"MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN 2026" Announcing the Best Works/Artists in All 78 Categories
We are pleased to announce that the winners of the "MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN 2026" (MAJ), Japan's largest international music awards, were announced at the awards ceremony heHld on Saturday, June 13th, 2026.
Major 6 Categories
<Best Song Award> Kaiju / Sakanaction
<Best Artist Award> Mrs. GREEN APPLE
<Best New Artist Award> HANA
<Best Album Award> Prema / Fujii Kaze
<Best Global Hit from Japan> HYPNOTIZE / XG
<Best Asian Song Award> [South Korea] Golden / HUNTR/Xxx
<Best J-POP Song Award> IRIS OUT / Yonezu Genshi
<Best Rock Song Award> Kaiju / Sakanaction
<Best Hip Hop/Rap Song Award> doppelgänger / Creepy Nuts
<Best R&B/Contemporary Song Award> Prema / Fujii Kaze
<Best Alternative Song Award> Koe / Bungaku
<Best Dance & Vocal Song Award (Group/Solo)> Blue Jeans / HANA
<Best Boys Idol Culture Song Award (Group/Solo)> Suki Sugite Metsu! / M!LK
<Best Girls Idol Culture Song Award (Group/Solo)> Tokubechu, Shite / =LOVE
<Best Enka/Kayokyoku Song Award> Bokura no Kuchibue / SHOW-WA & MATSURI
<Best Instrumental Song Award> Kami-sama no Melody / Kan Sano
<Best Dance/Electronic Song Award in association with JDDA> GALA / XG
<Best Anime Song Award> Kaiju / Sakanaction
<Best Vocaloid Culture Song Award> Suji no Ju / r-906
<Best Cross-Border Collaboration Song Award> 2 (feat. Lee Youngji) / Hoshino Gen / Lee Youngji
<Best Viral Song Award> Sukisugite Metsu! / M!LK
<Best Revival Song Award> Ikenai Taiyou / ORANGE RANGE
<Best Long-Running Hit Song Award> Kaijuu no Hanauta / Vaundy
<Best Japanese Song in Asia> IRIS OUT / Yonezu Genshi
<Best Japanese Song in Europe> IRIS OUT / Yonezu Genshi
<Best Japanese Song in North America> IRIS OUT / Yonezu Genshi
<Best Japanese Song in Latin America> IRIS OUT / Yonezu Genshi
International Song Category
<Best International Pop Song Award> Abracadabra / Lady Gaga
<Best International Rock Song> Smash It Like Belushi / Green Day
<Best International Hip Hop/Rap Song> Stop Playing With Me / Tyler, The Creator
<Best International R&B/Contemporary Song> CHANEL / Tyla
<Best International Alternative Song> Reliquia / ROSALÍA
<Best K-POP Song> JUMP / BLACKPINK
<Korean Popular Music Special Award> POWER / G-DRAGON
<Thai Popular Music Special Award> My Heart Follows You / YOUNGOHM
<Indonesian Popular Music Special Award> everything u are / Hindia
<Vietnamese Popular Music Special Award> Bắc Bling / Hòa Minzy
<Philippine Popular Music Special Award> Multo / Cup of Joe
Artist Categories
<Best J-POP Artist Award> Mrs. GREEN APPLE
<Best Rock Band/Solo Artist Award> Sakanaction
<Best Hip Hop/Rap Artist Award> Creepy Nuts
<Best R&B/Contemporary Artist Award> Fujii Kaze
<Best Alternative Artist Award> Bunbun Gaku
<Best Dance & Vocal Artist Award (Group/Solo)> HANA
<Best Boys Idol Culture Artist Award (Group/Solo)> M!LK
<Best Girls Idol Culture Artist Award (Group/Solo)> FRUITS ZIPPER
<Best Digital Culture Artist Award> Hachi
<Best K-POP Artist Award> BTS
<Best DJ Award in association with JDDA> UK1MAT$U
Special Artist Category
<MAJ Timeless Echo> Tatsuro Yamashita
<Enka/Kayokyoku Special Achievement Award> Saburo Kitajima
Album Category
<Best Long-Running Hit Album Award> HELP EVER HURT NEVER / Fujii Kaze
<Best Jazz Album Award> OUT THERE / Hiromi Uehara Hiromi's Sonicwonder
<Best Classical Album Award> Joe Hisaishi Conducts / Hisashi Yuzuru
<Best Soundtrack Album Award> National Treasure Original Soundtrack / Hara Marihiko
Live Category
<Largest Live Audience Award (Domestic)> Snow Man
<Largest Live Audience Award (Overseas)> Ado
Live Staff Category
<Best Live Art and Set Design Staff Award in association with the Japan Federation of Stage Technical Staff Organizations> Mrs. GREEN APPLE "DOME TOUR 2025 "BABEL no TOH"" / PMGA / Nippon Stage Co., Ltd. Rihiro Minowa, Hiroki Yasui
<Best Live Lighting Staff Award in association with the Japan Federation of Stage Technical Staff Organizations> Sakanaction "SAKANAQUARIUM 2025 "Kaiju"" / Akari Center Co., Ltd. Yusuke Honda
<Best Live Sound Staff Award in association with the Japan Federation of Stage Technical Staff Organizations> Sakanaction "SAKANAQUARIUM 2025 "Kaiju"" / Acoustic Co., Ltd. Yukio Sasaki, Yoshiki Yagi, Hiroyuki Kasai
<Live Staff Meritorious Service Award in association with the Japan Federation of Stage Technical Staff Organizations> Stage Manager: Il Kan Koji
Creator Category
<Best Music Video Award> Sakanaction "Kaiju" / MV Director: Yusuke Tanaka
