Oshi-Katsu Chronicle 1990: B'z's First No. 1, Chibi Maruko-chan, the Super Famicom and Sanrio Puroland
In 1990, bands made known by the TV show Yuji Miyake’s Ikasu Band Tengoku were active, and B’z took No. 1 on the weekly Oricon singles chart for the first time.
The anime Chibi Maruko-chan began airing, the Super Famicom appeared in November and Sanrio Puroland in December.
- Chibi Maruko-chan beginsAn anime about elementary school life
- B'z reach No. 1First weekly Oricon No. 1
- Wakahanada enters the top divisionTakahanada had joined in May
- Super Famicom launchesWith Super Mario World and F-ZERO
- Ikaten ends, Puroland opens846 acts by December 29; Puroland on December 7
Music, anime, games and characters all moved forward at once.
Bands From “Ikaten” Make It Big, and the Program Ends in December
Yuji Miyake’s Ikasu Band Tengoku, nicknamed “Ikaten,” was a program in which judges rated the playing of amateur bands. It began the year before, and by December 29 of this year a total of 846 acts had appeared. Rolling Stone Japan (in Japanese)
Tama, who became known through the program, made their major debut this year. “Sayonara Jinrui” (“Goodbye, Humanity”) was a hit, and at the year-end Japan Record Awards the band was chosen for the Best New Rock Artist award. Japan Composers Association (in Japanese)
- 01Hear it on TVA band you had never heard
- 02Buy the CDTake the song home
- 03Go to a showMeet the band in person
- 04Keep followingEven after the program ends
The program ended in December, but the habit of following its bands did not.
The Theme Song of Chibi Maruko-chan Wins at the Japan Record Awards
On January 7, the anime Chibi Maruko-chan, based on Momoko Sakura’s manga, began airing. It depicts the everyday life of the elementary schooler Maruko with her family and classmates. A theatrical film was released in December as well. Nippon Animation (in Japanese)
The ending song “Odoru Ponpokorin” was sung by B.B. Queens. With lyrics by the creator Momoko Sakura, it became a hit known well beyond the people who watched the anime.
That year the Japan Record Awards moved to a two-category system, with the Grand Prix decided by popular vote from two candidate songs in each. Japan Composers Association (in Japanese)
Kayokyoku and Enka category
Takao Horiuchi
"Koiuta Tsuzuri"
Pop and Rock category
B.B. Queens
"Odoru Ponpokorin"
B’z Reach No. 1 on the Weekly Chart for the First Time; New Songs, Albums and Tours Follow
B’z released “Taiyo no Komachi Angel” on June 13. It was their fifth single since their debut, and it took No. 1 on the weekly Oricon chart for the first time. B’z official chronology (in Japanese)
They also released the mini-album WICKED BEAT in June and the album RISKY in November. From October 4 they ran the tour “LIVE-GYM ‘90-‘91 -RISKY-,” which lasted into the next year. B’z official chronology (in Japanese)
Comic Market Is Held at Makuhari Messe: 480,000 Attendances Over Two Events
Comic Market, where people who make and read doujinshi (fan-made books) gather, was held at Makuhari Messe in both summer and winter. The large-scale events continued at the venue it had moved to the previous winter. Comic Market Preparation Committee (in Japanese)
- August 18-19
- 38th: 13,000 circles, 230,000 attendees combined
- December 23-24
- 39th: 13,000 circles, 250,000 attendees combined
Attendance figures are the organizer's estimates for the two days combined. They include people who come on both days.
- 230,000
- 38th, August 18-19
- 250,000
- 39th, December 23-24
- 13,000
- Circles at each event
Organizer's estimates for two days combined, including people who came on both days.
