List of best-selling music artists in Japan

Last updated

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]

Contents

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 86 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 50 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

50 million or more records

ArtistYears activeGenreSales
B'z 1988–present Hard rock / Pop rock / Blues rock 86.25 million [13]
Ayumi Hamasaki 1998–presentPop / Dance / Electronic / Rock 64.50 million [13]
AKB48 2005–present J-pop / Electropop / Dance-pop 60.05 million [13]
Mr. Children 1989–1997, 1998–presentPop rock / Power pop / Progressive pop 60.01 million [13]

30 million to 49 million records

ArtistYears activeGenreSales
Dreams Come True 1988–presentJ-pop / R&B / New wave / City pop 44.94 million [13]
Yumi Matsutoya [note 1] 1968–presentPop rock / Jazz fusion / Folk rock / Kayōkyoku39.39 million [14] [15]
GLAY 1988–presentPop rock / Power pop / Progressive rock38.80 million [13]
Arashi 1999–2020 (Hiatus)Pop / rock / R&B 38.44 million [13]
ZARD 1991–2007Pop rock / R&B / Soft rock / AOR37.63 million [13]
Southern All Stars 1975–present Soft rock / Pop rock / Folk rock / Blues rock37.61 million [14]
Hikaru Utada 1998–2010, 2016–presentJ-pop / R&B / Dance / Electronica37.34 million [13]
SMAP 1991–2016J-pop / R&B37.20 million [14]
Namie Amuro 1992–2018Pop / R&B / Hip hop / EDM / Eurobeat 36.18 million [16]
CHAGE and ASKA 1979–1996, 1999–2009Folk rock / Soft rock31 million [17]
X Japan 1982–1997, 2007–present Heavy metal 30 million† [18]
Seiko Matsuda 1980–presentPop / Kayōkyoku30 million† [19]

20 million to 29 million records

ArtistYears activeGenreSales
L'Arc-en-Ciel 1991–present Alternative rock / Pop rock / Post-punk 29.27 million [20]
Globe 1995–2018 Synthpop / Eurobeat / Trance 28.94 million [20]
KinKi Kids 1997–presentPop28.38 million [20]
Koda Kumi 2000–presentJ-pop / pop / R&B27.5 million [21]
Akina Nakamori 1982–presentPop / Kayōkyoku25.34 million [22]
Tube 1985–presentPower pop / Surf rock / Blues rock24.55 million
Masaharu Fukuyama 1990–presentPop / Rock24.10 million [23]
Exile 2001–presentJ-pop / R&B / Dance / House 23.44 million [20]
Every Little Thing 1996–presentPop rock / Soft rock / Synthpop22.72 million [20]
Maki Ohguro 1989–presentPop / Dance-pop / New Wave22.67 million [20]
Morning Musume 1997–presentJ-pop / Electropop / Dance-pop22.47 million
Miyuki Nakajima 1975–presentKayōkyoku / Folk / Rock / Enka21.96 million
TRF 1993–presentJ-pop / Hi-NRG / Rave / Techno 21.71 million [24]
Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi 1977–presentRock / Folk21.64 million [23]
Noriyuki Makihara 1990–presentPop21 million [23]
Spitz 1987–presentAlternative rock / Pop rock20.68 million [25]
Speed 1996–2000, 2008–2012Pop / Dance / R&B / Hip hop20 million† [26]
Misia 1998–presentR&B / Pop / Soul / Dance20 million† [27]

