Mrs. GREEN APPLE, sakanaction and Fujii Kaze lead MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN 2026

MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN 2026 handed major honors to Mrs. GREEN APPLE, sakanaction and Fujii Kaze at its second ceremony Saturday at TOYOTA ARENA TOKYO. The event expanded its international reach with performances from artists across Asia and the West, underscoring Japan’s push to become a bigger music hub. Why it matters: - MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN is trying to establish itself as a major platform for Japanese music with growing global reach. - The 2026 ceremony broadened its international lineup, signaling Japan’s ambition to play a bigger role in the world music business. - The awards also highlighted artists and songs that are shaping Japan’s current pop, rock and crossover scene. What happened: - MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN held its second ceremony on Saturday, June 13, at TOYOTA ARENA TOKYO in Tokyo. - Mrs. GREEN APPLE won Artist of the Year for the second straight year. - Fujii Kaze won Album of the Year for his English-language debut, Prema, repeating in the category. - sakanaction won multiple awards for “Kaiju,” including Song of the Year. - HANA won New Artist of the Year. - XG won Best Global Hit from Japan for “HYPNOTIZE.” - HUNTR/X won Best Song Asia for “Golden,” the breakout track from K-Pop Demon Hunters. The details: - The ceremony featured performances by Fujii Kaze, sakanaction, Mrs. GREEN APPLE, Kenshi Yonezu, Hitsujibungaku and others. - Cup Of Joe from the Philippines and Hindia from Indonesia made their first live MAJ appearances at the Premier Ceremony earlier Saturday. - Sam Smith performed “My Guy” during the Grand Ceremony, becoming the first Western act to perform at MAJ. - MAJ said videos from the 2026 performances are available on its official YouTube channel, with more being uploaded regularly. - A full list of winners across 78 categories is available through MAJ’s official materials. Between the lines: - The second edition scaled up while keeping the festival’s art-first identity established in Kyoto a year earlier. - The awards show is positioning itself as both a domestic tentpole and a gateway for wider Asian and global visibility. - sakanaction lead singer Ichiro Yamaguchi used his acceptance speech to discuss battles with depression while making “Kaiju,” adding a personal and emotional note to the night. What’s next: - MAJ is expected to keep expanding its international programming as it builds toward becoming one of the world’s premier awards ceremonies. - More performance videos will continue to be posted to MAJ’s official YouTube channel. The bottom line: - MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN 2026 showed that the event is becoming a bigger showcase for Japan’s top artists and a more visible entry point for global acts.