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The concluding ceremony of MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN 2025 occurred at ROHM Theatre Kyoto on May 22nd, wrapping up the two-day celebration with the announcement of key awards like Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, and Album of the Year.
Artist of the Year: Mrs. GREEN APPLE
Commemorating their 10th anniversary, Mrs. GREEN APPLE was honored as Artist of the Year. The award was announced by actor Koji Yakusho, and the band’s frontman, Motoki Ohmori, accepted the accolade on stage, reflecting on their journey over the past decade:
“We’ve made it this far thanks to countless supporters. Most importantly, my bandmates, along with my true enjoyment in creating music—that’s been our greatest strength.”
Since their formation in 2013 and resuming activity as a trio in 2022, Mrs. GREEN APPLE has become successful hitmakers, with 24 tracks surpassing 100 million streams. Their consecutive victories at the Japan Record Awards in 2023 and 2024 were unprecedented.
Song of the Year: Creepy Nuts – ‘Bling-Bang-Bang-Born’
The accolade for Song of the Year was awarded to Creepy Nuts for their viral sensation ‘Bling-Bang-Bang-Born’, marking their eighth win of the event. Accepting the award from lyricist Takashi Matsumoto, R-Shitei expressed, “We are grateful to receive the top honor among a multitude of excellent songs. It’s a privilege that a creation from such humble beginnings could achieve this recognition”.
Later, Creepy Nuts secured the title of Best Japanese Hip-Hop/Rap Artist, culminating in a total of nine awards over the two days. Reflecting on the genre’s legacy, R-Shitei acknowledged its foundational roots:
“We owe our success to the pioneers who established and elevated hip-hop in Japan. Our identity today is shaped by their influence, and we will continue to be inspired by the younger generation—that’s the essence of hip-hop culture.”
Album of the Year: Fujii Kaze – ‘LOVE ALL SERVE ALL’
The Album of the Year award was given to Fujii Kaze for ‘LOVE ALL SERVE ALL’. Released in March 2022, the album features major hits including ‘Kirari’ and ‘Tabiji’. While accepting the award, Fujii expressed:
“This album was released three years ago, and I still recall the immense love I invested in its creation. I hope everyone finds unique ways to share love with the world, in whatever form it may take. I’m truly honored—thank you very much.”
Top Global Hit From Japan: YOASOBI – ‘Idol’
YOASOBI earned the award for Top Global Hit From Japan with their anime theme ‘Idol’, which held the number one position on the Billboard JAPAN Hot 100 for an impressive 21 straight weeks. On stage, vocalist ikura emphasized the song’s connection to the story of Oshi no Ko and reaffirmed the group’s creative vision:
“The song ‘Idol’ emerged from the narrative of Oshi no Ko. Our approach to storytelling through music is distinctive to YOASOBI—this recognition fills us with joy. Moving ahead, we aim to embody the playful, imaginative spirit of YOASOBI, always bringing excitement.”
Best Idol: Snow Man
The Best Idol Artist/Group Award went to boy band Snow Man. Although the group could not attend the ceremony, they shared gratitude through messages shortly after the announcement. Daisuke Sakuma posted on X, “Thank you for this wonderful award”, while Ryohei Abe shared on his Instagram Stories, “We did it!! Truly honored”, adding, “It’s all thanks to everyone who supports us~”.
The award was presented by Kyoko Koizumi, a prominent figure in Japan’s idol scene, recognizing Snow Man’s ongoing popularity and their diverse presence in music, film, and television. Since their debut in 2020 with ‘D.D.’, the group has gained a reputation for meticulous choreography and grand-scale live performances, including their first five-dome tour in 2024. Their 2023 album ‘i DO ME’ achieved over a million sales in its opening week.
The New Artist of the Year Award was claimed by singer-songwriter tuki., whose debut single ‘Bansanka’ has surpassed 400 million streams since its release in 2023. The award was presented by figure skater Mao Asada.
Spotify listeners selected Number_i’s debut track ‘GOAT’ as the Best of Listeners’ Choice: Japanese Song, from a shortlist of 30 nominees. Upon accepting the award, Yuta Kishi remarked, “We will continue to work hard so that even more unfamiliar faces can discover and enjoy our music”.
RELATED: MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN 2025 day 1 winners: Creepy Nuts sweep, Hitsujibungaku and YOASOBI among big winners
The ceremony began with the debut of RYDEEN REBOOT, a multi-artist performance centered around Yellow Magic Orchestra’s 1979 track ‘Rydeen’, selected as the official symbol of MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN 2025. The segment showcased a diverse lineup across generations, featuring Perfume, Yoshinori Sunahara, STUTS, CHANMINA, Number_i, Ichiro Yamaguchi (Sakanaction), 10-FEET, ATARASHII GAKKO!, YUKI, Yasuyuki Okamura, and a virtual appearance from Hatsune Miku. The full video can now be viewed on YouTube.
Performances: MAJ 2025 Grand Ceremony
The Grand Ceremony on May 22nd featured a curated lineup of performances that showcased the breadth of Japanese music in 2025. YOASOBI performed ‘PLAYERS’, in support of PlayStation’s 30th-anniversary campaign, ahead of the English release on May 23rd. Creepy Nuts returned to the stage with ‘Bling-Bang-Bang-Born’, reflecting their strong showing throughout both days of the event. CHANMINA delivered a four-song medley—‘Harenchi’, ‘KING’, ‘Bijin’, and ‘WORK HARD’—highlighting both her diverse repertoire and her status in Japan’s rap landscape.
Hikaru Utada presented a pre-recorded performance of ‘Electricity’, taken from last year’s ‘SCIENCE FICTION’, which premiered with Arca at Coachella. Fujii Kaze performed ‘Michiteyuku’ in an intimate piano-led rendition, aligning with his recent international tour announcements. Awich led a collaborative performance with AI, NENE, and MaRI on the remix of ‘Bad Bitch Bigaku’, along with a duet with AI on ‘Not So Different (Remix)’.
As part of their 10th anniversary celebrations, Mrs. GREEN APPLE performed ‘Darling’, while Eikichi Yazawa delivered a three-song set featuring ‘It’s Up to You!’, ‘Tomaranai Ha~Ha’, and ‘Yes My Love’, harkening back to the origins of modern Japanese rock.
Highlights from the performances are available on the MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN YouTube Shorts.
For a comprehensive list of winners from both days of MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN 2025, visit musicawardsjapan.com.
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