The 13th Annual Japan Record Awards took place at the Imperial Garden Theater in Chiyoda, Tokyo, on December 31, 1971, starting at 7:00PM JST. The primary ceremonies were televised in Japan on TBS.

Japan Record Award

• Kiyohiko Ozaki for "Mata Au Hi Made"
  • Lyricist: Yū Aku
  • Composer: Kyōhei Tsutsumi
  • Arranger: Kyōhei Tsutsumi
  • Record Company: Philips Records/Nippon Phonogram

Best Vocalist

• Shinichi Mori for "Ofukurosan"
  • Awarded again after 2 years, 2nd best vocalist award.

Best New Artist

• Rumiko Koyanagi for "Watashi No Jyoukamachi"

Vocalist Award

• Yuuko Nagisa for "Saihate Bojou"
• Hiroshi Itsuki for "Yokohama Tasogare"
• Tokiko Kato for "Shiretoko Ryojou"
  • Awarded after 2 years, 2nd vocalist award.

New Artist Award

• Saori Minami for "17-sai"
• Simmons for "Koibito Mo Inainoni"
• Ouyang Fei Fei for "Ame No Midousuji"
• Naoki Hongou for "Moeru Koibito"

General Public Award

• Masaaki Sakai for "Saraba Koibito"
• Kōji Tsuruta for "Kizudarake No Jinsei"

Composer Award

• Kyōhei Tsutsumi for "Manatsu No Dekigoto" and "Ame Ga Yandara"
  • Singer: Miki Hirayama and Yukiji Asaoka
  • Awarded again after 2 years, 2nd composer award

Arranger Award

• Katsuhisa Hattori for "Hana No Märchen"
  • Singer: Dark Ducks

Lyricist Award

• Osamu Kitayama for "Children Who Don't Know War" and Bouken
  • Singer: Jiros and Yumi Makiba

Special Award

• Noriko Awaya
  • Song: Wakare No Blues

Planning Award

• JVC and Shoichi Ozawa for "Document-Nihon No Horo Gei"
  • Awarded again after 3 years, Ozawa's 3rd planning award.

Children's Song Award

• Hibari Junior Chorus for "Jinjin"

• Official Website