List of top music artists in Japan
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The top music artists in Japan include Japanese artists with claims of 15 million or more record sales or with over 2 million subscribers. Japan is the largest physical music market in the world and the second largest overall behind the United States, and the biggest in Asia, according to International Federation of the Phonographic Industry.[1][2]
Sources that provide the sales an artist or record company claim via press release, rather than certified or reported by reliable third parties such as Oricon, are denoted by a "†".
Oricon Charts
Oricon provides accumulated physical sales of all entries on its singles and albums charts (started in 1968 and 1970, respectively).[3] Note that Oricon does not count sales of the records that did not enter or fell off of the charts, unlike Nielsen SoundScan. Therefore, it generally shows fewer numbers than reported sales via record labels, and may not reflect the real sales obtained by these artists. In addition, it excludes recording artists like Michiya Mihashi,[4] Hibari Misora, Yujiro Ishihara, and Hachiro Kasuga who had garnered most of commercial success before Oricon was established in the late 1960s. The reported numbers like Mihashi's 100 million and Misora's 68 million records,[5][6] are highly doubtful and cannot be confirmed by Oricon and RIAJ.
The best-selling artist according to Oricon are B'z (more than 82 million), who is also the best-selling artist by a number of albums sold (46.5 million).[7] The best-selling artists by number of singles sold are AKB48 (50.8 million),[8] B'z (35.8 million) in second place,[9] Mr. Children (28.45 million) in third place,[10] and Southern All Stars (25.179 million) in fourth place.[11] Ayumi Hamasaki holds the record for being the best selling solo artist and being the only solo artist to sell more than 60 million in total.[12]
The list excludes sales of albums or singles recorded by artists in collaboration with others as part of a singular artist or group's total.
Artists by sales
60 million or more records
Artist | Years active | Genre | Sales |
---|---|---|---|
B'z | 1988–present | Hard rock / Pop rock / Blues rock | 82.62 million[13] |
Ayumi Hamasaki | 1998–present | Pop / Dance / Electronic / Rock | 60.94 million[13] |
AKB48 | 2005–present | J-pop / Electropop / Dance-pop | 60.05 million[13] |
Mr. Children | 1989–1997, 1998–present | Pop rock / Power pop / Progressive pop | 60.01 million[13] |
30 million to 49 million records
Artist | Years active | Genre | Sales |
---|---|---|---|
Southern All Stars | 1975–present | Soft rock / Pop rock / Folk rock / Blues rock | 48.97 million[14] |
Dreams Come True | 1988–present | New wave / R&B | 44.94 million[13] |
Yumi Matsutoya[note 1] | 1968–present | Pop rock / Jazz fusion / Folk rock / Kayōkyoku | 39.39 million[14] |
Glay | 1988–present | Pop rock / Power pop / Progressive rock | 38.80 million[13] |
Arashi | 1999–2020 (Hiatus) | Pop / rock / R&B | 38.44 million[13] |
Zard | 1991–2007 | Pop rock | 37.63 million[13] |
Hikaru Utada | 1998–2010, 2016–present | J-pop / R&B / Dance / Electronica | 37.34 million[13] |
SMAP | 1991–2016 | J-pop / R&B | 37.20 million[14] |
Namie Amuro | 1992–2018 | Pop / R&B / Hip hop / EDM / Eurobeat | 36.18 million[15] |
Chage and Aska | 1979–1996, 1999–2009 | Folk rock / Soft rock | 31 million[16] |
