List of best-selling albums in Japan

Data as of 2007 indicates that Japan has the second largest music market in the world,[1] but it is the largest in Asia. In 2008, Japan surpassed the United States for having the most physical sales.[2]

Best-selling albums on the Japanese Oricon weekly chart (1970 - present)

In the history of the Japanese Oricon Weekly Albums Chart which started in January 1970, 278 out of all the charting albums has sold more than 1 million copies.[3]

Top ten best-selling albums recorded by Japanese artists

This is the list of top-ten out of the best-selling albums on the Oricon. The Japanese albums chart had been separated into LPs (started in 1970), cassette tapes (introduced in 1974), and compact discs (launched in 1985) charts until they were unified in January 1987.

Sales figure derived from data that the Oricon provided in 2007.[4] Though digital sales play a big role in overall sales nowadays, this list does not take them into account.

Rank[3] Year Title Artist Sales
1 1999 First Love Hikaru Utada 7,650,215
2 1998 B'z The Best "Pleasure" B'z 5,135,922
3 2001 A Best Ayumi Hamasaki 5,000,000
4 1997Review Glay 4,875,980
5 2001Distance Hikaru Utada 4,469,135
6 1998B'z The Best "Treasure" B'z 4,438,742
7 1996 Globe Globe 4,136,460
8 2002 Deep River Hikaru Utada 3,604,588
9 2000Delicious Way Mai Kuraki 3,530,420
10 1998Umi no Yeah!! Southern All Stars 3,520,507

Top ten best-selling albums recorded by non-Japanese artists

Aside from the materials recorded by Japanese artists or Asian performers who sang in Japanese, 21 out of all the charting albums have sold over 1 million copies as of November 2009.[5] This is the list of 10 best-selling non-domestic artists' recordings, including soundtrack albums. Sales figures listed here are based on the data provided by the Oricon (those are occasionally lower than reports by the record labels, tabloids, or other Japanese record charts).

Rank[3][5] Year Title Artist Sales[6]
1 1998 #1's Mariah Carey 3.25 million+ [nb 1]
21992The Bodyguard: Original Soundtrack Album Whitney Houston/Various artists 2.50 million+ [nb 2]
3 1995 22 Hits of the CarpentersThe Carpenters2.32 million+ [nb 3]
4 1995 Daydream Mariah Carey 2.20 million+ [nb 4]
51994Merry Christmas Mariah Carey 2.09 million+ [nb 5]
6 1999Clapton Chronicles: The Best of Eric ClaptonEric Clapton2.00 million+ [nb 6]
7 20001 The Beatles 2.00 million+ [nb 7]
81982Thriller Michael Jackson1.74 million+ [nb 8]
9 1993 Music Box Mariah Carey 1.58 million+ [nb 9]
10 1995Scatman's World Scatman John 1.56 million+
11 1997Titanic: Music from the Motion Picture James Horner 1.41 million+

List of Million-certified albums by the Recording Industry Association of Japan

This is the list of the albums that have shipped over 1,000,000 copies and been certified Million by the RIAJ.[19][20] Albums are listed in alphabetical order of each recording artists' name.