<Best Film Score Award (Movie)> "National Treasure" / Marihiko Hara
<Best Film Score Award (Drama)> NHK Serial TV Drama "Bakebake" / Kensuke Ushio
<Best Film Score Award (Anime)> Original Anime "LAZARUS" / Kamasi Washington/Bonobo/Floating Points
<Best Artwork Award in association with Japan Graphic Design Association> Sakanaction "Kaiju" / Naomi Hirabayashi / Martin Holtkamp
<Grand Prix Engineer Award in association with PMRAJ> "TFL" from "acclimation" by jjean / Musashi Maruyama (Mixing & Mastering Engineer)
<Student Creator Encouragement Award in association with Kyoto University of the Arts> anna's cradle / brooks
Public Vote Category
<Best of Listeners' Choice: Domestic Songs powered by Spotify> GOD_i / Number_i
<Best of Listeners' Choice: International Songs powered by Spotify> Don't Say You Love Me / Jin
Analog Record Category
<Best Analog Record Sales Special Award> SONGS / SUGAR BABE
Co-creation Category
<Karaoke Special Award: Karaoke of the Year: J-POP powered by DAM & JOYSOUND> I Love You So Much I Could Die! / M!LK
<Karaoke Special Award: Karaoke of the Year: Enka/Kayokyoku powered by DAM & JOYSOUND> Osaka Koi Shizuku / Mizumori Kaori
<Request Special Award: Oshikatsu Request Artist of the Year powered by USEN> Sakurazaka46
<Creator Special Award: Song of the Year for Creators presented by JASRAC> Omori Motoki
<Radio Special Award: Radio Rising Artist of the Year> Rol3ert
<Fandom Special Award: Best Fandom Artist powered by LINE MUSIC & Yahoo! Search> Mrs. GREEN APPLE
<Family Song Special Award: Best Songs Chosen by Families 2025 powered by Family Album Mitene> Suki Sugite Metsu! / M!LK
"MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN 2026" Overview
"MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN 2026" (MAJ) is Japan's largest international music award, based on the concept of "Connecting with the world and illuminating the future of music." It aims to disseminate Japanese and other Asian music to the world, making Japanese music a culture that can be proudly presented globally, while also promoting the entry of overseas artists into the Japanese market. In 2025, five major organizations in the Japanese music industry (Japan Record Association, Japan Music Enterprises Association, Japan Music Producers Federation, Japan Music Publishers Association, and Japan Concert Promoters Association) transcended their boundaries and established this award as an opportunity to collaborate with the global music industry and pioneer the future of music.
At MAJ, the best works/artists in all 78 categories, including the 6 major categories, were determined by votes from 5,000 music industry professionals, including artists (excluding some categories). This year, the second annual awards ceremony was held on June 13th,2026 at various venues including TOYOTA ARENA TOKYO. The Grand Ceremony, which honored the major categories, was broadcasted live on NHK, the red carpet event held prior to the Grand Ceremony was broadcasted on NHK BS, and the Premiere Ceremony, which honored categories other than the major ones and was held at SGC Hall Ariake (Tokyo Dream Park), was broadcasted on TOKYO MX.
The Premiere Ceremony and Grand Ceremony were also streamed worldwide on YouTube (excluding some regions), a global project partner, and live on NTT Docomo's video streaming service Lemino, ABEMA, and radiko, which are also services of a gold partner. Furthermore, we also distribute short-form content on social media platforms such as Spotify, TikTok, X, and YouTube.
MAJ has established a total of 78 categories to celebrate diverse music cultures. The six main categories are "Best Song," "Best Artist," "Best New Artist," "Best Album," "Best Global Hit from Japan," and "Best Asian Song." Through MAJ, we aim to introduce Japanese and Asian music to the world.
MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN 2026 Event Overview
■ Date and Time: Saturday, June 13, 2026
■ Event Week: Friday, June 5 - Saturday, June 13, 2026
■ Venue: TOYOTA ARENA TOKYO and others
● Cooperation: Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Agency for Cultural Affairs, Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), Agency for Cultural Affairs, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
● Support: Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Koto Ward, Shibuya Ward, Japan Foundation, Tokyo Waterfront City Development Council
Official Website: https://www.musicawardsjapan.com/
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