X Japan | 1982–1997, 2007–present | Heavy metal | 30 million†[17] |
Seiko Matsuda | 1980–present | Pop / Kayōkyoku | 30 million†[18] |
20 million to 29 million records
Artist | Years active | Genre | Sales |
---|---|---|---|
L'Arc-en-Ciel | 1991–present | Alternative rock / Pop rock / Post-punk | 29.27 million[19] |
Globe | 1995–2018 | Synthpop / Eurobeat / Trance | 28.94 million[19] |
KinKi Kids | 1997–present | Pop | 28.38 million[19] |
Koda Kumi | 2000–present | J-pop / pop / R&B / Soul | 27.5 million [20] |
Akina Nakamori | 1982–present | Pop / Kayōkyoku | 25.34 million[21] |
Tube | 1985–present | Power pop / Surf rock / Blues rock | 24.55 million |
Masaharu Fukuyama | 1990–present | Pop / Rock | 24.10 million[22] |
Exile | 2001–present | J-pop / R&B / Dance / House | 23.44 million[19] |
Every Little Thing | 1996–present | Pop rock / Soft rock / Synthpop | 22.72 million[19] |
Maki Ohguro | 1989–present | Pop / Dance-pop / New Wave | 22.67 million[19] |
Morning Musume | 1997–present | J-pop / Electropop / Dance-pop | 22.47 million |
Miyuki Nakajima | 1975–present | Kayōkyoku / Folk / Rock / Enka | 21.96 million |
TRF | 1993–present | J-pop / Hi-NRG / Rave / Techno | 21.71 million[23] |
Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi | 1977–present | Rock / Folk | 21.64 million[22] |
Noriyuki Makihara | 1990–present | Pop | 21 million[22] |
Spitz | 1987–present | Alternative rock / Pop rock | 20.68 million[24] |
Speed | 1996–2000, 2008–2012 | Pop / Dance / R&B / Hip hop | 20 million†[25] |
Misia | 1998–present | R&B / Pop / Soul / Dance | 20 million†[26] |
10 million to 19 million records
Artist | Years active | Genre | Sales |
---|---|---|---|
Hiroshi Itsuki | 1965–present | Enka / Pop | 19.24 million[27] |
Kome Kome Club | 1982–1997, 2006–present | Pop rock / Psychedelic soul / Funk rock / Rakugo | 18.66 million |
Pink Lady | 1976–1981, 1996–1997, 2003–2005, 2010–2017 |
Pop / Kayōkyoku / Disco | 17 million[28] |
Kanjani8 | 2004–present | Pop / Rock / Enka / Kayōkyoku | 17.00 million[29] |
Toshinobu Kubota | 1981–present | R&B / Pop / Soul / Neo soul | 16.33 million |
Kyosuke Himuro | 1978–2016 | Rock / Pop | 16.25 million |
Momoe Yamaguchi | 1973–1980 | Pop / Kayōkyoku | 16.22 million[21] |
Dragon Ash | 1996–Present | Alternative Rock / Hip hop / Nu metal / Punk rock | 16 million |
Mariya Takeuchi | 1978–Present | Pop / Funk / Soul / Disco | 16 million |
Yōsui Inoue | 1969–present | Rock / Folk | 15.809 million |
Hiromi Gō | 1972–present | Pop / Kayōkyoku / R&B | 15.78 million[21] |
Kenji Sawada | 1969–present | Pop / Rock | 15.71 million[19] |
Mai Kuraki | 1999–present | Pop / R&B | 15.5 million |
The Checkers | 1981–1992 | Rock 'n' roll / Rockabilly / Pop rock / Doo-wop | 15.38 million[19] |
Miki Imai | 1986–present | Pop | 15.31 million |
Judy and Mary | 1992–2001 | Pop rock / Art punk / Alternative rock | 15 million |
Puffy AmiYumi | 1995–present | Dance rock / Pop rock / Pop punk / Power pop | 15 million |
Shizuka Kudo | 1987–Present | Pop / Kayōkyoku | 15 million[30] |
Miho Nakayama | 1985–present | Pop / Kayōkyoku | 14.97 million[21] |
Nogizaka46 | 2011–present | Pop | 14.60 million[29] |
Mariah Carey | 1988–present | Pop / Soul / R&B / Dance | 14.5 million[29] |
Kyōko Koizumi | 1982–present | Pop | 14.26 million[21] |
Shinichi Mori | 1966–present | Enka / Kayōkyoku | 14.10 million[31] |
Hideki Saijo | 1972–2018 | Pop | 13.30 million[32] |
Tomoyasu Hotei | 1988–present | Rock | 12.71 million[33] |
