POPの歴史「1984年と1985年、ニューミュージックから新世代へ」. Rolling Stone Japan. 19 December 2019. Oricon Weekly magazine (オリコンウィークリー) コンフィデンス magazine, from Oricon. ["Confidence Weekly"]. Music Labo magazine ミュージック・リサーチ Music Research magazine シンプジャーナル magazine 1985 オリコン年鑑 Oricon Annual Report. 1986 オリコン年鑑 Oricon Annual Report Oricon No.1 Hits 500. Clubhouse (Japanese: クラブハウス). 1998. ISBN 9784906496129. vol 1 (1968~1985). 「おニャン子クラブがヒットチャート席巻　「新田恵利派」か「国生さゆり派」か　後期には工藤静香も人気を集める. zakII. 15 January 2025. 「シティーハンター」「ドラゴンボール」...アニソンの歴史を振り返ろう！1985年～1989年編. USEN encore, from USEN. 10 May 2025.