10 million to 19 million records

ArtistYears activeGenreSales
Hiroshi Itsuki 1965–presentEnka / Pop19.24 million [28]
Kome Kome Club 1982–1997, 2006–presentPop rock / Psychedelic soul / Funk rock / Rakugo 18.66 million
Pink Lady 1976–1981,
1996–1997,
2003–2005,
2010–2017
Pop / Kayōkyoku / Disco17 million [29]
Kanjani8 2004–presentPop / Rock / Enka / Kayōkyoku17.00 million [30]
Toshinobu Kubota 1981–presentR&B / Pop / Soul / Neo soul 16.33 million
Kyosuke Himuro 1978–2016Rock / Pop16.25 million
Momoe Yamaguchi 1973–1980Pop / Kayōkyoku16.22 million [22]
Dragon Ash 1996–Present Rap rock / Alternative rock16 million
Mariya Takeuchi 1978–PresentPop / Funk / Soul / Disco 16 million
Yōsui Inoue 1969–presentRock / Folk15.809 million
Hiromi Gō 1972–presentPop / Kayōkyoku / R&B15.78 million [22]
Kenji Sawada 1969–presentPop / Rock15.71 million [20]
Mai Kuraki 1999–presentPop / R&B15.5 million
The Checkers 1981–1992 Rock 'n' roll / Rockabilly / Pop rock / Doo-wop 15.38 million [20]
Miki Imai 1986–presentPop15.31 million
Judy and Mary 1992–2001Pop rock / Art punk / Alternative rock15 million
Puffy AmiYumi 1995–present Dance rock / Pop rock / Pop punk / Power pop15 million
Shizuka Kudo 1987–PresentPop / Kayōkyoku15 million [31]
Miho Nakayama 1985–presentPop / Kayōkyoku14.97 million [22]
Nogizaka46 2011–presentPop14.60 million [30]
Mariah Carey 1988–presentPop / Soul / R&B / Dance14.5 million [30]
Kyōko Koizumi 1982–presentPop14.26 million [22]
Shinichi Mori 1966–presentEnka / Kayōkyoku14.10 million [32]
Hideki Saijo 1972–2018Pop13.30 million [33]
Tomoyasu Hotei 1988–present Rock 12.71 million [34]
Misato Watanabe 1985–presentPop / Funk / Rock12.70 million [22]
Toshihiko Tahara 1980–presentPop12.70 million [22]
Masahiko Kondo 1980–presentPop / Kayōkyoku12.67 million [22]
Hikaru Genji 1987–1996Pop12.22 million [22]
Tomomi Kahara 1995–2006, 2013–presentPop / Adult contemporary / Pop rock / Dance-pop12.19 million [22]
V6 1995–2021Pop / Rock12.12 million [22]
Sandaime J Soul Brothers 2010–presentJ-Pop / Dance / R&B11.15 million† [35] [36]
Orange Range 2001–present Rap rock / Alternative rock / Pop rock / Power pop11 million
Princess Princess 1983–1996J-pop / J-rock / Glam Rock11 million [37]
The Alfee 1974–presentPop rock / Hard rock / Punk rock10+ million
Luna Sea 1989–2000, 2010–presentProgressive rock / Alternative rock / Hard rock / Punk rock10+ million†
Chemistry 2001–presentJ-pop / R&B10 million
MAX 1995–presentJ-pop10 million
Shiina Ringo 1998–presentJ-pop / J-rock10 million
KAT-TUN 2006–presentJ-pop10 million
aiko 1998–presentJ-pop10 million
Hiromi Iwasaki 1975–presentPop / Kayōkyoku10 million [37]

5 million to 9 million records

ArtistYears activeGenreSales
Goro Noguchi 1971–presentKayōkyoku / Pop9.50 million [22]
Ami Suzuki 1998–2001, 2004–presentPop / Dance-pop / EDM / Electro house 8.83 million [22]
Hitomi 1992–presentRock / Pop / Electronic8.70 million
TOKIO 1994–presentPower pop / Pop rock8.19 million [22]
SKE48 2008–presentPop8.15 million [30]
KAT-TUN 1994–presentPop / Rock8.05 million [30]
TVXQ 2003–presentPop / Dance / R&B / Electronic / Rock7.80 million† [38]
BoA 2000–present K-pop / J-pop / Dance-pop / R&B7.75 million [30]
Ketsumeishi 1993–presentHip hop / Reggae / R&B7.60 million
Wink 1988–1996Pop7.49 million [22]
NMB48 2011–presentPop7.35 million [30]
Celine Dion 1981–presentPop / Rock7.150 million [39] [40] [41]
DA PUMP 1996–presentJ-Pop / EDM / Eurodance / Hip hop7 million
Ai Otsuka 2003–presentPop6.60 million
Naoko Kawai 1980–1996Kayōkyoku6.53 million [22]
Madonna 1979–presentPop / dance / electronica6.450 million [39] [42]
Avril Lavigne 1999–presentPop/Punk6.4 million [39] [41]
Perfume 2000–presentPop, Techno, Bitpop, Electropop, Dance-pop, Synthpop6 million
Mari Amachi 1971–1977, 1979–presentKayōkyoku5.96 million [22]
Hiroko Yakushimaru 1978–presentKayōkyoku5.85 million [22]
Gackt 1993–presentRock5.70 million
Yoko Minamino 1984–presentPop5.63 million [22]
Shonentai 1985–presentPop5.48 million [22]
Candies 1973–1978Pop / Folk pop5.45 million [22]
Shibugakitai 1982–1988Pop5.43 million [22]
Backstreet Boys 1993–presentPop / Dance-pop5.4 million [39]
Lady Gaga 2008–presentPop5.40 million [43] [44]
Yōko Oginome 1983–presentKayōkyoku5.38 million [22]
Crystal Kay 1999–presentPop, R&B5.2 million
Def Tech 2002–2007, 2010–presentJawaiian Reggae5 million
Rip Slyme 1994–presentHip hop5 million
Yui 2004–presentPop / Rock5 million

