List of best-selling singles in Japan

Japan has the second largest music market in the world.[1] In 1962, Tokushin music reports was founded and became the leading provider of music sales in Japan. However their reports and charts are only available to industry insiders and are not available to the general public. In 1968 Original Confidence was established and began providing music charts to the general public with data collected from various retailers throughout Japan.

This is the list of 100 best-selling singles, based on the data by Oricon. This list doesn't include singles that were released before 1968, and is only from data collected from Oricons retail partners and not the record companies.

Best-selling physical singles in Japan

Guinness World Records certified that Masato Shimon's "Oyoge! Taiyaki-kun" is the best-selling single in Japan.[2]

There were several singles which achieved worldwide success. Shoukichi Kina's "Subete No Hito No Kokoro Ni Hana Wo" sold estimate 30 million copies over worldwide. Kyu Sakamoto's "Sukiyaki" sold estimate 13 million copies over worldwide. However, those were worldwide sales.

There were many non full-track digital download singles in Japan. Hikaru Utada's "Flavor of Life" sold over 7.7 million combined sales.[3] GReeeeN's "Ai Uta" sold 5 million digital download singles.[4] However, those included the sales of non full-track digital download singles. Guinness World Records certified that Thelma Aoyama's "Soba ni Iru ne" is the best-selling full-track digital download single in Japan with over 8 million copies.[5]

Machiko Soga's "Oba-Q Ondo" sold estimate 2 million single and 4 million sonosheet in Japan.[6] However, a sonosheet was not a regular 7" single.

Yujiro Ishihara & Shunko Makimura's "Ginza No Koi No Monogatari" (1961) sold estimate 3.35 million copies in Japan.[7] Hiroshi Wada & His Mahina Stars's "Ozashiki Kouta" (1964) sold estimate 3 million copies in Japan.[8] Yuzo Kayama's "Kimi to Itsumademo" (1965) sold estimate 3 million copies in Japan.[9] However, those were released before 1968 in Japan.

List of best-selling singles in Japan 1968-2006

Based on the list published by Oricon in 2008.[10]

Rank Year Sales Chart Peak Title Artist
1 1975 4.536m 1 (11 weeks) "Oyoge! Taiyaki-kun" Masato Shimon
2 1972 3.256m 1 (16 weeks) "Onna no Michi" Shiro Miya
3 2000 2.935m 1 (5 weeks) "Tsunami" Southern All Stars
4 1999 2.918m 1 (3 weeks) "Dango 3 Kyodai" Kentarou Hayami, Ayumi Shigemori,
Himawari Kids, Dango Gasshoudan
5 1992 2.895m 1 (6 weeks) "Kimi ga Iru Dake de" Kome Kome Club
6 1991 2.822m 1 (13 weeks) "Say Yes" Chage & Aska
7 1994 2.766m 1 (3 weeks) "Tomorrow Never Knows" Mr. Children
8 1991 2.588m 1 (7 weeks) "Oh! Yeah!" / "Love Story wa Totsuzen ni" Kazumasa Oda
9 2003 2.578m 1 (7 weeks) "Sekai ni Hitotsu dake no Hana" SMAP
10 1995 2.489m 1 (1 week) "Love Love Love/Arashi ga Kuru" Dreams Come True

List of best-selling international singles in Japan 1968-2006

Japan has more million-selling singles than any other country, but few have come from foreign artists. From 1968 through 2006, only three singles by Western musicians have become million sellers.

