Events in the year 1980 in Japan.
Emperor: Hirohito (Emperor Shōwa)Prime Minister: Masayoshi Ōhira (L–Kagawa) until June 12, Zenkō Suzuki (L–Iwate) from July 17Chief Cabinet Secretary and acting Prime Minister from June 12 to July 17: Masayoshi Itō (L–Fukushima) until July 17, Kiichi Miyazawa (L–Hiroshima)Chief Justice of the Supreme Court: Takaaki HattoriPresident of the House of Representatives: Hirokichi Nadao (L–Hiroshima) until May 19, Hajime Fukuda (L–Fukui) from July 17President of the House of Councillors: Ken Yasui (L–Tokyo) until July 7, Masatoshi Tokunaga (L–national) from July 17Diet sessions: 91st (regular session opened in December 1979, to May 19), 92nd (special, July 17 to July 26), 93rd (extraordinary, September 29 to November 29), 94th (regular, December 22 to 1981, June 6)January 16 - Paul McCartney is arrested at Narita airport for possession of drugs.April 24 - Nintendo releases the first portable game console, the Game&Watch.June 22Japanese general election, 1980Japanese House of Councillors election, 1980August 14 - A rock fall hit mountainer in Mount Fuji, Yamanashi Prefecture, according to official results report, 12 person fatalities, with 29 person injures.August 16 - A gas explosion occurs in the underground shopping area of Shizuoka Station, killing 200.August 19 - 1980 Shinjuku bus fire, according to official confirmed report, 6 person fatalities with 15 were wounded.November 19 - A fire at the Kawaji Prince Hotel in Fujihara, Tochigi Prefecture kills 40.Arts and entertainment
In film, Zigeunerweisen by Seijun Suzuki won the Best film award at the Japan Academy Prize and the Yokohama Film Festival, Kagemusha by Akira Kurosawa won Best film at the Hochi Film Awards, the Blue Ribbon Awards and the Mainichi Film Award. For a list of Japanese films released in 1980 see Japanese films of 1980.
In manga, the winners of the Shogakukan Manga Award were Hakatakko Junjō and Gangaragan by Hōsei Hasegawa and Chie the Brat by Etsumi Haruki (general) and Urusei Yatsura by Rumiko Takahashi (shōnen or shōjo). Susano Oh by Go Nagai (shōnen) and Lemon Report by Mayumi Yoshida (shōjo) won the Kodansha Manga Award. For a list of manga released in 1980 see Category:1980 manga.
In music, the 31st Kōhaku Uta Gassen was won by the Red Team (women). Hiroshi Itsuki won the FNS Music Festival.
In television, see: 1980 in Japanese television.
Japan hosted the Miss International 1980 beauty pageant, won by Costa Rican Lorna Chávez.
In football (soccer) Yanmar Diesel won the Japan Soccer League. For the champions of the regional leagues see: 1980 Japanese Regional Leagues. For more see: 1980 in Japanese football.
At the Winter Olympics Japan won a silver medal.
January 6: Hiromi Oshima, modelJanuary 13: Akira Kaji, football playerJanuary 21: Nana Mizuki, voice actress and singerJanuary 23: Nana Natsume, AV idol and celebrityMarch 28: Minori Aoi, AV and gravure idolApril 2: Yuya Shirai, mixed martial artistApril 3: Yūko Ishibashi, singerApril 7: Mr. C.B., thoroughbred racehorse (died 2002)April 21: Hiro Shimono, voice actorMay 10: Mayumi Kawasaki, race walkerMay 20: Chinatsu Mori, shot putter (died 2006)May 31: Akitoshi Tamura, mixed martial artistJune 1: Mitsuru Chiyotanda, football playerJune 2: Shingo Suetsugu, sprinterJune 3: Keiji Suzuki, judokaJune 9: Kana Ueda, voice actressJune 27: Takahiro Futagawa, football playerJuly 15: Masayuki Hirahara, pianist and composerJuly 18: Ryōko Hirosue, actress and pop starJuly 22: Hisashi Mizutori, gymnastJuly 28: Harumi Nemoto, gravure idolJuly 30: Ayako Uehara, classical pianistJuly 31: Rina Aiuchi, singerAugust 1: Yoichi Mori, football playerAugust 14: Yusuke Kawaguchi, mixed martial artistAugust 29: Daisuke Saito, football playerSeptember 4: Ran Asakawa, model and AV idolSeptember 8: Mai Kadowaki, voice actressSeptember 19: Jun Natsukawa, gravure idolOctober 13: Salyu, singerOctober 16: Takehito Shigehara, football playerNovember 18: Junichi Okada, singer, actorNovember 21: Hiroyuki Tomita, gymnastNovember 26: Satoshi Ohno, singer, actorDecember 5: Shizuka Itō, voice actressDecember 15: Mayu Kotono, AV idolDecember 16: Daito Takahashi, Nordic combined skierJanuary 4: Shohachi Ishii, wrestlerJanuary 23: Shōjirō Iida, generalFebruary 14: Kitsuju Ayabe, generalFebruary 22: Sadaaki Akamatsu, officer and ace fighter pilot in the Imperial Japanese NavyFebruary 27: Shin'ichi Hisamatsu, philosopherMarch 16: Susumu Kimura, admiral in the Imperial Japanese NavyMay 21: Hiroshi Inagaki, filmmakerJune 12: Masayoshi Ōhira, Prime Minister (died in office)October 10: Tameichi Hara, Imperial Japanese naval commanderOctober 21: Kanjūrō Arashi, actorDecember 28: Nobuzo Tohmatsu, admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy 