Music Awards Japan 2026: Sakanaction, Kenshi Yonezu, and Mrs. GREEN APPLE Dominate Japan’s Biggest Music Night

The Music Awards Japan 2026 (MAJ 2026), Japan’s largest-scale music awards ceremony, unveiled the winners across an impressive 78 categories on June 13, celebrating the year’s biggest achievements in Japanese and international music.

The night belonged to Sakanaction, Kenshi Yonezu, and Mrs. GREEN APPLE, who emerged as the biggest winners across multiple categories, highlighting their continued influence on Japan’s music landscape.

Sakanaction Leads the Pack

Rock band Sakanaction enjoyed a historic evening, taking home several major awards. Their hit song “Kaiju (怪獣)” was crowned **Song of the Year**, while also winning **Best Rock Song**, **Best Anime Song**, and **Best Music Video**.

The band’s success extended beyond the music itself, with their “SAKANAQUARIUM 2025 Kaiju” tour earning awards for **Best Lighting** and **Best Sound**, showcasing the group’s excellence in live production.

Mrs. GREEN APPLE Named Artist of the Year

After another remarkable year, Mrs. GREEN APPLE secured the prestigious **Artist of the Year** award and was also recognized as **Best J-Pop Artist**. Their dedicated fanbase helped them claim the **Artist with Best Fan Community** award, while their “DOME TOUR 2025 BABEL no TOH” won **Best Stage Design**.

The band’s continued dominance reinforces their status as one of Japan’s most popular and influential acts.

Kenshi Yonezu’s Global Impact

Kenshi Yonezu’s “IRIS OUT” was recognized as **Best J-Pop Song** and demonstrated extraordinary international appeal by winning all four regional categories for **Best Japanese Song** in Asia, Europe, North America, and Latin America.

The achievement highlights Yonezu’s growing global reach and the increasing international popularity of Japanese music.

Major Category Winners

Among the six main awards, Sakanaction’s “Kaiju” won **Song of the Year**, while Mrs. GREEN APPLE claimed **Artist of the Year**. HANA was named **Best New Artist**, and Fujii Kaze’s album *Prema* received **Album of the Year** honors.

Internationally, XG’s “HYPNOTIZE” earned **Best Global Hit**, while South Korean act HUNTR/X won **Best Asian Song** with “Golden.”

Fujii Kaze Continues His Award-Winning Streak

Singer-songwriter Fujii Kaze added more accolades to his growing collection. His album *Prema* won **Album of the Year**, while the title track was named **Best R&B/Contemporary Song**. He also received recognition as **Best R&B/Contemporary Artist**, and his breakthrough album *HELP EVER HURT NEVER* was honored as **Best Long-Hit Album**.

International and K-Pop Winners

The international categories recognized some of the biggest global artists. Lady Gaga’s “Abracadabra” won **Best International Pop Song**, while Green Day, Tyler, The Creator, Tyla, and ROSALÍA each claimed victories in their respective genres.

BLACKPINK’s “JUMP” was awarded **Best K-Pop Song**, while BTS received the honor of **Best K-Pop Artist**. G-DRAGON’s “POWER” earned the **Special Award for Korean Popular Music**.

Anime and Soundtrack Recognition

Anime music continued to receive major recognition at MAJ 2026. Sakanaction’s “Kaiju” won **Best Anime Song**, while the soundtrack for *LAZARUS*, created by Kamasi Washington, Bonobo, and Floating Points, secured **Best Anime Soundtrack**.

Meanwhile, composer Kensuke Ushio won **Best TV Drama Soundtrack** for *Bakebake*.

Fan-Voted Winners

Public voting categories highlighted fan favorites across Japan and beyond. Number_i’s “GOD_i” was selected as **Most Loved Domestic Song**, while BTS member Jin’s “Don’t Say You Love Me” won **Most Loved International Song**.

Sakurazaka46 was recognized as the **Most Requested Artist by Fans**, demonstrating the group’s strong support from listeners.

A Celebration of Japanese Music’s Global Rise

MAJ 2026 showcased the growing global influence of Japanese artists while celebrating excellence across every aspect of the music industry, from songwriting and performance to production and live events.

With Sakanaction’s sweeping victories, Mrs. GREEN APPLE’s continued dominance, and Kenshi Yonezu’s international success, this year’s awards reflected a vibrant and increasingly global Japanese music scene.

As the Music Awards Japan continues to expand its reach, the 2026 ceremony further established itself as one of Asia’s most significant music award events.

Source: Oricon