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.
Year Artist Title Level Notes
1999 19 Ongaku Million
1996 Nanase Aikawa red 2× Million
1997 paraDOX Million
1999 ID Compilation album
2011 AKB48 Koko ni Ita Koto
2012 1830m
2014 Tsugi no Ashiato
2000 aiko Sakura no Ki no Shita
2001 Natsufuku
1995 Namie Amuro Dance Tracks Vol.1
1996 Sweet 19 Blues 3× Million
1997 Concentration 20 2× Million
1998 181920 2× Million Compilation album
2008 Best Fiction Million
2009 Arashi All the Best! 1999-2009 Compilation album
2010 Boku no Miteiru Fūkei Million
2011 Beautiful World Million
2015 Japonism Million
2006 Ayaka First Message Million
2009 Ayaka's History 2006–2009 Million Compilation album
2002 Kimimaro Ayanokoji Bakushou Super Live Dai-1 Shū: Chūkounen ni Ai wo Komete Million Live album
1989 B'z Off the Lock Million
1990 Break Through Million
Wicked Beat Million
Risky Million
1991 Mars Million EP
In the Life 3× Million
1992 Run 2× Million
Friends EP
1994 The 7th Blues Million
1995 Loose 3× Million
1996 Friends II Million EP
1997 Flash Back: B'z Early Special Titles Million Compilation album
Survive 2× Million
1998 B'z The Best "Pleasure" 5× Million Compilation album
B'z The Best "Treasure" 4× Million
1999 Brotherhood Million
2000 B'z The "Mixture" 2× Million Compilation album
Eleven 2× Million
2002 Green Million
The Ballads: Love & B'z Million Compilation album
2005 B'z The Best "Pleasure II" Million
2008 B'z The Best "Ultra Pleasure" Million
2001 Backstreet Boys The Hits: Chapter One Million
2000 The Beatles 1 2× Million
2002 BoA Listen to My Heart Million
2003 Valenti Million
2005 Best of Soul Million Compilation album
1994 Bon Jovi Cross Road Million Compilation album
1995 These Days Million
1998 Boøwy This Boøwy Million Compilation album
1998 The Brilliant Green The Brilliant Green Million
1991 Mariah Carey Emotions Million
1993 Music Box Million
1994 Merry Christmas 2× Million
1995 Daydream Million
1997 Butterfly Million
1998 Number 1's 3× Million Compilation album
1995 The Carpenters Seishun no Kagayaki: 22 Hits of the Carpenters 2× Million Compilation album
1991 Chage and Aska Tree 3× Million
1992 Super Best II 2× Million Compilation album
Guys Million
1993 Red Hill
1997 Chara Junior Sweet
2001 Chemistry The Way We Are 2× Million
2002 Second to None 2× Million
1982 Eric Clapton Timepieces: The Best of Eric Clapton Million Compilation album
1992 Unplugged Million Live album
1999 Clapton Chronicles: The Best of Eric Clapton 2× Million Compilation album
2001 Da Pump Da Best of Da Pump Million
1994 Deen Deen Million
1997 Celine Dion Let's Talk About Love Million
1999 All the Way… A Decade of Song 2× Million Compilation album
2005 Def Tech Def Tech 2× Million
2006 Catch the Wave Million
1998 Dragon Ash Buzz Songs Million
1999 Viva La Revolution 2x Million
2001 Lily Of Da Valley Million
1989 Dreams Come True Dreams Come True Million
Love Goes On... 2× Million
1990 Wonder 3 Million
1991 Million Kisses 3× Million
1992 The Swinging Star Million
1993 Magic 2× Million
1995 Delicious
1996 Love Unlimited Million
1997 The Best of Dreams Come True Million Compilation album
Sing or Die Million
1999 The Monster Million
2000 Greatest Hits "The Soul" 2× Million Compilation album
1997 Enya Paint the Sky with Stars Million Compilation album
2001 Theme from Calmi Cuori Appassionati Million
1997 Every Little Thing Everlasting Million
1998 Time to Destination 4× Million
1999 Every Best Single +3 2× Million Compilation album
2000 eternity Million
2001 4 Force
2003 Exile Exile Entertainment
2005 Perfect Best Compilation album
2007 Exile Love
2008 Exile Catchy Best Compilation album
Exile Ballad Best 2× Million
2009 Aisubeki Mirai e Million
2011 Negai no Tō
1993 Masaharu Fukuyama Calling
1995 M-Collection: Kaze wo Sagashiteru Compilation album
1999 Magnum Collection 1999 "Dear" Double-disc compilation album
2001 f
2011 Girls' Generation Girls' Generation
1996 Glay Beloved
1997 Review 5× Million Compilation album
1998 Pure Soul 3× Million
1999 Heavy Gauge 2× Million
2000 Drive: Complete Best 2x Million Double-disc compilation album
1996 globe globe 4× Million
1997 Faces Places 3× Million
1998 Love Again 2× Million
Relation
1999 Cruise Record 1995-2000 Double-disc compilation album
2001 Gospellers Love Notes Million
2008 Greeeen A, Domo. Ohisashiburi Desu.
2009 Shio, Koshō
1989 Shogo Hamada Wasted Tears
