The Japan Culture and Entertainment Industry Promotion Association (CEIPA) revealed the first round of winners at the Premiere Ceremony of the inaugural Music Awards Japan on Wednesday, honoring top musical talent from Japan and across Asia.
Leading the pack was YOASOBI, whose hit “Idol”—the theme song for the anime Oshi no Ko—took home Best Anime Song and Best Music Video.
Meanwhile, Creepy Nuts scored big with “Bling-Bang-Bang-Born” from Mashle: Magic and Muscles Season 2, winning an impressive seven awards, including:
- Top Japanese Song in Europe
- Top Japanese Song in North America
- Top Japanese Song in Latin America
- Best Viral Song
- Best Japanese Hip-Hop/Rap Song
- Best Japanese Dance Pop Song
- Best Japanese Song
“Bling-Bang-Bang-Born” was also nominated for Best Anime Song, alongside “Lilac” by Mrs. Green Apple (from Oblivion Battery) and “Dai Zero Kan” by 10-FEET (from The First Slam Dunk).
Other Notable Winners:
- Best Japanese Song Artist: Mrs. Green Apple
- Best J-Rock Artist: King Gnu
- Best J-Rock Song: “SPECIALZ” by King Gnu
- Best Japanese Dance Pop Artist: Atarashii Gakkō!
- Best Dance Performance: “Otona Blue” by Atarashii Gakkō!
- Best Japanese R&B/Contemporary Artist: Hikaru Utada
- Best Japanese R&B/Contemporary Song: “Automatic” by Hikaru Utada
- Best Japanese Alternative Artist: hitsujibungaku
- Best Japanese Alternative Song: “more than words” by hitsujibungaku
- Best Japanese Singer-Songwriter: Kaze Fujii
- Best Japanese Singer-Songwriter Song: “Kaiju no Hanauta” by Vaundy
- Best K-pop Song in Japan: “Ditto” by NewJeans
- Best Cross-Border Collaboration Song: “Feelin’ Go(o)d” by Kaze Fujii and A.G. Cook
- Best Instrumental Song: “aruarian dance” by Nujabes (posthumous)
- Best Vocaloid Culture Song: “Senbonzakura” by Kurousa P
- Best Classical Album: Opus by Ryuichi Sakamoto (posthumous)
- Best Radio-Break Song: “Love is more Mellow” by Rikon Densetsu
- Largest Live Audience Award: WEST.
- Best Idol Culture Song: “Watashi no Ichiban Kawaii Tokoro” by FRUITS ZIPPER
- Top Japanese Song in Asia: “Lemon” by Kenshi Yonezu
Upcoming Grand Ceremony
The Music Awards Japan Grand Ceremony will be held on Thursday, where the winners of major 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—will be revealed. The event will stream globally on YouTube (with a 30-minute delay) and broadcast live on NHK.
With over 60 award categories, including honors for anime, Vocaloid, and idol culture, the Music Awards Japan aims to celebrate excellence in Japanese music and its growing influence across Asia.
Selections were made through a data-driven nomination process, using metrics from Billboard Japan, Oricon, GfK/NIQ Japan, Luminate, and more. Final winners were chosen by over 5,000 music industry professionals from Japan and abroad.
CEIPA, the organizing body, represents a coalition of five major music industry organizations in Japan.
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