Sir Lucian Grainge, the Chairman and CEO of Universal Music Group (UMG), has returned to Tokyo to celebrate Japan's creative talent and attend the second annual Music Awards Japan. This event, organized by the Culture and Entertainment Industry Promotion Association (CEIPA), showcases the country's musical prowess and the growing opportunity for Japanese artists to reach new audiences worldwide.
During his visit, Grainge met with artists, songwriters, entrepreneurs, and policymakers, including Ryosei Akazawa, Japan's Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry. Akazawa highlighted the strong global potential of Japan's music industry, both culturally and in terms of market reach. This meeting resulted in a mutual agreement to strengthen the international expansion of Japanese music.
Grainge's remarks at the official gala for Music Awards Japan emphasized Japan's rich musical heritage and its artists' ability to push boundaries. He praised CEIPA for bringing the awards back for a second year, reflecting the country's creative strength and the expanding opportunities for Japanese artists.
The event attracted around 1,000 guests, including representatives from CEIPA. UMG artists Fujii Kaze and Mrs. GREEN APPLE were among the top winners, with Fujii Kaze taking the Best Album award for 'Prema' and Mrs. GREEN APPLE being named Best Artist. This success is particularly notable given that Mrs. GREEN APPLE also won the top artist prize at the inaugural awards in 2025, and Fujii Kaze won the top album award that year for 'LOVE ALL SERVE ALL'.
Mrs. GREEN APPLE's achievements are further underscored by their recent success on the IFPI Global Artist Chart, where they became the highest-ranked Japanese act in history, placing at No. 13 in 2025. Their anniversary album, '10', sold over 1 million copies and reached No. 10 on the IFPI's Global Album Chart for 2025. UMG claims that Mrs. GREEN APPLE was Japan's best-selling act last year and the No. 2 act in Asia, behind South Korea's Stray Kids.
In July 2025, Mrs. GREEN APPLE made history as the first J-pop act to surpass 10 billion cumulative domestic streams, according to Billboard Japan. Both Fujii Kaze and Mrs. GREEN APPLE are signed to Universal Music Japan, which has seen significant growth under the leadership of President and CEO Naoshi Fujikura, who has tripled sales during his tenure. Japan's recorded music market, the world's second-largest after the US, returned to growth in 2025 with a 8.9% year-on-year revenue increase, according to the IFPI.
Grainge's visit and the success of Japanese artists on the global stage highlight the country's musical prowess and the potential for further international expansion. As Japan's music industry continues to thrive, it will be fascinating to see how UMG and other music companies capitalize on this opportunity while respecting and promoting Japan's unique cultural identity.