Best-selling Western acts

The long-standing second world's biggest music market have seen record sales dominated by their local music acts. [45]

A selected group of Western acts have achieved certified units of over 4 million since Japan's music certification system inception by RIAJ in 1989. Various of them debuted before that tracking system, selling millions of their catalogue along with thousand of copies for individual titles alone; ranging from Madonna to Michael Jackson according to Oricon's chart book figures. [46] By other estimates, Western acts like the 1970s band, The Nolans have claimed sales of 12 million in the country during their height of career, [47] while according to Jeff Rovin in Julio! (1985) many of Julio Iglesias' albums sold over two million copies in the country. [48]

Highest certified Western artists by RIAJ (1989–present)
ArtistCertified sales
(in millions)
Refs.
Mariah Carey 14.5 million [39] [42] [49]
Celine Dion*7.150 million [39] [40] [41]
Madonna 6.450 million [39] [42]
Avril Lavigne 6.4 million [39] [41]
Backstreet Boys 5.4 million [39]
Lady Gaga 5.4 million [39] [42]
The Beatles 4.950 million [39]
Michael Jackson 4.650 million [39] [42]
Enya 4.6 million [39]
Bon Jovi 4.4 million [39] [42]
Whitney Houston 4.3 million [39] [50]
Indicates a debutant artist prior RIAJ's certification program (e. 1989)

Note: *Dion's "international" debut is considered to be dated in 1990, with her first English-recording album. It is the decade when she also entered the Japanese charts.

Best-selling artist sales by year

YearArtistAlbum SalesSingle SalesTotal Sales
1999 Hikaru Utada 7,365,8305,383,77012,749,600
2000 Ayumi Hamasaki 5,267,3503,914,9209,182,270
2001 Ayumi Hamasaki 5,311,9505,067,91010,379,860
2002 Hikaru Utada 3,526,7802,410,9905,667,770
2003 Ayumi Hamasaki 2,774,4741,056,1483,830,622
2004 Hikaru Utada 3,537,845365,2063,903,051
2005 Orange Range 3,479,5392,242,2575,721,796
2006 Koda Kumi 2,411,4701,281,0223,692,492
2007 Koda Kumi 1,318,072534,0351,852,107
2008 Exile 4,363,967678,4585,042,425
2009 Arashi 1,432,7812,213,4233,646,204
2010 Arashi 1,395,8073,778,3135,174,120
2011 AKB48 829,6456,871,2817,700,926
2012 AKB48 1,029,9546,954,5997,984,553
2013 AKB48 -5,961,2135,961,213
2014 AKB48 1,041,3556,241,9877,283,342
2015 AKB48 1,468,2795,062,1006,530,379
2016 AKB48 -5,413,3285,413,328
2017 AKB48 632,6154,715,4155,348,030
2018 AKB48 611,0565,677,0956,288,151
2019 Arashi 2,100,438709,8132,810,251
2020 Arashi 822,4591,147,8651,970,324

Notes

  1. Includes releases under her maiden name, Yumi Arai.

See also

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Further reading