The summer 38th was so crowded that the line of general attendees waiting to get in wrapped all the way around Makuhari Messe. The winter 39th was the largest edition up to that point. Comic Market Preparation Committee (in Japanese)
Takahanada and Wakahanada Reach the Top Division: Cheering for Brother Wrestlers
In grand sumo, Takahanada, later known as Takanohana, made his top-division debut at the May tournament. His older brother Wakahanada, later Wakanohana, joined the top division at the September tournament. The top division (makuuchi) is the class of wrestlers ranked highest on the banzuke, the official ranking list. Japan Sumo Association: Takanohana (in Japanese) / Wakanohana (in Japanese)
The bouts and growth of the young brothers became a reason for people to start watching sumo. The following year, 1991, “Wakataka” was chosen for a gold prize in the trendy-phrase category. Jiyu Kokuminsha (in Japanese)
The Super Famicom Goes on Sale, and Puroland Lets You Meet Characters
On November 21, Nintendo released the Super Famicom. The launch titles were Super Mario World and F-ZERO. Nintendo: Super Mario World (in Japanese) / F-ZERO (in Japanese)
On December 7, the indoor theme park Sanrio Puroland opened in Tama, Tokyo. It is a place where you can meet Sanrio characters such as Hello Kitty. Sanrio Entertainment: notice for the 35th anniversary of its opening (in Japanese)
Key Events of the Year
- Jan. 1"Shining! Japan Ika-ten Grand Prize" is held at the Nippon BudokanMusic
- Jan. 7The first season of the anime Chibi Maruko-chan begins broadcastingAnime
- Mar.Nippon TV's "Uta no Top Ten" endsMedia
- Mar.Wakahanada is promoted to shin-juryo (March 1990 tournament)Sports
- Apr.The judges of Ikasu Band Tengoku are replacedMusic
- Apr. 25–26Madonna performs in Japan at Yokohama StadiumMusic
- MayTakahanada makes his debut in the top makuuchi division (the May 1990 tournament)Sports
- Jun. 13B'z release "Taiyo no Komachi Angel"Music
- Aug. 18–19Comic Market 38 (230,000 total visits over two days)Fan works
- Sep.Wakahanada makes his debut in the top makuuchi division (the September 1990 tournament)Sports
- Oct. 12The National Concert Tour Promoters Association is founded as an incorporated associationBusiness
- Nov. 21The Super Famicom (Super NES) goes on saleGames
- Dec. 7Sanrio Puroland opens in Tama CityVenues
- Dec. 15The Chibi Maruko-chan movie is releasedAnime
- Dec. 23–24Comic Market 39 (250,000 total visits over two days)Fan works
- Dec. 29Yuji Miyake's Ikasu Band Tengoku goes off the airMusic
- Dec. 31The 32nd Japan Record Awards are held with a two-category systemMusic
The Year’s Buzzword Awards
- New words · GoldFuzzy (fuzzy-logic technology in appliances)
- Juntaro Mikami (Matsushita Electric Industrial)
- New words · Silver"Bush" hon ("Bush phone," a play on telephone diplomacy)
- Moriyasu Okazaki (Nihon Keizai Shimbun)
- New words · BronzeOyaji gyaru ("old-man gal," a young woman with middle-aged men's habits)
- Yutsuko Chusonji (manga artist)
- Popular phrases · GoldChibi Maruko-chan (phenomenon)
- Thomas Reid (Washington Post reporter)
- Popular phrases · SilverBaburu keizai (the bubble economy)
- No recipient
- Popular phrases · BronzeIchiban shibori (Kirin's "first press" beer)
- Hideyo Motoyama (president, Kirin Brewery)
- Popular phrases · Popular AwardAisareru riyu ("The reason you are loved," title of a bestselling book)
- Yurie Nitani
The gold prize in the new-word category was “Fuzzy.” It was a word that drew attention in home appliances and elsewhere as a technology that handles vague conditions rather than only breaking them into fine categories. The silver prize in the trendy-phrase category went to “Bubble Economy.” Jiyu Kokuminsha: winners of the seventh awards (in Japanese)
In 1991, a TV drama theme song becomes a huge hit, and the pleasure of listening to your oshi’s music on CD widens further.
FAQ
When did Ikasu Band Tengoku end?
It ended its broadcast on December 29, 1990. A total of 846 acts appeared during its run, and on January 1 the "Kagayake! Nippon Ikaten Taisho" event was also held at Nippon Budokan.
What changed about the Japan Record Awards in 1990?
From this year, selection was divided into a "kayokyoku and enka category" and a "pop and rock category." The Grand Prix in each category was decided by popular vote.
What kind of year was 1990 for B'z?
With their fifth single, "Taiyo no Komachi Angel," released June 13, they took No. 1 on the weekly Oricon chart for the first time, and from October 4 they began the tour "LIVE-GYM '90-'91 -RISKY-," which ran into the following year.
How big was Comic Market in 1990?
It was held twice a year at Makuhari Messe: the 38th in August had 13,000 circles and 230,000 attendees combined, and the 39th in December had 13,000 circles and 250,000. Each figure is the total for two days. For the year, that works out to 480,000 attendances.
When did the "Wakataka" boom begin?
Takahanada made his top-division debut at the May 1990 (Heisei 2) tournament, and Wakahanada was promoted to the second-highest juryo division in March and to the top division in September of that year. "Wakataka" won a gold prize at the Buzzword Awards the following year, 1991.
When was the Super Famicom released?
November 21, 1990. The launch titles were *Super Mario World* and *F-ZERO*, and it arrived two years after it was announced in November 1988.