2000 The History of Shogo Hamada "Since 1975" Compilation album
1999 Ayumi Hamasaki A Song for ××
"A" 14-track CD single
Loveppears 2× Million
2000 Duty 3× Million
2001 A Best 4× Million Compilation album
2002 I am... 3× Million
Rainbow 2× Million
2003 A Ballads Million Compilation album
Memorial Address EP
2004 My Story
2006 (Miss)Understood
1998 hide with Spread Beaver Ja, Zoo
1999 Lauryn Hill The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
2003 HY Street Story
1993 Kyosuke Himuro Memories of Blue
1995 Singles Compilation album
2000 Ken Hirai The Changing Same
2001 Gaining Through Losing Compilation album
2003 Life Is...
2005 Ken Hirai 10th Anniversary Complete Single Collection '95-'05 "Uta Baka" 2× Million Compilation album
1993 Eri Hiramatsu Single is Best Million
1998 Kohmi Hirose The Best "Love Winters" 2× Million
1999 Tomoyasu Hotei Greatest Hits 1990-1999 Million
2010 Ikimonogakari Ikimonobakari: Members Best Selection
1989 Miki Imai Ivory
1993 Ivory II
1997 Pride
1997 Koshi Inaba Magma
1999 Yōsui Inoue Golden Best Double-disc compilation album
1994 Judy and Mary Orange Sunshine
1995 Miracle Diving
1997 The Power Source 2× Million
1998 Pop Life Million
2000 Fresh Million
2001 Warp Million
The Great Escape Million
1996 Tomomi Kahala Love Brace 2× Million
1997 Storytelling Million
1997 Makoto Kawamoto Makoto Kawamoto Million
1997 Ryuichi Kawamura Love 3× Million
2003 Ketsumeishi Ketsunopolis 3 Million
2005 Ketsunopolis 4 2× Million
1997 KinKi Kids A Album Million
1998 B Album Million
2000 Kinki Single Selection Million
1998 Kiroro Nagai Aida: Kiroro no Mori Million
2005 Kobukuro Nameless World Million
2006 All Singles Best 3× Million Compilation album
2007 5296 Million
1992 Kome Kome Club Octave 3× Million
1995 Decade Million
2005 Kumi Koda Best: First Things 2× Million Compilation album
2006 Best: Second Session 2× Million
Black Cherry Million
2000 Yuki Koyanagi Expansion Million
1986 Toshinobu Kubota Shake It Paradise Million
1987 Groovin' Million
1988 Such A Funky Thang! Million
1989 The Baddest Million Compilation album
1990 Bonga Wanga Million
2000 Mai Kuraki Delicious Way 3× Million
2001 Perfect Crime Million
2004 Wish You the Best Million Compilation album
1992 Keisuke Kuwata From Yesterday Million Compilation album
1994 Kodoku no Taiyou Million
2002 Rock and Roll Hero Million
Top of the Pops Million Double-disc compilation album
1996 L'Arc-en-Ciel True Million
1998 Heart Million
1999 ark 2× Million
Ray 2× Million
2000 Real Million
2001 Clicked Singles Best 13 Million Compilation album
2011 Lady Gaga The Fame Million
2002 Avril Lavigne Let Go Million
2004 Under My Skin Million
2007 The Best Damn Thing Million
2001 Love Psychedelico The Greatest Hits Million
1997 Luna Sea Singles Million Compilation album
1998 Shine Million
1992 Noriyuki Makihara Kimi wa Boku no Takaramono Million
1993 Self Portrait Million
1994 Pharmacy Million
1997 Smiling Million Compilation album
1989 Yumi Matsutoya Love Wars Million
1990 The Gates of Heaven (Tengoku no Door) 2× Million
1991 Dawn Purple 2× Million
1992 Tears and Reasons Million
1993 U-miz Million
1994 The Dancing Sun 2× Million
1995 Kathmandu Million
1997 Cowgirl Dreamin' Million
1998 Neue Musik: Yumi Matsutoya Complete Best Vol.1 3× Million Double-disc compilation album
2001 Sweet, Bittersweet: Yuming Ballad Best Million Double-disc compilation album
1996 Max Maximum Million
1997 Maximum II Million
1998 Maximum Groove Million
1999 Maximum Collection Million Compilation album
1998 Misia Mother Father Brother Sister 2× Million
2000 Love Is the Message 2× Million
2001 Marvelous Million
2002 Kiss in the Sky Million
2003 Misia Greatest Hits 2× Million Compilation album
1995 Chisato Moritaka Do the Best Million
2000 Morning Musume 3rd-Love Paradise Million
2001 Best! Morning Musume 1 2× Million Compilation album
1992 Mr.Children Kind of Love Million
1993 Versus Million
1994 Atomic Heart 3× Million
1996 Shinkai 2× Million
1997 Bolero 3× Million
1999 Discovery Million
2000 Q Million
2001 Mr. Children 1992-1995 2× Million Compilation album
Mr. Children 1996-2000 2× Million Compilation album
2002 It's a Wonderful World Million
2004 Shifuku no Oto Million
2005 "Four Dimensions" Million EP
I Love U Million
2007 Home Million
2008 Supermarket Fantasy Million
1996 My Little Lover Evergreen 3× Million
1989 Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi Showa Million
