[5] Tonda Couple by Kimio Yanagisawa (shōnen) and The Star of Cottonland by Yumiko Ōshima (shōjo) won the Kodansha Manga Award.

In music, the 30th Kōhaku Uta Gassen was won by the Red Team (women).

Japan hosted the Miss International 1979 beauty pageant, won by Filipina Melanie Marquez.

In basketball Japan hosted the ABC Championship and won the second place behind China.

In football (soccer) Japan hosted the FIFA World Youth Championship, won by Argentina.