Rank Year Sales Chart Peak Title Artist
1 1976 1.924.000 1 "Beautiful Sunday / Sleepy Head" Daniel Boone
2 1995 1.500.000[11][12] 1 "To Love You More" Celine Dion
3 1994 1.241.160 2 "All I Want for Christmas Is You" Mariah Carey
4 1992 1,010.080 5 "I Will Always Love You" Whitney Houston
5 1968 810.000 1 "The Sound of Silence" Simon and Garfunkel
6 1970 750.000 1 "Otoko no Sekai (Mandom: The Lovers of the World)" Jerry Wallace
7 1983 750.000 1 "Flashdance... What a Feeling" Irene Cara
8 1980 673.850 1 "I'm In the Mood for Dancing" The Nolans
9 1971 0.67m 1 "Ani Holem Al Naomi" [Japanese Lyric Ver.] Hedva and David
10 1984
(reissue 1991)		 0.67m 12 "Last Christmas" Wham!
11 1997 0.63m 1 "Candle in the Wind 1997"/"Something About the Way You Look Tonight" Elton John
12 1973 0.592m 5 "Yesterday Once More" The Carpenters
13 1977 0.568m 2 "Sky High" Jigsaw
14 1970 0.558m 6 "Let It Be" The Beatles
15 1997 0.555m 2 "Venus" Shocking Blue
16 1976
(reissue 1996)		 0.542m 5 "I Need to be in Love" / "Top of the World" (double A-Side on reissued single)" The Carpenters
17 1991 0.518m 3 "Welcome to the Edge" Billie Hughes
18 1968 0.517m 1 "Massachusetts" Bee Gees
19 1971 0.505m 2 "Never Marry a Railroad Man" Shocking Blue
20 1971 0.475m 5 "Tombe La Neige" [Japanese Lyric ver.] Salvatore Adamo
21 1976 0.473m 11 "Jolene" Olivia Newton-John
22 1977 0.471m 2 "The Stranger" Billy Joel
23 1968 0.467m 1 "Those Were the Days" Mary Hopkin
24 1990 0.465m 4 "If We Hold on Together" Diana Ross
25 1970 0.458m 7 "Mister Monday" Original Caste
26 1970 0.454m 3 "Melody Fair" Bee Gees
27 1976 0.436m 6 "Take Me Home, Country Roads" Olivia Newton-John
28 1971 0.424m 2 "Mamy Blue" Pop-Tops
29 1968
(reissue 1980)		 0.421m 2 "Daydream Believer" The Monkees
30 1976 0.416m 7 "Soul Dracula" Hot Blood

Best-selling multi-format singles in Japan

With over 9.2 million combined sales, Thelma Aoyama's "Soba ni Iru ne" is the best-selling multi-format single in Japan.[13]

Over 5 million copies

Year Song Artist Detailed Sales Total Sales
Physical Single Track Chaku-uta
2008 "Soba ni Iru ne" Thelma Aoyama feat. SoulJa 550,000[13] 8,700,000[13] 9,250,000
2007 "Flavor of Life" Hikaru Utada 651,000[14] 8,000,000[15] 8,651,000
2008 "Kiseki" Greeeen 558,000[14] 6,200,000[16] 6,758,000
2007 "Ai Uta" Greeeen 300,000[17] 5,000,000[17] 5,300,000

Over 4 million copies

Year Song Artist Detailed Sales Total Sales
Physical Single Track Chaku-uta
2003 "Dragostea din tei" O-Zone — 350,000[18] 4,000,000[18] 4,350,000

Over 3 million copies

Year Song Artist Detailed Sales Total Sales
Physical Single Track Chaku-uta
2007 "Winding Road" Ayaka and Kobukuro 359,000[14] 1,000,000[19] 2,000,000[20] 3,359,000
2006 "Mikazuki" Ayaka 243,000[14] 2,000,000[19] 1,000,000[21] 3,243,000
2010 "Heavy Rotation" AKB48 880,761[14] 1,500,000[22] 750,000[23] 3,130,761
1997 "Can You Celebrate?" Namie Amuro 2,750,220[upper-alpha 1][14] 250,000[19] — 3,000,220

Note:

  1. ↑ Combined sales from 8 cm and 12 cm CD releases.

