Several T-Pop acts have won top honours at the upcoming Japan Thailand Expo Award 2026, which will take place on 8 February.
The awards are presented by the Japanese Embassy in Thailand, and recognises artistes who have made significant contributions to the promotion of good relations between Thailand and Japan.
Among the winners are Sonray Music boy group BUS because of you I shine, who will pick up the Artist Award. The award category honours Thai artistes who are “most well-known in Japan”.
BUS held their first overseas fan meeting in Japan in 2025, and had performed at the World Expo held in Osaka, as well as at the Summer Sonic Japan music festival, in the same year.
Universal Music Thailand soloist Violette Wautier will receive the Singer Award, for singers “with outstanding musical achievements” in Japan.
Riser Music and GMMTV pair Gemini and Fourth won the Japan Expo Next Generation Award, which recognises “rising Thai artists with impactful work in the Japanese entertainment industry”.
ขอแสดงความยินดีกับผู้บริหารและศิลปิน GMMTV ที่ได้รับรางวัล JAPAN EXPO THAILAND AWARD 2026 ดังนี้
— GMMTV (@GMMTV) January 8, 2026
🔵สาขา JAPAN EXPO NEXT GENERATION AWARD รางวัลศิลปินไทยดาวรุ่งที่มีผลงานสู่วงการบันเทิงญี่ปุ่น
“เจมีไนน์ นรวิชญ์” และ “โฟร์ท ณัฐวรรธน์”
🔵สาขา JAPAN EXPO ACTOR AWARD… pic.twitter.com/qN3LMeXEwj
The duo have held several fan-meetings in Japan, and have been part of GMMTV and Riser’s musical showcase in the country too.
Meanwhile, Domundi couple Zee and NuNew will joinly pick up the Popular Star Award, which honours the most popular Thai series actors in Japan. NuNew gained popularity in Japan following his first showcase there in late 2024, coinciding with the release of his Japanese debut single First Date in Shibuya.
This year’s awards are held in conjunction with the Japan Expo Thailand, which take place on 6-8 February at Bangkok’s centralwOrld. Admission to the event is free.
Other winners include GMMTV couples Earth-Mix and Namtan-Film, who won the Actor and Actress Awards respectively; Koji Mukai from J-Pop boy group Snow Man for the Thai-Japan Relationship Award; as well as Change 2561 couple Lookmhee-Sonya.
