The year 2017 in

Japanese music In Japan, music includes a wide array of distinct genres, both traditional and modern. The word for "music" in Japanese is 音楽 (''ongaku''), combining the kanji 音 ''on'' (sound) with the kanji 楽 ''gaku'' (music, comfort). Japan is the world ...

Events

68th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen The was the 68th edition of annual NHK's Kōhaku Uta Gassen, held on December 31, 2017, live from NHK Hall (Tokyo, Japan). It was broadcast in Japan through NHK General Television (TV) and NHK Radio 1 (Radio), and worldwide through NHK World Prem ...

Number-ones

* Oricon number-one albums * Oricon number-one singles * Hot 100 number-one singles

Awards

59th Japan Record Awards The 59th Japan Record Awards was held on 30 December 2017. The Tokyo Broadcasting System Television network televised the show live from the New National Theatre Tokyo in Tokyo. Radio broadcast was through TBS Radio. The broadcast ran from 18:30 ( ...

* 2017 MTV Video Music Awards Japan

Albums released

January

February

March

April

May

June

August

September

October

November

December

Debuting

Debuting groups

=Love =Love (イコールラブ ''Ikōrurabu,'' pronounced "equal love", stylized as =LOVE) is a Japanese idol group composed of voice actors from the Yoyogi Animation Academy. The twelve-person group is produced by former AKB48 and HKT48 member Rin ...

* 100% * 22/7 *

Atarashii Gakko! Atarashii Gakko! (stylized in all caps), known in Japan as Atarashii Gakkou no Leaders (Japanese: 新しい学校のリーダーズ; lit.: New School Leaders), is a Japanese girl group formed in 2015. The group is affiliated with ASOBISYSTEM. At ...

* Blackpink * Brats *

Cellchrome Cellchrome was a Japanese rock band under the Being label. History In 2015, the band was formed in Nagoya. In 2016, during their first anniversary of formation, they held a one-man live in music festival ''Nagoya Electric LadyLand Fits All''. ...

Chō Tokimeki Sendenbu is a Japanese Japanese idol, idol girl group, belonging to Section 3 of the talent agency Stardust Promotion, and its abbreviation is "Tokisen (とき宣)". Along with , and other idol groups in Stardust Promotion, they are part of a section in ...

* CY8ER *

Cynhn Cynhn (stylized in all caps as CYNHN (СУИНИ, スウィーニー)) is a Japanese idol girl group A girl group is a music act featuring several female singers who generally harmonize together. The term "girl group" is also used in a narrower ...

Dimlim DIMLIM was a Japanese visual kei rock band established in 2017, currently on the label DUM LABEL with the members Sho, Retsu and Hiroshi. Career Formation, VARIOUS and CHEDOARA (2017–2018) The band was formed in April 2017 by Ryuya, forme ...

* Exo-CBX * Faky * Last Idol *

Leetspeak Monsters Leetspeak Monsters (stylized as ''Leetspeak monsters'') is a Japanese visual kei rock band whose songs and appearance are centered around Halloween and dark fantasy themes. The band members perform as characters from the fictional city of "Gravet ...

* Lovebites *

Mellow Mellow Mellow Mellow is a Japanese idol girl group A girl group is a music act featuring several female singers who generally harmonize together. The term "girl group" is also used in a narrower sense in the United States to denote the wave of America ...

* Migma Shelter * Monsta X * NCT 127 *

NGT48 NGT48 (read "N.G.T. Forty-eight") is a Japanese girl group produced by Yasushi Akimoto. NGT48 is named after Niigata City of Niigata Prefecture, where the group is based. The group performs at the NGT48 Theater which is located in the fourth fl ...

Novelbright is a five-member Japanese rock band formed in 2013 and mainly active in Osaka. the band currently consists of vocalist Yudai Takenaka, guitarists Kaito Yamada and Sôjirô Oki, drummer Negi and bassist Keigo. History 2013–2016: Formatio ...