Over 2 million copies

Year Song Artist Detailed Sales Total Sales
Physical Single Track Chaku-uta
2011 "Flying Get" AKB48 1,625,849[24] 1,000,000[19] — 2,625,849
2011 "Everyday, Katyusha" AKB48 1,608,299[25] 1,000,000[19] — 2,608,299
2000 "Everything" Misia 2,000,000[26] 500,000[27] — 2,500,000
2009 "Mister" KARA 144,856[28] 1,250,000[22][29] 1,000,000[30] 2,394,856
2013 "Koi Suru Fortune Cookie" AKB48 1,533,955[31] 1,000,000[32] — 2,533,955
2006 "Koi no Tsubomi" Kumi Koda 273,000[14] 250,000[18] 2,000,000[18] 2,523,000
2007 "Tsubomi" Kobukuro 507,000[14] 2,000,000[19] — 2,507,000
2009 "Ichibu to Zenbu" B'z 380,000[14] 1,000,000[23] 1,000,000[23] 2,380,000
2006 "Good-bye Days" Yui 242,000[14] 1,100,000[33][34] 1,000,000[35] 2,342,000
2010 "Aitakute Aitakute" Kana Nishino 97,000[14] 1,100,000[36][37] 1,000,000[38] 2,197,000
2008 "Prisoner of Love" Hikaru Utada 82,000[14] 1,100,000[39][40] 1,000,000[35] 2,182,000
1998 "Automatic/Time will tell" Hikaru Utada 2,063,000[41] 100,000[42] — 2,163,000
2011 "Love Story" Namie Amuro 162,000[14] 1,000,000[19] 1,000,000[43] 2,162,000
2010 "Kimi tte" Kana Nishino 98,000[14] 1,000,000[19] 1,000,000[29] 2,098,000
2012 "Manatsu no Sounds Good" AKB48 1,822,220[44] 250,000[19] — 2,072,220
2010 "Best Friend" Kana Nishino 71,000[14] 1,100,000[19] 1,000,000[45] 2,071,000
2013 "Sayonara Crawl" AKB48 1,955,800[46] 100,000[19] — 2,055,800
2010 "Beginner" AKB48 1,039,352[47] 1,000,000[19] 2,039,352
2006 "I Believe" Ayaka 276,000[14] 750,000[19] 1,000,000[18] 2,026,000

Best-selling singles by year

Year Title Artist Sales Chart Peak References
2006 "Real Face" KAT-TUN 1,038,923 1 [48]
2007 "Sen no Kaze ni Natte" Masafumi Akikawa 1,115,499 1 [49]
2008 "Truth/Kaze no Mukō e" Arashi 618,229 1 [50]
2009 "Believe/Kumorinochi, Kaisei" Arashi，Kenta Yano starring Satoshi Ohno 656,676 1 [51]
2010 "Beginner" AKB48 954,283 1 [52]
2011 "Flying Get" AKB48 1,587,229 1 [53]
2012 "Manatsu no Sounds Good!" AKB48 1,820,056 1 [54]
2013 "Sayonara Crawl" AKB48 1,955,162 1 [55]
2014 "Labrador Retriever" AKB48 1,786,825 1 [56]
2015 "Bokutachi wa Tatakawanai" AKB48 1,782,707 1 [57]

