The 32nd Annual Japan Record Awards took place at the Nippon Budokan in Chiyoda, Tokyo, December 31, 1990, starting at 6:30PM JST. The primary ceremonies were televised in Japan on TBS.

Award winners

Pops and Rock

• Japan Record Award:
  • Tetsuro Oda (composer/arranger), Momoko Sakura (Songwriter) B.B.Queens for "Odoru Pompokolin"
• Best Pops Vocalist:
  • Mariya Takeuchi
• Best Rock Vocalist:
  • Southern All Stars
• Best Pops New Artist:
  • Ninja
• Best Rock New Artist:
  • Tama
• Best Foreign Artist:
  • Madonna

Enka and Kayōkyoku

• Japan Record Award:
  • Takao Horiuchi for "Koiuta Tsuzuri"
• Best Vocalist:
  • Nobue Matsubara
• Best Kayōkyoku New Artist:
  • Yang Soo Kyung
• Best Enka New Artist:
  • Saori Hareyama