Pentagon In geometry, a pentagon (from the Greek πέντε ''pente'' meaning ''five'' and γωνία ''gonia'' meaning ''angle'') is any five-sided polygon or 5-gon. The sum of the internal angles in a simple pentagon is 540°. A pentagon may be simpl ...

* Pink Babies *

Pink Cres. was a Japanese girl group formed by Up-Front Create in 2016. The group consisted of three members: Miyabi Natsuyaki, Hikaru Kobayashi, and Yūka Nihei. History Miyabi Natsuyaki was a member of the Japanese idol girl group Berryz Kobo since 2 ...

Polkadot Stingray is a Japanese rock band from Fukuoka, Japan signed under Universal Sigma. The band's members consist of Shizuku (guitar and vocals), Harushi Ejima (guitar), Yuki Uemura (bass), and Kazuma Mitsuyasu (drums). History 2014–2016: Indies era, ...

Qyoto Qyoto is a Japanese pop band under the Ariola Japan label. The band name comes from spelling Kyoto. Their main producer is Daiko Nagato from recording company Being Inc. History The first formation of band started in 2016 with the vocalist Yuuk ...

SF9 SF9 ( ko, 에스에프나인 ; shortened from Sensational Feeling 9) is a South Korean boy band formed by FNC Entertainment and the company's first dance boy group. Consisting of nine members, the group debuted on October 5, 2016 with the relea ...

The Rampage from Exile Tribe The Rampage from Exile Tribe (Japanese: ザ・ランページ・フロム・エグザイル・トライブ, stylized as THE RAMPAGE from EXILE TRIBE and also known as The Rampage), is a J-pop vocal and dance group formed and managed by talent age ...

* Roselia * SudannaYuzuYully *

TRCNG TRCNG (Hangul: 티알씨엔지; an acronym for Teen Rising Champion in a New Generation) was a South Korean boy band formed by TS Entertainment in 2017. They debuted with the EP ''New Generation'' on October 10, 2017. Originally a ten-piece gr ...

* Twice * Up10tion *

Winner Winner(s) or The Winner(s) may refer to: * Champion, the victor in a game or contest *The successful social class in winner and loser culture Film * ''The Winner'' (1926 film), an American silent film starring Billy Sullivan * ''The Winner'' ...

Yorushika is a Japanese rock duo founded in 2017 represented by Universal Music Japan. The group is composed of N-buna, a vocaloid music producer, and Suis, a female vocalist. They are known for their juxtaposition of "passionate" and "upbeat" production ...

Debuting soloists

* Adieu *

Asca ''Asca'' is a genus of mites with worldwide distribution in the family Ascidae Ascidae is a family of mites in the order Mesostigmata. Description Ascidae are mites characterised by: seta ''st4'' usually on unsclerotised cuticle, peritrem ...

* Beverly *

Haru Nemuri , known by her stage name , is a Japanese singer, songwriter, and "poetry rapper". Her musical style mixes influences from J-pop, rap, post-hardcore, experimental pop, art rock, and electronica. She is currently based in Tokyo. Life and career K ...

Hiroomi Tosaka is a Japanese singer and actor. He is a vocalist of the J-pop group, Sandaime J Soul Brothers He joined the group after winning the ''Vocal Battle Audition 2'' alongside Ryuji Imaichi. As a member of Sandaime J Soul Brothers, he has received the ...

Junna Junna Sakai (境純菜 ''Sakai Junna,'' born November 2, 2000), better known by her stage name JUNNA (じゅんな), is a Japanese singer managed by Cube Inc. and signed to FlyingDog. Career JUNNA made her singing career debut as the singin ...

Keina Suda is a Japanese musician and singer-songwriter. He belongs to the label Unborde, a sublabel of Warner Music Japan. Before 2017 he made music using Vocaloid and other related software under the name . Life and career Keina Suda started playing ...

* Masaki Suda *

Nao Tōyama is a Japanese voice actress and singer affiliated with the agency Intention. Before joining Intention, she was affiliated with Arts Vision. She debuted as a voice actress in 2010, and played her first leading role as Kanon Nakagawa in ''The Worl ...