Misato Watanabe | 1985–present | Pop / Funk / Rock | 12.70 million[21] |
Toshihiko Tahara | 1980–present | Pop | 12.70 million[21] |
Masahiko Kondo | 1980–present | Pop / Kayōkyoku | 12.67 million[21] |
Hikaru Genji | 1987–1996 | Pop | 12.22 million[21] |
Tomomi Kahara | 1995–2006, 2013–present | Pop / Adult contemporary / Pop rock / Dance-pop | 12.19 million[21] |
V6 | 1995–present | Pop / Rock | 12.12 million[21] |
Sandaime J Soul Brothers | 2010–present | J-Pop / Dance / R&B | 11.15 million†[34][35] |
Orange Range | 2001–present | Rap rock / Alternative rock / Pop rock / Power pop | 11 million |
Princess Princess | 1983–1996 | J-pop / J-rock / Glam Rock | 11 million[36] |
THE ALFEE | 1974–present | Pop rock / Hard rock / Punk rock | 10+ million |
Luna Sea | 1989–2000, 2010–present | Progressive rock / Alternative rock / Hard rock / Punk rock | 10+ million† |
Chemistry | 2001–present | J-pop / R&B | 10 million |
MAX | 1995–present | J-pop | 10 million |
Shiina Ringo | 1998–present | J-pop / J-rock | 10 million |
KAT-TUN | 2006–present | J-pop | 10 million |
Aiko | 1998–present | J-pop | 10 million |
Hiromi Iwasaki | 1975–present | Pop / Kayōkyoku | 10 million[36] |
Best-selling artist sales by year
Year | Artist | Album Sales | Single Sales | Total Sales |
---|---|---|---|---|
1999 | Hikaru Utada | 7,365,830 | 5,383,770 | 12,749,600 |
2000 | Ayumi Hamasaki | 5,267,350 | 3,914,920 | 9,182,270 |
2001 | Ayumi Hamasaki | 5,311,950 | 5,067,910 | 10,379,860 |
2002 | Hikaru Utada | 3,526,780 | 2,410,990 | 5,667,770 |
2003 | Ayumi Hamasaki | 2,774,474 | 1,056,148 | 3,830,622 |
2004 | Hikaru Utada | 3,537,845 | 365,206 | 3,903,051 |
2005 | Orange Range | 3,479,539 | 2,242,257 | 5,721,796 |
2006 | Koda Kumi | 2,411,470 | 1,281,022 | 3,692,492 |
2007 | Koda Kumi | 1,318,072 | 534,035 | 1,852,107 |
2008 | Exile | 4,363,967 | 678,458 | 5,042,425 |
2009 | Arashi | 1,432,781 | 2,213,423 | 3,646,204 |
2010 | Arashi | 1,395,807 | 3,778,313 | 5,174,120 |
2011 | AKB48 | 829,645 | 6,871,281 | 7,700,926 |
2012 | AKB48 | 1,029,954 | 6,954,599 | 7,984,553 |
2013 | AKB48 | - | 5,961,213 | 5,961,213 |
2014 | AKB48 | 1,041,355 | 6,241,987 | 7,283,342 |
2015 | AKB48 | 1,468,279 | 5,062,100 | 6,530,379 |
2016 | AKB48 | - | 5,413,328 | 5,413,328 |
2017 | AKB48 | 632,615 | 4,715,415 | 5,348,030 |
2018 | AKB48 | 611,056 | 5,677,095 | 6,288,151 |
2019 | Arashi | 2,100,438 | 709,813 | 2,810,251 |
2020 | Arashi | 822,459 | 1,147,865 | 1,970,324 |
Most subscribed
The following table is a list of artists with over 2 million subscribers. It is updated as of October 11, 2022.[37]
Artist | Number of Subscribers | Notes |
---|---|---|
Kenshi Yonezu | 6,320,000 | [38] |
Twice Japan | 4,580,000 | [39] |
Ado | 4,190,000 | [40] |
Eve | 4,180,000 | [41] |
One Ok Rock | 4,140,000 | [42] |
Ayase / Yoasobi | 4,050,000 | [43] |
Mafumafu | 3,480,000 | [44] |
Arashi | 3,260,000 | [45] |
kobasolo | 3,010,000 | [46] |
Higedan | 2,890,000 | [47] |
AKB48 | 2,570,000 | [48] |
Yorushika | 2,570,000 | [49] |
Babymetal | 2,510,000 | [50] |
Radwimps | 2,410,000 | [51] |
LiSA | 2,370,000 | [52] |
HoneyWorks | 2,230,000 | [53] |
Zutomayo | 2,220,000 | [54] |
Notes
- ^ Includes releases under her maiden name, Yumi Arai.
See also
References
- ^ Smirke, Richard (March 20, 2011). "IFPI 2011 Report: Global Recorded Music Sales Fall 8.4%; Eminem, Lady Gaga Top Int'l Sellers". billboard.biz. Retrieved February 5, 2012.
