Music in Japan

In the post, Certification Travels, Japan proved to be the United States equivalent in regards to album certification with impressive requisite for achieving million and multi-million (diamond status in the U.S.).

I found great intrigue in Nick Rhodes' stay in Tokyo as seen on YouTube.
(Duran Duran - Nick Rhodes at the Park Hyatt Tokyo)

In the post, Kyoto, I will admit to promoting my Chloe + Isabel jewelry business as related to Japanese culture.

In this post, I am focusing on music in Japan - specifically best selling albums both domestic and foreign.

Domestic best-selling albums -
The leading position is First Love by Japanese-American musician, Hikaru Utada - released in March 1999 and achieved 7,672,000 in sales.  The end position is All Singles Best by the band, Kobukuro - released in September 2006 and achieved 3,018,000 in sales.

The second highest position is by B'z The Best "Pleasure" by the rock duo B'z - released in May 1998 and achieved 5,136,000 in sales.

The first album to break 4 million is Review by the rock band, Glay - released in October 1997 and achieved 4,876,000 in sales.

Point of interest -
Hikaru Utada is listed three times in the Top 20 list of domestic best-selling albums.  The other two albums include Distance (released in March 2001 and achieved 4,472,000 in sales) and  Deep River (released in June 2002 and achieved 3,605,000 in sales).

The pop group, Globe, has been listed twice on the Top 20 list as well - Globe (released in March 1996 and achieved 4,136,000 in sales) and Faces Places (released in March 1997 and achieved 3,239,000 in sales).

The pop rock band, Mr. Children, has been listed twice on the Top 20 as well - Atomic Heart (released in September 1994 and achieved 3,430,000 in sales) and Bolero (released in March 1997 and achieved 3,283,000 in sales).

The remaining Top 20 domestic best-selling albums can be found on Wikipedia.

Foreign best-selling albums -
The leading position is #1's by Mariah Carey - released in November 1998, achieved 3,700,000 in sales, and ranked No. 1.  The end position is Whitney Houston by Whitney Houston - released in April 1985, achieved 1,000,000 in sales, and ranked No. 2.

Point of interest -
Mariah Carey is listed six times in the foreign best-selling albums list.  The other five albums include -

Merry Christmas (released in October 1994, achieved 2,750,000 in sales, and ranked No. 1)

Daydream (released in September 1995, achieved 2,600,000 in sales, and ranked No. 1)

Music Box (released in September 1993, achieved 2,400,000 in sales, and ranked No. 1)

Butterfly (released in September 1997, achieved 1,300,000 in sales, and ranked No. 1)

Emotions (released in October 1991, achieved 1,025,000 in sales, and ranked No. 3)

Point of great intrigue -
Michael Jackson's Thriller is listed at No. 4 with 2,800,000 in sales and ranked No. 1.  Bad is listed at No. 24 with 1,250,000 in sales and ranked No. 1.

1 by The Beatles is listed at No. 6 with 2,700,000 in sales and ranked No. 1).  Abbey Road and 1962-1966 by The Beatles are listed at No. 10 with both achieving 1,920,000 in sales and ranked No. 3 and No. 1.  1967-1970 by The Beatles is listed at No. 13 with 1,760,000 in sales and ranked No. 2.  Let It Be by The Beatles is listed at No. 16 with 1,600,000 in sales and ranked No. 2.  Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band is listed at No. 42 with 1,022,000 in sales and ranked No. 3.

Simon & Garfunkel's Greatest Hits is listed at No. 9 with 2,000,000 in sales and ranked No. 3.  Bridge over Troubled Water by Simon & Garfunkel is listed at No. 24 with 1,250,000 in sales and ranked No. 6.

Like a Virgin by Madonna is listed at No. 24 with 1,250,000 in sales and ranked No. 5.  The Immaculate Collection by Madonna is listed at No. 33 with 1,135,000 in sales and ranked No. 5.  True Blue by Madonna is listed at No. 39 with 1,050,000 in sales and ranked No. 1.

The purpose of sharing my point of great intrigue is to show that icons in the United States and England have skyrocketed in sales, certifications, and chart positions in the Western hemisphere...hence being icons.  In Japan, icon status falls much lower than expected.

Remaining foreign best-selling albums can be found on Wikipedia.