Best-selling Singles In Japan
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Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...
has the second largest music market in the world. 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 , established in 1999, is the holding company at the head of a Japanese corporate group that supplies statistics and information on music and the music industry in Japan and Western music. It started as, which was founded by Sōkō Koike in N ...
was established and began providing music charts to the general public with data collected from various retailers throughout Japan. This is the list of the best-selling singles, based on the data by
Oricon , established in 1999, is the holding company at the head of a Japanese corporate group that supplies statistics and information on music and the music industry in Japan and Western music. It started as, which was founded by Sōkō Koike in Nov ...
. It does not include singles that were released before 1968, and is only from data collected from Oricon's retail partners and not the record companies.


Best-selling physical singles in Japan

Guinness World Records ''Guinness World Records'', known from its inception in 1955 until 1999 as ''The Guinness Book of Records'' and in previous United States editions as ''The Guinness Book of World Records'', is a reference book published annually, listing world ...
certified that
Masato Shimon , also known as Masato Simon, is a retired Japanese vocalist from Meguro, Tokyo. He is most known for his contributions to the theme songs of various anime and tokusatsu series. In his career, he has sung under the names and . "Masato Shimon" is a ...
's "
Oyoge! Taiyaki-kun is a song by Japanese singer Masato Shimon, released by Canyon Records (now Pony Canyon) on December 25, 1975. The B-side "Ippon Demo Ninjin" was sung by Japanese folk singer Kenichi Nagira. However, the label claimed that the song was a children' ...
" is the best-selling single in Japan. There were several singles which achieved worldwide success.
Shoukichi Kina , is a Japanese rock musician and politician. He, along with his band Champloose, played a large role in the Okinawan home-grown "folk rock" scene in the 1970s and 1980s. His first big hit was " Haisai Ojisan" ("Hey, old man") in 1972, which he wr ...
's "Subete No Hito No Kokoro Ni Hana Wo" sold estimate 30 million copies over worldwide.
Kyu Sakamoto was a Japanese singer and actor. He was best known outside Japan for his international hit song "Ue o Muite Arukō" (known as "Sukiyaki" in English-speaking markets), which was sung in Japanese and sold over 13 million copies. It reached number ...
's "
Sukiyaki is a Japanese dish that is prepared and served in the ''nabemono'' (Japanese hot pot) style. It consists of meat (usually thinly sliced beef) which is slowly cooked or simmered at the table, alongside vegetables and other ingredients, in ...
" 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 , who is also known by the mononym Utada, is a Japanese-American pop singer, songwriter and producer. By 2010, Utada had become one of the most influential, and best-selling, musical artists in Japan. Born in the United States to Japanese parent ...
's "
Flavor of Life "Flavor of Life" is Hikaru Utada's 18th Japanese single (25th single overall). The physical single was officially released on February 28, 2007. Compared to the preceding singles following "Colors", "Flavor of Life" garnered far more success. Th ...
" sold over 7.7 million combined sales. GReeeeN's "Ai Uta" sold 5 million digital download singles. However, those included the sales of non full-track digital download singles.
Guinness World Records ''Guinness World Records'', known from its inception in 1955 until 1999 as ''The Guinness Book of Records'' and in previous United States editions as ''The Guinness Book of World Records'', is a reference book published annually, listing world ...
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. Machiko Soga's "Oba-Q Ondo" sold estimate 2 million single and 4 million Flexi disc, sonosheet in Japan. However, a sonosheet was not a regular 7-inch single. Yujiro Ishihara & Shunko Makimura's "Ginza No Koi No Monogatari" (1961) sold estimate 3.35 million copies in Japan. Hiroshi Wada & His Mahina Stars's "Ozashiki Kouta" (1964) sold estimate 3 million copies in Japan. Yūzō Kayama's "Kimi to Itsumademo" (1965) sold estimate 3 million copies in Japan. However, those were released before 1968 in Japan.


List of best-selling singles based on physical sales

The following list covers the highest-selling singles in the country based on physical sales compiled by
Oricon , established in 1999, is the holding company at the head of a Japanese corporate group that supplies statistics and information on music and the music industry in Japan and Western music. It started as, which was founded by Sōkō Koike in Nov ...
since its foundation in November 1967. Notes: * Released along with popular B-side "Love Story wa Totsuzen ni". * Released as a double A-side single along with "Yah Yah Yah / Yume no Bannin, Yume no Bannin". * Released as a double A-side single along with "Time Will Tell (Hikaru Utada song), Time Will Tell".


List of best-selling singles by Western acts

Since the creation of the Oricon Singles Chart in November 1967, only three singles released by acts of Western origin have become million sellers. The following list covers the top-selling singles released by such acts in Japan, based on physical sales only. Notes: * According to Sony Music Entertainment Japan, "To Love You More" sold 1.5 million copies in the country. * Originally released in 1984, reissued in 1993. * Released as a A-side and B-side#Double A-side, double A-side single along with "Top of the World (The Carpenters song), Top of the World".


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.


Over 5 million copies


Over 4 million copies


Over 3 million copies

''Note:''


Over 2 million copies

''Note:''


Best-selling singles by year

The following is a table of the yearly best-selling singles in Japan by physical sales.


See also

* J-pop * List of best-selling albums in Japan *
Oricon , established in 1999, is the holding company at the head of a Japanese corporate group that supplies statistics and information on music and the music industry in Japan and Western music. It started as, which was founded by Sōkō Koike in Nov ...
* Oricon Singles Chart * Oricon Albums Chart


References


External links


Oricon official site












{{DEFAULTSORT:List Of Best-Selling Singles In Japan Japanese record charts, Best selling singles in Japan Lists of best-selling singles, Japan Japanese music-related lists, Best selling singles in Japan Lists of best-selling singles in Japan,