Kyoto šC Under a wash of blue stage lights inside Kyoto¡¯s Rohm Theatre, Haruomi Hosono stood alone. A founding member of influential techno-pop group Yellow Magic Orchestra, he addressed an attentive audience on the closing night of the inaugural Music Awards Japan ¡ª not just as a musician in his own right, but on behalf of his late YMO bandmates, Ryuichi Sakamoto and Yukihiro Takahashi, and artists across the country.

¡°There are two people who couldn¡¯t make it here today. It¡¯s because of their talent that I¡¯m able to stand here,¡± said Hosono, adding that he ¡°felt very honored¡± the pioneering YMO has been chosen as a kind of ¡°symbol¡± to represent that best Japanese music has to offer. Reflecting on the influence of his artistic peers, he expanded on the thing that drives artists to create. ¡°It¡¯s the passion we have for music, our love for it. We tried to come up with something unique to Japan.¡±

It was a moment steeped in reverence amid a week of celebration as Japan¡¯s ¡°answer to the Grammys¡± took place in the old capital on May 21 and 22. The Music Awards Japan (MAJ), which also included a YMO tribute concert a day before the ceremonies began, sought to strike a balance between past and present, domestic stardom and international reach.

¡°This awards ceremony is a source of encouragement for (musicians),¡± Hosono continued. ¡°There are many musicians who haven¡¯t made it here yet, but I hope they¡¯ll continue to mature beyond the boundaries of the entertainment industry. That¡¯s what I¡¯m most looking forward to. I truly believe that support from the industry is essential.¡±

Spearheaded by the Japan Culture and Entertainment Industry Promotion Association, a coalition of five major music associations, MAJ brought together around 5,000 musicians, producers and industry experts to recognize achievements in 62 categories. The two ceremonies where the awards were presented ¡ª red glass statuettes dubbed ¡°Rubies¡± ¡ª were broadcast live on NHK and streamed online where they were accompanied by curated playlists, signaling the organizers¡¯ intent to not just reward Japanese music but to export it.

The launch of MAJ coincides with growing overseas interest in Japanese music thanks to viral hits driven by social media, anime tie-ins, and domestic labels and agencies embracing the internet as a way to reach international listeners. J-pop acts are literally making moves abroad, too. Last year saw a record number of groups ¡ª including Yoasobi, Awich, Atarashii Gakko! and Number_i ¡ª take the stage at Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in California in April, while singer Ado and idol outfits XG and Travis Japan embarked on world tours. This year also sees singer-songwriters Kenshi Yonezu and Kaze Fujii...