The 23rd Japan Record Awards ceremony was held on 31 December 1981 at the Imperial Theatre, Tokyo, and was broadcast live in Japan through the TBS Television network.

[2] Keizō Takahashi hosted the ceremony for the thirteenth time.

The 23rd Japan Record Award went to Akira Terao for "Ruby no Yubiwa" (ja).

Best Vocal Performance went to Hiromi Iwasaki for "Sumire Iro no Namida" (ja), and Best New Artist went to Masahiko Kondō for "Gin Gira Gin ni Sarigenaku" (ja).

Japan Record Award nominations.