65th Japan Record Awards: Ditto is the first foreign song ever to win "Excellent Work Award," one of 10 from which the Grand Prix is determined

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    NewJeans received the “Excellent Work Award” and “Special Achievement Award” at the “65th Japan Record Awards”.


    The “Excellent Work Award” is given to songs released in the same year that gained significant popularity among the public and demonstrated excellence in artistry, creativity and planning. NewJeans’ “Ditto” became the first foreign song ever selected as the winner in this category. The 10 songs selected for the “Excellent Work Award” became candidates for the Grand Prize (Mrs. Green Apple won).


    The “Special Achievement Award” is given to artists or songs that created a buzz during the year. NewJeans is the only foreign artist to win this category this year.


    The “Japan Record Awards” is a music awards ceremony hosted by the Japan Composer’s Association and is the oldest and most prestigious music awards ceremony in Japan, starting in 1959. NewJeans’ exceptional achievement in being nominated for the Grand Prize with a Korean song before their official debut in Japan is drawing attention as it could mark a new chapter in K-pop history, especially in a ceremony known for its high barriers for foreign songs.


    Here are the nominees and winners below:


    Excellent Work Award

    Songs of the Year:

    • "Otona Blue" by Atarashii Gakko!
    • "Que Sera Sera" by Mrs. GREEN APPLE
    • "Summer Time Cinderella" by Ryokuoushoku Shakai
    • "Show" by Ado
    • "Datte Meguri Aetanda" by Junretsu
    • "Ditto" by NewJeans
    • "Trigger" by JO1
    • "NIGHT DANCER" by imase
    • "Hanawazurai" by Yukino Ichikawa
    • "Mainstream" by BE:FIRST

    Best Vocal Performance:

    • JUJU

    Special Achievement Award:

    • ano
    • Jujutsu Kaisen
    • NewJeans

    Special International Music Award:

    Best Composition Award:

    • Ayase
    • YOASOBI (Idol)

    Best Lyrics Award:

    • Hiro
    • 「I’m a mess」 MY FIRST STORY

    Best Music Arrangement Award:

    • Akimitsu Homma)
    • Hoshimizake - Yoshimi Tendo

    New Artists of the Year:

    • Tetsuji Kimura
    • FRUITS ZIPPER
    • Boku ga Mitakatta Aozora
    • LIL LEAGUE

    Japan Composer's Association Recommendation:

    Lifetime Achievement Award:

    • Hiroshi Inuzuka
    • Junko Ohashi
    • KAN
    • Ryotaro Konishi
    • Ryuichi Sakamoto
    • Atsushi Sakurai (BUCK-TICK)
    • Yukihiro Takahashi
    • Jiro Takemura
    • Shinji Tanimura
    • Hajime Toyama
    • Yoshiko Miura
    • Yoshinori Monta

  • oneinamiyeon

    Changed the title of the thread from “65th Japan Record Awards: Ditto is the foreign song ever to win "Excellent Work Award," one of 10 from which the Grand Prix is determined” to “65th Japan Record Awards: Ditto is the first foreign song ever to win "Excellent Work Award," one of 10 from which the Grand Prix is determined”.

    I just watched their performances on YouTube. I had no idea they actually won such incredible awards, let alone being the only foreign artists among the nominees to win it. Yet another big achievement for NewJeans :send-love-bunny:


    And knowing how strict and conservative Japan is when it comes to such prestigious ceremonies, the fact that NewJeans was allowed to perform 3 Korean songs there is a privilege in of itself.

    Japan really fell in love with OMG and especially Ditto. I don't think even Newjeans and their team expected that kind of reception from Japan. They barely even promoted in Japan and yet still received so much love from Japanese people. That's actually kind of amazing to witness. And all this without even an official Japanese release or Japanese versions of their songs.


    I have a feeling NewJeans is going to change the current status quo and landscape of K-Pop in Japan. I believe NewJeans will NOT release a Japanese single. I think they will continue to do Korean/English songs and maybe in the future this is going to open up to more acceptance in Japan when it comes to Korean music and K-Pop artists no longer need to release Japanese songs in order for them to promote themselves in Japan.

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