MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN 2026 Grand Ceremony: Mrs. GREEN APPLE, Sakanaction, Fujii Kaze, HANA among big winners

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Excitement buzzed in the air at the TOYOTA ARENA TOKYO on 13 June as everyone anticipated which artists would receive the prestigious Ruby during the MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN 2026 Grand Ceremony. After the spectacular run of the MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN 2026 Premiere Ceremony that took place at the SGC HALL ARIAKE, it was finally time for the big leagues.

The winners

After a stunning red carpet was rolled out to welcome the nominees, the Grand Ceremony finally began. The first category of the night was the prestigious Album of the Year Award, which was clinched by none other than Fujii Kaze for his phenomenal album Prema that blends visual and sonic artistry to create an immersive record. He also won the Album of the Year Award at MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN 2025, creating a delightful streak powered by evolving artistry and addictive rhythms.

XG proved that their unique concept and outstanding vocals truly had the power to captivate listeners all over the world as their banger anthem 'Hypnotize' led them to receive the Best Global Hit from Japan Award. Switching the vibes from edgy to "Kawaii", FRUITS ZIPPER was bestowed the Best Girls Idol Culture Artist (Group / Solo) Award as they excitedly thanked their fans for making the win possible. Likewise, after a successful run at the Premiere Ceremony, M!LK found themselves on stage once again as they accepted the Best Boys Idol Culture Artist (Group / Solo) Award, sharing a group hug as they enjoyed the taste of victory, marking a milestone moment in their musical journey.

Having experienced immense success after just a year since their debut, HANA gracefully accepted their New Artist of the Year Award after they were recognised for their viral hits during the Premiere Ceremony. During their speech, they thanked CHANMINA, who had produced their self-titled album HANA. Hitsujibungaku went on to receive the Best Alternative Song Award for their track 'Voice' after earning the title of Best Alternative Artist Award during the Premiere Ceremony.

Sakanaction were truly on a roll as they won two prestigious awards for 'Kaiju', including Best Rock Song and Song of the Year. Ichiro Yamaguchi opened up on stage about the difficult period that led to the band's hiatus, sharing that he had been going through one of the darkest times in his life. He expressed his gratitude to both his fellow band members and the fans for helping him through that chapter, adding that the success of 'Kaiju' has given him renewed strength to keep moving forward and continue creating music despite the challenges he faces.

'Kaiju' not only won for its sonic appeal but also its visual richness that shone through in its music video. Director Yusuke Tanaka was awarded the Best Music Video Award, sharing his gratitude for the growing love and importance that music videos are getting.

JYP Entertainment's J.Y. Park surprised the crowd as he took to the stage to present the Best Song Asia Award. The honour ultimately went to HUNTR/X from Netflix's KPop Demon hunters for the hit track 'Golden', marking yet another major victory for the fictional idol group as their "up, up, up-lifting" music continues to dominate award ceremonies globally.

Just like that, it was finally time for the most anticipated award of the evening, the Artist of the Year Award. For the second time in a row, Mrs. GREEN APPLE emerged victorious. The trio expressed their immense gratitude, reflecting on a journey that has seen them evolve as artists and people. As they show their growth through their music, the MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN stage recognised their artistry as a landmark achievement, giving them the Artist of the Year Award once again.

Performance highlights

This year's lineup of performers covered a spectrum of genres from rock and pop to alternative and even ska, creating a showcase that reflected the diversity of Japanese music. Sakanaction opened the awards with an electrifying performance of their multi-award-winning track 'Kaiju'. Its deep emotion resonated with audiences as each riff and rhythm captured the sonic narrative of the track.

From there, the ceremony shifted into a new generation of J-pop excellence. The lyrics, “They was like where’s HANA,” echoed through the venue as HANA burst onto the stage, delivering a fiery performance that blended addictive rap verses with their commanding confidence. They showcased their alluring vocals while moving across the stage with remarkable precision and killer choreography, captivating the entire audience. As the beats reverberated through the arena, their electrifying performance further cemented their status as one of the most exciting rising acts in J-pop today.

Keeping the momentum going, Kenshi Yonezu delivered a pre-recorded performance of 'IRIS OUT', the track that earned him a clean sweep at the Premiere Ceremony. He embodied the vibrant red-and-white colours of MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN as he took to the stage, surrounded by dancers who brought the track's high-energy spirit to life. Complementing the dynamic performance were his outstanding vocals and a cheeky Chainsaw Man Shark Fiend reference that saw him ride across the red carpet on a special Toyota Shark Mobile.

Continuing the evening's celebration of powerful girl-group artistry, TWICE's sub unit MISAMO stepped onto the stage with their flirty flair as they performed 'Confetti'. They delivered top-notch vocal performances executed alongside dance moves that channelled the vintage vibes of the track. The trio showered the crowd with not only 'Confetti' but an outstanding performance that uplifted the spirits of everyone in attendance.

The ceremony then paid tribute to Yuji Ohno, as Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra performed tracks from the acclaimed anime Lupin III. The rich trumpet and saxophone melodies breathed life into the legendary soundtrack, immortalising the legacy Yuji Ohno created.

Joining the celebration was LiSA, who delivered a spectacular performance of the iconic theme song from Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, getting the crowd on their feet. Adding another surprise performance to the mix, Aina The End took the stage, serving gritty rock textures that raised the adrenaline and got fists pumping in the air.

As Mrs. GREEN APPLE took the stage, they only amplified the electric atmosphere further. With a mix of explosive energy, boundary-breaking vocals, and stunning laser-focused visuals they brought their performance from screen to stage with pyrotechnics and shimmering confetti showers reinforcing their status as the 2025 and 2026 MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN Best Artists.

Keeping the rock spirit alive, Hitsujibungaku took over next. Shredding guitar riffs and crashing drums filled the arena as they added classic rock to the myriad of genres represented throughout the MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN stage that night. Blended with the band's bold and empowering vocals, the performance stood out as one of the evening's most memorable moments.

The international flavour of the ceremony was further highlighted with the arrival of Sam Smith. His minimal and intimate stage setup spoke volumes, as he effortlessly drew in audiences with nothing but the waves of melodies intertwined with his powerful vocals. His performance of 'My Guy' brought a touch of Western musical sensibility to a room filled with some of Asia's greatest musicians.

Beyond the performance itself, Smith also expressed his appreciation for being able to take in the talent of some of Japan's greatest musical exports. He mused about slowly falling in love with Japanese music, expressing his admiration for BABYMETAL and Fujii Kaze, while praising MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN for championing music regardless of language or genre.

That admiration for Japanese artistry naturally led into one of the night's most musically rich performances. FRUITS ZIPPER turned on their sweet and demure charm, while M!LK captured their fun and vibrant personalities, decked out in bedazzled matador costumes. They served up a show-stopping set that was truly one for the books, proving exactly why they dominated the categories in which they were nominated.

By the time the ceremony reached its final stretch, Fujii Kaze served up one of the night's most musically rich performances. He took to the stage to spread the languid groove and funky beat of 'Prema'. He brought the spirit of the album to MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN 2026 as each verse reached out into the crowd, allowing audiences to feel the love that lies at the core of the record. Ascending the steps of his unique set, he delivered an unreal piano solo, while the bombastic chords and bold chorus sections breathed even more life into the music.

As the curtain fell on another spectacular edition of MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN, the ceremony once again reinforced its mission of celebrating artistry without borders. With unforgettable performances and well-deserved victories taking centre stage, MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN 2026 served as a reminder that the future of music is increasingly interconnected, diverse, and global.

The winners

Performance highlights

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