The final judging session for the annual end-of-year music awards, the 67th The Japan Record Awards(sponsored by the Japan Composer's Association), was broadcast live from the New National Theatre (Shibuya, Tokyo) on December 30th, and from among the 10 works nominated for the Excellence Award, rock band Mrs. GREEN APPLE's "Darling" was awarded the Grand Prize. This marks the band's third consecutive Grand Prize win, following "Que Sera Sera" the year before last and "Lilac" last year, making them the first band to win three consecutive awards.
Motoki Omori commented with a solemn look on his face, "I've been thinking a lot about the meaning of winning three times in a row. I want to continue to create music sincerely. I will continue to work hard." Wakai Koto reflected, "This year marks the 10th anniversary of my debut, and I've been able to continue this far thanks to the support of so many people," and Fujisawa Suzuka also spoke with deep emotion, saying, "I'm just grateful to be able to be involved in music."
Mrs. Green Apple formed in 2013 and made their major debut in 2015. They attracted attention with hits such as "Inferno" and "Ao to Natsu," but went on hiatus in July 2020 to mark the end of Phase 1. In March 2022, they restarted as "Phase 2" with a trio consisting of vocalist and guitarist Motoki Omori, guitarist Wakai Koto, and keyboardist Fujisawa Suzuka.
This year marks the 10th anniversary of their debut, and in addition to the release of a greatest hits album and their first documentary film, each member has been active in a variety of fields, such as TV show hosting, commercial appearances, and film appearances, demonstrating their presence. They also performed as the final act for the White Team at the 76th NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen, which aired on the 31st, demonstrating their status as a "national band." They have also announced that they will conclude "Phase 2" on New Year's Eve and will begin activities as "Phase 3" from January 1, 2026.
Regarding Phase 3 starting next year, Omori looked ahead, saying, "Nothing in particular will change, but our mindset will evolve even more, and we will continue to create works with sincerity that we can be more and more confident about."
As in previous years, the 67th The Japan Record Awards was broadcast live on the TBS network, and for the third year in a row, actress Haruna Kawaguchi and TBS announcer Shinichiro Azumi served as general hosts.
◇ "67th Shining! The Japan Record Awards" Excellence Award (song titles in alphabetical order, titles omitted)
▽ILLIT "Almond Chocolate" ▽M! LK "Ii Jan" ▽FRUITS ZIPPER "Kagami" ▽ Aina the End"Kakumei Dochu - On The Way" ▽Rira Ikuta "Koi Kaze" ▽Mrs. GREEN APPLE "Darling" ▽CANDY TUNE "Double Fight!" ▽ Leon Niihama"Fun! Fun! Fun!" ▽Junretsu "Futari Dake no Himitsu" ▽BE:FIRST "Muchu"