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://www.ifpi.org/content/library/Recorded-music-sales-2007.pdf
  2. ↑ "'70s fish snack tune 'Taiyaki-kun' leaps again up the sales chart". The Japan Times. 2008-03-26. Retrieved 2008-12-07.
  3. ↑ "Multi-product approach makes 'Flavor Of Life' by Japan's Utada Hikaru a contender for best-selling digital single in the world". EMI Group. 28 July 2007.
  4. ↑ Sports Hochi, March 31, 2008.
  5. ↑ 青山テルマ、ギネス認定…そばにいるね「日本で最も売れた着うたフル楽曲」 (in Japanese). Sports Hochi. 2008-09-12. Archived from the original on September 15, 2008. Retrieved 2008-12-07.
  6. ↑ (Japanese) "音頭大百科", Small Light
  7. ↑ 裕次郎の勇姿再び！郵便局でベスト盤＋切手発売 (in Japanese). Sanspo. 2005-06-23. Archived from the original on 2005-06-24. Retrieved 2008-12-07.
  8. ↑ Daily Sports (October 2, 2006) (in Japanese)
  9. ↑ amazon.co.jp (in Japanese)
  10. ↑ "「およげ!たいやきくん」がギネス認定、再評価の気運高まる" (in Japanese). Oricon. February 20, 2008. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
  11. ↑ "Celine Dion's 'To Love You More': Should Radio Take Initiative or Follow Label Cues?" (PDF). Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 31 August 1996. p. 124. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  12. ↑ "550'S Celine Dion Takes Stardom to Next Level" (PDF). Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 9 November 1996. p. 15. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  13. 1 2 3 "青山テルマ、紅白発表日も１限から授業". Nikkan Sports. 26 November 2008. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 "オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」". Oricon. Retrieved 2010-08-07. (subscription only)
  15. ↑ "宇多田ヒカル、デビュー以来全アルバムがミリオン達成". Barks. 13 May 2008. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  16. ↑ "Top 10 Digital Single Tracks 2008" (PDF). International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. p. 7. Retrieved 14 November 2010.
  17. 1 2 "ＧＲｅｅｅｅＮキバッた初連ドラ主題歌…ＴＢＳ系「ＲＯＯＫＩＥＳ」" [First drama series theme song ... TBS system was GReeeeN Kiba~tsu "ROOKIES"]. Sports Hochi. 31 March 2008. Archived from the original on 19 February 2009. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
  18. 1 2 3 4 5 レコード協会調べ　8月度有料音楽配信認定 [Record Association Investigation: August Digital Music Download Certifications] (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. 20 September 2006. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  19. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 レコード協会調べ　1月度有料音楽配信認定 [Record Association Investigation: January Digital Music Download Certifications] (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. 28 February 2014. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  20. ↑ レコード協会調べ　4月度有料音楽配信認定 [Record Association Investigation: April Digital Music Download Certifications] (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. 20 May 2007. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  21. ↑ レコード協会調べ　2月度有料音楽配信認定 [Record Association Investigation: February Digital Music Download Certifications] (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. 20 March 2007. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  22. 1 2 レコード協会調べ　5月度有料音楽配信認定＜略称：5月度認定＞ [Record Association report: May digital music download certifications (Abbreviation: April Certifications)]. Recording Industry Association of Japan (in Japanese). 20 May 2011. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
  23. 1 2 3 レコード協会調べ　1月度有料音楽配信認定 [Record Association Investigation: January Digital Music Download Certifications] (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. 20 February 2011. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  24. ↑ "AKB48 売上 -フライングゲット". Atwiki (in Japanese). Retrieved June 10, 2014.
  25. ↑ "AKB48 売上 - Everyday、カチューシャ". Atwiki (in Japanese). Retrieved June 10, 2014.
  26. ↑ "200万枚を売り上げたMISIA「Everything」の作曲家・松本俊明が4枚目のソロアルバム発売＆インストアイベント決定！". Oricon. November 30, 2011. Retrieved December 15, 2014.
  27. ↑ レコード協会調べ　1月度有料音楽配信認定 ＜略称：1月度認定＞ [Record Association report: January digital music download certifications (Abbreviation: February Certifications)]. RIAJ (in Japanese). February 28, 2014. Retrieved December 15, 2014.
  28. ↑ "2010年　シングル年間TOP100" [Oricon Single Top 100 2010]. Oricon. Retrieved 22 March 2014.
  29. 1 2 レコード協会調べ　2月度有料音楽配信認定 ＜略称：2月度認定＞ [Record Association report: February digital music download certifications (Abbreviation: February Certifications)]. RIAJ (in Japanese). March 25, 2011. Retrieved March 25, 2011.
  30. ↑ http://www.riaj.or.jp/data/others/chart/w140228.html
  31. ↑ "AKB48 売上 - 恋するフォーチュンクッキー" (in Japanese). Retrieved June 10, 2014.