* Rena Nōnen * Sayuri * Shiina Natsukawa *

Shuta Sueyoshi is a Japanese singer, actor and dancer who is a member of the group AAA. Discography Albums Singles Guest appearances Filmography TV series Theater plays Miscellaneous References External links Official AAA pro ...

* Sōma Saitō * Taecyeon * Tao Tsuchiya

Artists resuming activities

Chemistry Chemistry is the science, scientific study of the properties and behavior of matter. It is a natural science that covers the Chemical element, elements that make up matter to the chemical compound, compounds made of atoms, molecules and ions ...

* Megumi Nakajima *

Makidai Makidai (stylized as MAKIDAI; born 27 October 1975, in Sakae-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture) is a Japanese dancer, DJ, actor and television presenter. He is a former performer of Exile and member of PKCZ. He is a former member of the first gener ...

Gesu no Kiwami Otome is a Japanese band that formed in 2012 by indigo la End front-man Enon Kawatani. Describing themselves as "hip-hop/progressive", the band debuted in 2013 with independent label Space Shower Records, later signed by Warner sub-label Unborde. In 2 ...

* Indigo la End * Aoi Yūki

Artists on hiatus

Ikimono-gakari The romanization of the group's name does not have the hyphen according to Sony's websites for their albums. is a Japanese pop rock musical duo, duo from Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan consisting of Yoshiki Mizuno and Kiyoe Yoshioka. The group starte ...

Tsubaki Tsubaki (つばき or ツバキ) may refer to: People * , Japanese snowboarder * , the pen name used by a member of the all-female manga-creating team Clamp *Andrew T. Tsubaki (1931-2009), Japanese theatre scholar *, Japanese speed skater * , a ...

* YuiKaori * Ami Wajima *

Tsuki Amano , formerly , is a Japanese singer, famous for singing the ending themes used in the ''Fatal Frame'' series: "Chō is a Japanese actor and narrator from Kōnosu, Saitama. His former stage name was . He is a graduate of the Nishogakusha Unive ...

Pour Lui is a Japanese singer known for her work as the founder and leader of the alternative idol group Bis. Pour Lui started her career in November 2009 as a solo singer, being promoted as a "new age rock icon". She released her debut album, ''The Wo ...

Tackey & Tsubasa were a Japanese idol duo consisting of Hideaki Takizawa and Tsubasa Imai from the Japanese talent agency Johnny & Associates. Takizawa, nicknamed "Tackey" (sometimes spelled as its literal romanization, ), is best known for his drama works, and T ...

Sphere A sphere () is a Geometry, geometrical object that is a solid geometry, three-dimensional analogue to a two-dimensional circle. A sphere is the Locus (mathematics), set of points that are all at the same distance from a given point in three ...

* Vamps * Flumpool * Cyntia * Mejibray

Retiring artists

Nanami Hashimoto is a former Japanese model, actress, radio personality and idol singer who was a member of the Japanese idol girl group Nogizaka46. Career Hashimoto passed the first generation auditions for Nogizaka46 in August 2011. Her audition song was U ...

Sayaka Shionoya is a former female singer. She was represented with LDH. Her label was King Records. Biography Shionoya was born in Moji-ku, Kitakyūshū, Fukuoka Prefecture. In 2011, she participated in the Performing Arts Office LDH sponsored ''Exile Pres ...

Momoko Tsugunaga is a former Japanese singer, actress, and radio personality. Tsugunaga joined Hello! Project as a member of Hello! Project Kids at the age of 10 and later became part of the girl groups Berryz Kobo and Buono! Following Berryz Kobo's hiatus, sh ...

Ray Ray may refer to: Fish * Ray (fish), any cartilaginous fish of the superorder Batoidea * Ray (fish fin anatomy), a bony or horny spine on a fin Science and mathematics * Ray (geometry), half of a line proceeding from an initial point * Ray (g ...

Himeka Nakamoto is a Japanese mental health counselor, radio personality, author, and former idol. She was a first-generation member of the idol group Nogizaka46. Career In 2006, Nakamoto enrolled in Actor's School Hiroshima as part of the sixteenth batch, ...

