2008 in Japanese music

The following is an overview of the year 2008 in Japanese music. It includes notable awards, lists of number-ones, yearly best-sellers, albums released, groups established and disestablished, deaths of notable Japanese music-related people as well as any other relevant Japanese music-related events. For overviews of the year in music from other countries, see 2008 in music.

Events

 * December 31 – 29th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen

Awards

 * May 30 – 2008 MTV Video Music Awards Japan
 * December 30 – 50th Japan Record Awards

Number-ones

 * Oricon number-one albums
 * Oricon number-one singles
 * Hot 100 number-one singles

Artists
The best-selling music artist in Japan in 2008 by value of sales, including sales of records and of DVDs and Blu-rays, according to Oricon, was Exile, with ¥19.58 billion.

Albums
The following is a list of the top 10 best-selling albums in Japan in 2008, according to Oricon.

Albums released
The following section includes albums by Japanese artists released in Japan in 2008 as well as Japanese-language albums by foreign artists released in the country during this year.
 * January 1 – Guilty by Ayumi Hamasaki
 * January 23 - Night Fishing by Sakanaction
 * January 30 – Kingdom by Kumi Koda
 * January 30 – Darling by Yui Horie
 * February 13 – Award Supernova: Loves Best by M-Flo
 * February 13 – Love Is... by Sachi Tainaka
 * February 20 – Complete Single Collection '97–'08 by The Brilliant Green
 * February 27 – The Face by BoA
 * February 27 – Daiji na Mono by Idoling!!!
 * February 27 – Izayoi no Tsuki, Canaria no Koi. by Yukari Tamura
 * March 5 – World World World by Asian Kung-Fu Generation
 * March 12 – Kyokuto Symphony: The Five Stars Night @Budokan by Nightmare
 * March 12 – Namida no Kiseki by Ai Nonaka
 * March 19 – Heart Station by Hikaru Utada
 * March 26 – by Exile
 * March 26 – Shion by MUCC
 * April 2 – Hikari Nadeshiko by Eiko Shimamiya
 * April 9 – Gokutama Rock Cafe by An Cafe
 * April 9 – I Loved Yesterday by Yui
 * April 16 – Game by Perfume
 * April 23 – Dream "A" Live by Arashi
 * May 14 – Superfly by Superfly
 * June 4 – KAT-TUN III: Queen of Pirates by KAT-TUN
 * June 18 – B'z The Best "Ultra Pleasure" by B'z
 * June 23 – Hayley Sings Japanese Songs by Hayley Westenra
 * June 25 – Ā, Domo. Ohisashiburi Desu. by Greeeen
 * June 25 – Honey by Chara
 * July 9 – Panic Fancy by Orange Range
 * July 11 – Envy/Jesu by Envy and Jesu
 * July 20 – Best Fiction by Namie Amuro
 * July 23 – Hakai by Wagdug Futuristic Unity
 * July 23 – Love & Peace by Emi Tawata
 * July 30 – Best Fiction by Namie Amuro
 * September 3 – Arigatō by Hatsune Okumura
 * September 10 – 5 by Berryz Kobo
 * September 10 – A Complete: All Singles by Ayumi Hamasaki
 * September 17 – B'z The Best "Ultra Treasure" by B'z
 * September 24 – Fairy Dance: Kokia Meets Ireland by Kokia
 * November 5 – Best Destiny by Miliyah Kato
 * November 11 – Uroboros by Dir En Grey
 * November 12 – Kanjō Effect by One Ok Rock
 * November 12 – My Short Stories by Yui
 * November 19 – More! More! More! by Capsule
 * November 19 – Color by NEWS
 * November 26 – Voice by Mika Nakashima
 * December 3 – by Exile
 * December 3 – Me... by Emi Hinouchi
 * December 10 – Awake -Evoke the Urge- by Deathgaze
 * December 12 – Supermarket Fantasy by Mr. Children
 * December 17 – Kirari to Fuyu by Koharu Kusumi
 * December 17 – Love Letter by Ai Otsuka

Groups established

 * Afilia Saga
 * Dempagumi.inc
 * Girl Next Door
 * Hangry & Angry
 * Happiness
 * no3b
 * Momoiro Clover Z
 * SKE48
 * Shugo Chara Egg!
 * Watarirouka Hashiritai 7

Groups disestablished

 * Athena & Robikerottsu