Japan Record Awards
is a major music awards show that recognizes outstanding achievements in the Japan Composer's Association in a manner similar to the American Grammy Awards, held annually in Japan. Until 2005, the show aired on New Year's Eve, but has since aired every December 30 on TBS Japan at 6:30 P.M JST and is hosted by many announcers.
EXILE holds the record for most wins, with four awards.
Grand Prix shield
The shield itself, designed by painter Seiji Togo.Categories
The Japan Record Awards include, but are not limited to, four awards which are not restricted by genre.All of the awards would be published in advance, except for the Grand Prix and Best New Artist Award, which would be announced at the ceremony.
Main categories
- New Artist Award - automatically nominates four best new artists for the ‘Best New Artist Award,’ which will select the top debuting artist from the four winners.
- Best New Artist Award - awarded to a performer who releases, during the Eligibility Year, the first recording which establishes the public identity of that artist.
- Excellent Work Award - automatically nominates ten artists and songs for the ‘Grand Prix Award,’ which will select the artist and song from the ten winners.
- Grand Prix of Japan Record Award - awarded to the performer and the production team of a single song.
Other categories
- Best Vocal Performance Award - awarded to the best singer.
- Best Album Award - awarded to the performer and the production team of a full album.
- Excellence Album Award
- Best Composer Award
- Best Arranger Award
- Best Lyricist Award
- Planning Award
- Achievement Award
- Special Award
- Lifetime Achievement Award
- Japan Composer's Association Award
List of Japan Record Award Winners
Most Wins
- Including enka and pop artists.
- "Best Composer Award", "Best Arranger Award" and "Best Lyricist Award" are counted to the corresponding recipients rather than the singers.
Most Wins in Grand Prix
Most Wins Overall
| Rank | Artist | Total awards |
| 1 | Hiroshi Itsuki | 28 |
| 2 | Kiyoshi Hikawa | 20 |
| 3 | Southern All Stars | 19 |
| 4 | Exile AKB48 | 13 |
| 5 | Kenji Sawada | 12 |
| 6 | Aki Yashiro | 11 |
| 7 | w-inds Hideki Saijo | 10 |
| 8 | Seiko Matsuda Yū Aku Kana Nishino | 9 |
| 9 | Namie Amuro | 8 |
| 10 | Kyary Pamyu Pamyu | 6 |
Venues
- 1969-1984: Imperial Garden Theater
- 1985-1993: Nippon Budokan
- 1994-2003: TBS Broadcasting Center
- 2004-: New National Theatre