2002 Mika Nakashima True Million
2003 Love Million
2005 Best Million Compilation album
1991 Kazumasa Oda Oh! Yeah! Million
2002 Jiko Best 2× Million Compilation album
1993 Maki Ohguro Da Da Da Million
1994 Eien no Yume ni Mukatte Million
1995 La. La. La. Million
Back Beats #1 3× Million Compilation album
1997 Power of Dreams 2× Million
1997 Mayo Okamoto Smile Million
2001 Chihiro Onitsuka Insomnia Million
2004 Orange Range musiQ 2× Million
2005 Natural Million
1991 Yutaka Ozaki Seventeen's Map (Jūnana-Sai no Chizu) Million Reissue (first released in 1983)
1992 Confession for Exist (Hounetsu e no Akashi) Million Posthumous album
1996 For All My Loves (Aisubeki Mono Subete ni) Million Compilation album
2001 Porno Graffitti foo? Million
2004 Porno Graffitti Best Red's Million Compilation album
Porno Graffitti Best Blue's Million
1989 Princess Princess Lovers Million
1990 Princess Princess Million
1992 Singles 1987-1992 Million Compilation album
1996 Puffy AmiYumi Million
1998 Jet-CD Million
2004 Queen Jewels Million Compilation album
2002 Rip Slyme Tokyo Classic Million
1995 Scatman John Scatman's World MIllion
1995 Sharam Q Gambler Million
1996 Single Best 10 Million Compilation album
1998 Shazna Gold Sun and Silver Moon Million
1999 Ringo Shiina Muzai Moratorium Million
2000 Shouso Strip 2× Million
2001 Smap Smap Vest 2× Million Compilation album
1997 Speed Starting Over 2× Million Studio album
1998 RISE 3× Million Studio album
1998 MOMENTS 3× Million Compilation album
1999 Carry on my Way Million Studio album
1990 Southern All Stars Southern All Stars Million
Inamura Jane Million Motion picture soundtrack
1992 Yo ni Manyou no Hana ga Saku nari 3× Million
1996 Young Love 2× Million
1998 Umi no Yeah!! 4× Million Double-disc compilation album
Sakura Million
2000 Ballad 3: The Album of Love 2× Million Double-disc compilation album
2005 Killer Street Million Double album
1995 Spitz Hachimitsu Million
1996 Indigo Chiheisen Million
1999 Recycle: Greatest Hits of Spitz Million Compilation album
1999 Ami Suzuki SA 2× Million
2000 Infinity Eighteen Vol. 1 Million
1995 Masayuki Suzuki Martini II Million Compilation album
1992 Mariya Takeuchi Quiet Life Million
1994 Impressions 3× Million Compilation album
2001 Bon Appetit! Million
2008 Expressions Million Compilation album
2003 t.A.T.u. 200 km/h in the Wrong Lane Million
1998 T.M. Revolution Triple Joker Million
1999 The Force Million
1992 T-Bolan So Bad Million
1993 Heart of Stone Million
1996 Singles Million Compilation album
1999 TLC FanMail Million
2007 Hideaki Tokunaga Vocalist 3 Million
2003 Twelve Girls Band Beautiful Energy Million
1994 TRF Word Groove Million
Billionaire Million
1995 Dance to Positive 2× Million
Hyper Mix 4 Million
Brand-New Tomorrow Million
1998 Works Million Compilation album
1989 Tube Tubest Million
1993 Roman no Natsu Million
1994 Owaranai Natsu ni Million
Melodies & Memories Million
1995 Yuzurenai Natsu Million
1996 Tubest II Million Compilation album
2000 Tubest III Million
1996 Ulfuls Banzai Million
1993 Unicorn The Very Best of Unicorn Million Compilation album
1999 Hikaru Utada First Love 8× Million
2001 Distance 4× Million
2002 Deep River 3× Million
2004 Utada Hikaru Single Collection Vol. 1 3× Million Compilation album
Exodus Million Released under the stage name "Utada"
2006 Ultra Blue Million
2008 Heart Station Million
1993 Wands Toki no Tobira 2× Million
Little Bit... Million
1995 Pieces of My Soul Million
1991 X Japan Jealousy Million
1993 X Singles Million Compilation album
1995 Tatsuro Yamashita Treasures Million Compilation album
1998 Cozy Million
1996 The Yellow Monkey Triad Years Act 1: The Very Best of the Yellow Monkey Million Compilation album
1999 Yuzu Yuzuen Million
2000 Tobira Million
1996 Miwa Yoshida Beauty and Harmony Million
1993 Z-Dan Enoshima: Southern All Stard Golden Hits Medley Million
1992 Zard Hold Me Million
1993 Yureru Omoi 3× Million
1994 Oh My Love 2× Million
1995 Forever You Million
1996 Today Is Another Day Million
1997 Zard Blend: Sun & Stone 2× Million Compilation album
1999 Eien Million
Zard Best the Single Collection: Kiseki 3× Million Compilation album
Zard Best: Requested Memorial Million
2006 Golden Best: 15th Anniversary Million
1992 Whitney Houston / various artists　 The Bodyguard 2× Million Motion picture soundtrack
2003 Various artists Winter Sonata Million Korean drama soundtrack

