In 1980 (Shōwa 55), Japanese music was released on records and performed in concerts, and there were charts, awards, contests and festivals.
During that year, Japan continued to have the second largest popular music market in the world.
[55][56][57] The eponymous album Yellow Magic Orchestra reached number 81 on the Billboard 200 chart in the United States.
[63] The song "Hana" (花〜すべての人の心に花を〜) by Shoukichi Kina was a hit in China, Thailand, Indonesia and other Asian countries, and sold 30 million copies.
[64][65] In 2007, Shūkan Shōwa Taimuzu featured Saki Kubota on the back cover as person of the moment (Japanese: 時の人) for 1980.