  32. ↑ レコード協会調べ　3月度有料音楽配信認定 ＜略称：3月度認定＞ [Record Association report: March digital music download certifications (Abbreviation: March Certifications)]. RIAJ (in Japanese). March 2015. Retrieved 26 December 2015.
  33. ↑ レコード協会調べ　7月度有料音楽配信認定 [Record Association Investigation: June Digital Music Download Certifications] (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. 20 August 2008. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  34. ↑ レコード協会調べ　5月度有料音楽配信認定 [Record Association Investigation: June Digital Music Download Certifications] (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. 20 June 2008. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  35. 1 2 レコード協会調べ　6月度有料音楽配信認定 [Record Association Investigation: June Digital Music Download Certifications] (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. 20 July 2008. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  36. ↑ レコード協会調べ　8月度有料音楽配信認定 [Record Association Investigation: August Digital Music Download Certifications] (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. 20 September 2010. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  37. ↑ レコード協会調べ　11月度有料音楽配信認定 [Record Association Investigation: November Digital Music Download Certifications] (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. 20 December 2010. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  38. ↑ レコード協会調べ　7月度有料音楽配信認定 [Record Association Investigation: July Digital Music Download Certifications] (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. 20 August 2010. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  39. ↑ レコード協会調べ　7月度有料音楽配信認定 [Record Association Investigation: June Digital Music Download Certifications] (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. 20 August 2008. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  40. ↑ レコード協会調べ　5月度有料音楽配信認定 [Record Association Investigation: June Digital Music Download Certifications] (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. 20 June 2008. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  41. ↑ "オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」" [Oricon Ranking Information Service 'You Big Tree']. Oricon. Retrieved June 17, 2014. (subscription required (help)).
  42. ↑ "GOLD ALBUM 他認定作品 1999年2月度" [Gold Albums, and other certified works. February 1999 Edition] (PDF). The Record (Bulletin) (in Japanese) (Chūō, Tokyo: Recording Industry Association of Japan) 473: 9. April 10, 1999. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 23, 2014. Retrieved January 22, 2014.
  43. ↑ レコード協会調べ　9月度有料音楽配信認定 [Record Association Investigation: September Digital Music Download Certifications] (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. 18 October 2013. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  44. ↑ "AKB48 売上 - 真夏のSounds good!". Atwiki (in Japanese). Retrieved June 10, 2014.
  45. ↑ レコード協会調べ　3月度有料音楽配信認定 [Record Association Investigation: March Digital Music Download Certifications] (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. 20 April 2011. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  46. ↑ "AKB48 売上 - さよならクロール" (in Japanese). Retrieved June 10, 2014.
  47. ↑ "AKB48 売上 - Beginner" [AKB48 Sales - Beginner]. Atwiki (in Japanese). Retrieved 11 June 2014.
  48. ↑ "2006 Yearly Single Ranking". Oricon Style (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved October 13, 2014.
  49. ↑ "2007 Yearly Single Ranking". Oricon Style (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved October 13, 2014.
  50. ↑ "2008 Yearly Single Ranking". contents.oricon.co.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved January 24, 2014.
  51. ↑ "Single Top 50". contents.oricon.co.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved January 24, 2014.
  52. ↑ "Oricon announces "2010 Yearly Single Ranking"!". toykohive. 6Theory Media, LLC. December 19, 2010. Retrieved January 24, 2014.
  53. ↑ "Oricon reveals full list for "2011 Yearly Single Ranking"". toykohive. 6Theory Media, LLC. December 19, 2011. Retrieved January 24, 2014.
  54. ↑ "Oricon reveals their yearly single ranking for 2012". toykohive. 6Theory Media, LLC. December 20, 2012. Retrieved January 24, 2014.
  55. ↑ "Oricon 2013 Yearly Charts : Singles". toykohive. 6Theory Media, LLC. December 15, 2013. Retrieved January 24, 2014.
  56. ↑ "2014 Oricon Yearly Single Ranking TOP50". toykohive. 6Theory Media, LLC. December 20, 2014. Retrieved January 9, 2015.
  57. ↑ "2015 Oricon Yearly Single Ranking TOP50". toykohive. 6Theory Media, LLC. December 24, 2015. Retrieved January 2, 2016.

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