Best-selling albums by year

Year Title Artist Sales
1999 First Love Hikaru Utada 7,365,830
2000 Delicious Way Kuraki Mai 3,451,660
2001 Distance Hikaru Utada 4,404,290
2002 Deep River Hikaru Utada 3,526,780
2003 Second to None CHEMISTRY 2,001,917
2004 SINGLE COLLECTIONS VOL.1 Hikaru Utada 2,495,967
2005 musiQ ORANGE RANGE 2,630,763
2015[21] Japonism Arashi 981,639

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Sales figure is based on the Oricon Chart.[7] According to the statistics by Dempa Shimbun/Billboard, the album has sold 3.25 million copies in Japan.[8][9]
  2. ↑ Sales figure is based on the Oricon Chart. According to various reports from other references, sales of the album has estimated at between 2.5 and 2.8 million copies in Japan.[8][9][10]
  3. ↑ Sales figure is based on the Oricon Chart (including reissues released in 1997, 1999, and 2003, respectively. According to the Universal Music Group, the album has sold 3.0 million copies in Japan.[11]
  4. ↑ Sales figure is based on the Oricon Chart.[7] According to the article by Sankei Sports, the album has sold 2.4 million copies in Japan.[9]
  5. ↑ Sales figure is based on the Oricon Chart.[7] According to statistics by Dempa Shimbun/Billboard, the album has sold 2.5 million copies in Japan.[12]
  6. ↑ Sales figures based on Warner Bros. Records sales, published in the Billboard magazine in 1999.[13]
  7. ↑ Sales figure is based on the Oricon Chart.[14] According to EMI, the album has sold 3.0 million copies in Japan.[15]
  8. ↑ Sales figure is based on the Oricon Chart (including expanded remaster edition issued in 2008.[16] According to various reports from other references, sales of the album has estimated at between 1.8 and 2.5 million copies in Japan.[9][17][18]
  9. ↑ Sales figure is based on the Oricon Chart.[7] According to the article by Sankei Sports, the album has sold 2.2 million copies in Japan.[9]