- ^ "The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry Releases Its 2014 Data on the World Music Market". aramajapan.com. 2015-04-22. Retrieved April 22, 2015.
- ^ Yamamoto, Takao (producer) (January 13, 2012). "ミュージックステーション2時間スペシャル アーティスト総売上ランキング". Music Station (in Japanese). All-Nippon News Network. TV Asahi.
- ^ 三橋美智也(みはしみちや). goo (in Japanese). Archived from the original on July 10, 2009.
- ^ "Mihashi Michiya" (in Japanese). goo. Archived from the original on 2009-07-10. Retrieved 2009-02-12.
- ^ https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=950DE7DA1E3EF936A15755C0A96F948260 New York Times obituary June 25, 1989
- ^ "B'z、通算28作目のアルバム首位 歴代1位記録を更新" (in Japanese). Oricon. 2017-12-05. Retrieved 2018-11-20.
- ^ AKB48、総選挙シングルで通算&連続40作目首位 総売上枚数が5000万枚突破. Oricon News (in Japanese). Oricon. September 25, 2018. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
- ^ "【オリコン】AKB48、シングル総売上日本一3615.8万枚 秋元氏総売上は1億枚突破". Oricon Style (in Japanese). Oricon. December 9, 2015. Retrieved December 25, 2015.
- ^ "【オリコン】AKB48、女性初の20作目ミリオン シングル総売上枚数は歴代2位". Oricon Style (in Japanese). Oricon. May 27, 2014. Retrieved May 27, 2014.
- ^ "【オリコン】AKB48、史上初の通算16作目ミリオン B'zの記録を13年ぶり更新". Oricon Style (in Japanese). Oricon. December 17, 2013. Retrieved January 28, 2014.
- ^ Orr, Gillian (March 25, 2014). "Why has Japan's CD market suddenly gone into decline?". The Independent. Retrieved September 25, 2014.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i 【オリコン“平成セールス”ランキング】シングルはSMAP、アルバムは宇多田ヒカルが1位 “平成No.1”アーティスト別セールスのB’zからはコメント到着. Oricon News (in Japanese). Oricon. April 11, 2019. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
- ^ a b c Miyasako, Hiroyuki (host); Hotohara, Tōru (host) (March 22, 2018). アメトーーク!『B’z芸人』 [Ame Talk! "B'z Geinin"]. Ame Talk. TV Asahi.
- ^ 引退目前の安室奈美恵、歴代1位記録を振り返る. Oricon News (in Japanese). Oricon. September 13, 2018. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
- ^ Schley, Matt (May 19, 2014). "J-pop star arrested on drug charges". Otaku USA. Retrieved May 6, 2018.
- ^ "Aaron, Charles (October 10, 2014). "X Japan's Incredible Ride: Meet Rock's Most Flamboyant Survivors". Rolling Stone. Retrieved February 12, 2018.
- ^ Hindes, Andrew (August 20, 1997). "'Armageddon' suits singer". Variety. Retrieved May 6, 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Music Station Pits the Top 25 Showa Acts Against the Top 25 Heisei Acts". aramajapan.com. September 2, 2015. Retrieved February 11, 2018.
- ^ name=http://www.avex.co.jp/ir/library/library_06.html
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Yamamoto, Takao (producer) (2011). MUSIC STATION(Mステ)史上最強アイドルBEST50 [Music Station "Strongest Idols in History Best 50"]. Music Station (in Japanese). TV Asahi.
{{cite serial}}
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(help) - ^ a b c 【オリコン】福山雅治、シングル18作目首位 歴代1位記録3部門を自ら更新. Oricon News (in Japanese). Oricon. September 19, 2017. Retrieved February 12, 2018.
- ^ “寄せ集め集団”がCD売上2170万枚!リーダーDJ KOOが心がけている「たったひとつのこと」. dime.jp (in Japanese). Shogakukan. February 24, 2016. Retrieved September 27, 2018.
- ^ Yamamoto, Takao (producer) (March 29, 2013). ミュージックステーション2時間スペシャル アーティスト総売上ランキング [Music Station 2-Hour Special "Artist Total Sales Ranking"]. Music Station (in Japanese). TV Asahi.
