The 38th Annual Japan Record Awards took place on December 31, 1996, starting at 6:30PM JST. The primary ceremonies were televised in Japan on TBS.
| 38th Japan Record Awards | |
|---|---|
| Date | December 31, 1996 |
| Venue | TBS A-Studio, Tokyo |
| Hosted by | Masaaki Sakai |
| Television/radio coverage | |
| Network | TBS |
Award winners edit
- Japan Record Award:
- Tetsuya Komuro (producer) & Namie Amuro for "Don't Wanna Cry"
- Best Vocalist:
- Best New Artist:
- Best Album: