The highest-selling singles in Japan are ranked in the Oricon Singles Chart, which is published by Oricon Style magazine. The data are compiled by Oricon based on each singles' physical sales. This list includes the singles that reached the number one place on that chart in 1981.

Oricon Weekly Singles Chart

Issue dateSongArtist(s)Ref.January 5""Masahiko KondōJanuary 12January 19January 26""Toshihiko TaharaFebruary 2February 9""Seiko MatsudaFebruary 16February 23March 2March 9""ChanelsMarch 16March 23March 30""Akira TeraoApril 6April 13April 20April 27May 4May 11May 18May 25June 1June 8""Seiko MatsudaJune 15June 22""Masahiko KondōJune 29July 6July 13""Chiharu MatsuyamaJuly 20July 27August 3""Seiko MatsudaAugust 10August 17August 24""August 31September 7September 14September 21September 28October 5October 12""Masahiko KondōOctober 19October 26""Seiko MatsudaNovember 2"Gingiragin ni Sarigenaku"Masahiko KondōNovember 9November 16November 23November 30""Miyuki NakajimaDecember 7December 14December 21""Hiroko YakushimaruDecember 28

See also 1981 in Japanese music

References Oricon No.1 Hits 500. Clubhouse. 1998. ISBN 9784906496129. vol 1 (1968~1985).