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(help) - ^ Herskovitz, Jon (October 11, 1999). "Top Japanese girl group Speed coming to a halt". Variety. Retrieved September 26, 2018.
- ^ "CD総売り上げ2000万枚以上!MISIAデビュー15周年を記念したベスト盤の収録曲が明らかに". Tokyo Pop Line. January 1, 2013. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
- ^ "【オリコン】福山雅治、初の結婚ソング首位 22年目で男性ソロ歴代1位の総売上2127万枚. Oricon News (in Japanese). Oricon. September 6, 2011. Retrieved February 12, 2018.
- ^ Billboard Magazine September 1980. 1980-09-20. Retrieved September 26, 2018.
- ^ a b c "RIAJ: Gold Disc Certifications" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved February 11, 2018.
- ^ "ミュージックステーション 2013/08/16(金)20:00放送 テレビ朝日 TVでた蔵". TV Data Zoo. Retrieved December 26, 2017.
- ^ ""- YouTube" 【オリコン【国内】男性アーティスト総売上ランキングTOP15 1979-2020. ランキングタイム! (in Japanese). ランキングタイム!. January 2, 2020. Retrieved June 7, 2020.
- ^ 西城秀樹さん、「YOUNG MAN」などヒット曲多数 男性ソロ歴代6位のシングル総売上1159万枚. Oricon News (in Japanese). Oricon. May 17, 2018. Retrieved September 27, 2018.
- ^ "【最新版】国内で最も売れたアーティストトータルセールスベスト200組・・・nammyblog vol.190". nammyのチャート日誌 (in Japanese). Retrieved 2020-08-13.
- ^ "Japan's Best Selling Male Groups 2010-19". Tumblr. December 29, 2019. Retrieved December 31, 2019.
- ^ "Earthquake Bird Star and J-Pop Icon Naoki Kobayashi on the Movies That Changed His Life". Esquire. September 24, 2019. Retrieved December 31, 2019.
- ^ a b ""- YouTube" 【オリコン【国内】女性アーティスト総売上ランキングTOP15 1983-2020. ランキングタイム! (in Japanese). ランキングタイム!. January 13, 2020. Retrieved June 7, 2020.
- ^ "Top 100 Most Subscribed Music Youtubers in Japan - NoxInfluencer". www.noxinfluencer.com. Retrieved 2022-05-04.
- ^ "Kenshi Yonezu 米津玄師 - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved 2022-09-04.
- ^ "TWICE JAPAN OFFICIAL YouTube Channel - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved 2022-09-04.
- ^ "Ado - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved 2022-09-04.
- ^ "E ve - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved 2022-09-04.
- ^ "ONE OK ROCK - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved 2022-09-04.
- ^ "Ayase / YOASOBI - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved 2022-09-04.
- ^ "まふまふちゃんねる - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved 2022-09-04.
- ^ "ARASHI - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved 2022-09-04.
- ^ "kobasolo - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved 2022-09-04.
- ^ "Official髭男dism - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved 2022-09-04.
- ^ "AKB48 - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved 2022-09-04.
- ^ "ヨルシカ / n-buna Official - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved 2022-09-04.
- ^ "BABYMETAL - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved 2022-09-04.
- ^ "RADWIMPS - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved 2022-09-04.
- ^ "LiSA Official YouTube - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved 2022-09-04.
- ^ "HoneyWorks OFFICIAL - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved 2022-09-04.
- ^ "ずっと真夜中でいいのに。ZUTOMAYO - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved 2022-09-04.
Further reading
- Okamoto, Satoshi (2011). Single Chart Book: Complete Edition 1968-2010 (in Japanese). Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. ISBN 978-4-87131-088-8.
- Okamoto, Satoshi (2006). オリコン・アルバム・チャートブック(完全版): 1970~2005 [Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970-2005] (in Japanese). Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. ISBN 978-4-87131-077-2.
External links
- Yamachan Land (Japanese) — Japanese chart archives of selected best-selling artists (last updated December 2007)
- CS1 Japanese-language sources (ja)
- CS1 uses Japanese-language script (ja)
- CS1 errors: access-date without URL
- Articles with short description
- Short description with empty Wikidata description
- Articles needing additional references from April 2015
- All articles needing additional references
- Dynamic lists
- Lists of Japanese musicians
- Lists of best-selling music artists