Mai Endo is a Japanese idol, singer and talent from Tokyo. She was a member and former leader of the Japanese idol group Idoling!!!.Haruka Shimada is a Japanese businessperson and former singer and actress. She is a former member of AKB48, and has founded two companies aiming to provide second career options for aspiring and active entertainers. Biography Shimada joined AKB48 in 2009. D ...

* Shuuka Fujii

Disbanding artists

Doll Elements Doll Elements is a Japanese female idol group. It was formed as a unit consisting of 3rd generation trainees of the group Lovely Doll. On July 3, 2013, Doll Elements debuted on the major label Dreamusic with their single "Kimi no Heart ni Toki H ...

Especia Especia were a Japanese idol girl group formed in 2012. They participated in the 2015 Tokyo Idol Festival. Their single "Aviator/Boogie Aroma" reached the 28th place on the Weekly Oricon Singles Chart The Oricon Singles Chart is the Japanese musi ...

* Prizmmy * Rev. from DVL * White Ash *

C-ute , was a Japanese girl group associated with Hello! Project and produced by Tsunku. Cute consisted of Maimi Yajima, Saki Nakajima, Airi Suzuki, Chisato Okai, and Mai Hagiwara, who were all members of Hello! Project Kids prior to the group's forma ...

Mimi Meme Mimi is a music unit from Japan consists of Yuki Takao (vocals, lyricist) and Chamōi (illustrator). The unit debuted with song titled "Sentimental Love", a theme song for ''A Town Where You Live''. The girls call themselves a "next generation audio ...

* Plenty * Reol * Megamasso *

Hilcrhyme is a Japanese two member hip-hop group. The band's name is a pun on the Japanese pronunciation of hillclimb and the word rhyme. They are best known for their 2009 hit song "Shunkashūtō", which has been certified for 1,000,000 cellphone digital ...

Musubizm was a Japanese female idol group and fashion model. They were managed by ASOBISYSTEM which is known for also managing Kyary Pamyu Pamyu. About Musubizum was formed on December 19, 2014 by six members (Misa Kimura, Uni Wada, Eru Shiina, Nami Y ...

* Cibo Matto * Sug *

High4 High4 (hangul: 하이포; stylized as HIGH4) was a South Korean boy band under the management of N.A.P Entertainment. The group consisted of members Alex, Myunghan, and Youngjun. They officially debuted into the Korean entertainment industry on ...

Wonder Girls Wonder Girls () was a South Korean girl group formed by JYP Entertainment. The group debuted in February 2007 with the single "Irony" and 5 members: Yeeun, Sunye, Sunmi, Hyuna and Sohee. After Hyuna's departure in July, Yubin was added into th ...

Deaths

* February 8 –

Rina Matsuno was a Japanese singer, model, actress and ''tarento'' who was a member of the idol group Shiritsu Ebisu Chugaku. Career Matsuno was scouted into the entertainment industry in Tokyo in the Omotesandō Avenue when she was in the first grade of e ...

, 18, idol singer and model, heart arrhythmia * February 25 – Toshio Nakanishi, 61, musician and producer, esophageal cancer * March 1 – Hiroshi Kamayatsu, 78, singer and guitarist, pancreatic cancer * April 12 –

Peggy Hayama born was a Japanese singer. Born Shigeko Kotakari in Yotsuya, Hayama attended Aoyama Gakuin Senior High School, where she was discovered while singing jazz. She debuted at the age of 18 in 1952, and two years later entered the Kohaku Uta Gass ...

, 83, singer, pneumonia * July 8 – Seiji Yokoyama, 82, composer, pneumonia * December 2 –

Norihiko Hashida was a Japanese singer-songwriter. His real name in kanji was , but he used the hiragana rendering of his name as his stage name. Hashida was a Kyoto native and attended Doshisha University. He was invited to join The Folk Crusaders in 1967 and ...

, 72, folk singer-songwriter, parkinson's disease

References

{{Music of Japan