Complete winners of the Billboard Japan Music Awards

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin

MANILA, Philippines – Japanese girl group AKB48 swept the Billboard Japan Music Awards, bagging four awards including the Artist of the Year.

AKB48 (Billboard Japan)

T-ara (Billboard Japan)

Gummy (Billboard Japan)

Performances:

The awards ceremony, held at Billboard Live Tokyo club on March 3, recognized top selling artists for 2011.

AKB48 made history by also winning the Top Pop Artist, Hot 100 of the Year and Hot 100 Single Sales of the Year, the first time in Billboard Japan Music Awards that a singer won four plums.

Besides AKB48, the other winners in the Top Pop Artist category are K-pop girl group T-ara, Korean boy band TVXQ (aka Tohoshinki in Japan), Avril Lavigne and JUJU.

The award was given to the top five artists who claimed the No. 1 spot on Billboard Japan chart in the past year.

T-ara debuted last year in Japan with the Japanese version of “Bo Peep Bo Peep,” which peaked at No. 1 on Billboard Japan Hot 100 chart. The single sold 20,068 copies on the first day of release in September.

TVXQ released TONE, their fifth Japanese studio album, in September last year. The album sold 105,484 copies on the first day of release and was later certified platinum for selling 250,000 copies.

Korean singer Gummy, an artist under YG Entertainment, won the K-pop New Artist of the Year. Gummy debuted in Japan last year.

In her video message, Avril Lavigne said, “I’m so happy that I was chosen for the Top Pop Artist at Billboard Japan Music Awards. Thank you so much guys for listening to my music over here in Japan.” TVXQ and JUJU were also unable to attend the awards ceremony.

Other winners in the Billboard Japan Music Awards are:

Jazz Artist of the Year -Uehara Hiromi

Classic Artist of the Year - Miyamoto Emiri

Animation Artist of the Year - Mizuki Nana

Independent Artist of the Year - AK-69

US Billboard Publisher’s Awards - Yuki Saori

Active Artist of the Year - BIGMAMA

New Artist of the Year - Kaoru to Tomoki, Tama ni Mook

CHART AWARDS

Billboard Japan Hot 100 of the Year 2011 – “Everyday, Katyusha” – AKB48

Billboard JAPAN Album of the Year 2011 - "SENSE" - Mr. Children

Billboard JAPAN Hot 100 Airplay of the Year 2011 - "What The Hell" - Avril Lavigne

Billboard JAPAN Adult Contemporary of the Year 2011 - "Born This Way" - Lady Gaga

Billboard JAPAN Digital and Overseas Airplay of the Year 2011 - "Born This Way" - Lady Gaga

Billboard JAPAN Hot Animation of the Year 2011 - T.W.L - Kanjani8

Billboard JAPAN Classical Albums of the Year 2011- “Kami-sama no Karete - Nobuyuki Tsuji Jisaku Shuu” - Nobuyuki Tsuji

Billboard JAPAN Jazz Albums of the Year 2011 - "Voice" - Uehara Hiromi The Trio Project feat. Anthony Jackson and Simon Phillips

Billboard JAPAN Independent of the Year 2011 - "The Red Magic" - AK-69

Billboard JAPAN Overseas Soundtrack Albums of the Year 2011 – “Binan desu ne” soundtrack

Link to my original article: http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/353334/winners-billboard-japan-music-awards