References

  1. ↑ http://www.ifpi.org/content/library/Recorded-music-sales-2007.pdf
  2. ↑ Schwartz, Rob (Aug 15, 2009). Ups and downs: Japan's global sales rank rises, despite continuing slide at home. Billboard. Retrieved 2012-01-02.
  3. 1 2 3 歴代アルバムランキング "The all-time best-selling album ranking (List of million-selling albums on the Japanese albums chart, January 1970-July 2010)" Check |url= value (help). August 13, 2010. Retrieved August 27, 2010.
  4. ↑ "動画:oricon TOP40-無料動画-ORICON STYLE". oricon.co.jp. Archived from the original on January 26, 2008.
  5. 1 2 "List of the million-selling albums on the Japanese Oricon Weekly Chart (international releases only, as of December 2004)" (in Japanese). Archived from 日本でミリオンセラーを記録したアルバム the original Check |url= value (help) on 2008-03-25. Retrieved 2009-07-13.
  6. ↑ Okamoto, Satoshi (2006). Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970-2005. Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. ISBN 4-87131-077-9.
  7. 1 2 3 4 マライア・キャリーのプロフィール・ヒストリーならオリコン芸能人事典 - "Mariah Carey - Biography" Check |url= value (help). oricon.co.jp (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved August 27, 2010.
  8. 1 2 "Newsline...Mariah Carey's #1's (p49)". Dempa Shimbun. Higashi Gotanda, Shinagawa, Tokyo: Billboard. January 23, 1999. Retrieved August 13, 2010.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 "マライア新記録300万枚突破！". sanspo.com. Sankei Shimbun. December 16, 1998. Archived from the original on August 13, 2010. Retrieved March 15, 2001.
  10. ↑ Sony Music Online Japan ": ホイットニー・ヒューストン : ワーナー・ブラザース映画提供　ホイットニー・ヒューストン「ボディガード」　オリジナル・サウンドトラック　（マストアイテムキャンペーンスペシャルプライス盤）" Check |url= value (help). Sony Music Entertainment Japan. Retrieved August 13, 2010.
  11. ↑ "青春の輝き～ベスト・オブ・カーペンターズ・スペシャル・エディション". Universal Music Group. Retrieved August 13, 2010.
  12. ↑ "Carey's Ubiquitous Japanese Success". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 1996-06-20. Retrieved 2012-09-22.
  13. ↑ McClure, Steve (September 30, 2000). "International Repertoire Sales Fall in Japan". Billboard Magazine (Nielsen Business Media, Inc.) 112 (40): 54. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved November 8, 2015.
  14. ↑ "【オリコン】ビートルズ『1』がWミリオン達成 歴代最長11年9ヶ月かけて大台に" [The Beatles 1 pass 2 million units in 11 years and 9 months]. oricon.co.jp (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved August 10, 2012.
  15. ↑ "SoundTown / THE BEATLES Official Web Site". EMI Music Japan. Retrieved August 13, 2010.
  16. ↑ "キング・オブ・ポップ"マイケル・ジャクソンさんがロスで死去 - ""King of Pop" Michael Jackson dies in Los Angeles" Check |url= value (help) (in Japanese). Retrieved 2009-07-13.
  17. ↑ "『NUMBER ONES』:商品特徴". SonyBMG Japan. 2003-10-10. Retrieved 2009-04-19.
  18. ↑ "Michael Jackson Remains A Global Phenomenon". Billboard magazine. July 2, 2009. Retrieved July 3, 2009.
  19. ↑ "List of million-certified singles and albums by year" (in Japanese). Retrieved November 30, 2009.
  20. ↑ "List of the albums certified "Million" by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (1989-2010)". January 24, 2010. Retrieved April 22, 2010.
  21. ↑ "2015年 年間音楽ランキングを発表！ 年間アルバムランキング　1位～25位". Oricon Style. Oricon. Retrieved February 29, 2016.

External links

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