48TH ANNUAL NIHON RECORD TAISHOU AWARD: HIKAWA KIYOSHI TAKES GRAND PRIX

The Nihon Record Taishou Award Winners were held and announced on the 30th.   The winner of the Grand Prix (the top honor) went to Hikawa Kiyoshi.  Best Excellent Artist Award went to Koda Kumi and Best New Artist went to AYAKA.

It has been 13 years since an enka singer has won the Grand Prix award. The last was Kozai Kaori in 1993 (a shocking year when many people anticipated CHAGE & ASKA who dominated the charts with “YAH YAH YA” that year).

Last year’s Nihon Record Taishou was seen as somewhat of a controversial year as many people thought Hikawa Kiyoshi would win the award but lost to Koda Kumi (Best new artist went to AAA).
In a repeat of last year, but this time Koda Kumi dominating the charts and winning many awards in 2006, Hikawa Kiyoshi was the winner.

Photo courtesy of Sankei Sports