Misplaced Pages

The highest-selling albums and mini-albums in Japan are ranked in the Oricon Weekly Chart, published by Oricon Style magazine. The data are compiled by Oricon based on each album's weekly physical sales. Thirty-seven albums reached the peak of the chart in 2008.

R&B singer Namie Amuro's Best Fiction had the longest chart run of 2008. The album remained at the top of the charts from its issue date of August 11 to September 15. Amuro became the first solo female artist in 28 years to have an album chart number one for six consecutive weeks after Saki Kubota (久保田早紀, Kubota Saki), who had an album at number one for seven consecutive weeks in 1980. Pop singer Mariya Takeuchi's greatest hits album Expressions stayed atop the charts for three consecutive weeks, making her the first artist over 50 years of age to accomplish this. Other artists who had extended runs on the chart include Kobukuro, Kumi Koda, Exile, Madonna, Superfly, Greeeen, and Mr. Children; each spent two straight weeks on the chart.

Korean pop singer BoA's Japanese album The Face debuted at number one, making her the second artist after Ayumi Hamasaki to have six consecutive number-one studio albums since her debut. American pop singer Madonna is the only Western act to reach number one during 2008 with her eleventh studio album, Hard Candy. It became the singer's first album in 18 years to debut at number one on the Oricon chart. With the release of their second album, Game, girl group Perfume became the second technopop group (after Yellow Magic Orchestra) to have a number-one album on the charts.

B'z The Best "Ultra Pleasure" was hard rock duo B'z's 22nd number-one album, surpassing Yumi Matsutoya for having the most number-one albums. Their record increased to 23 number-one albums with the release of B'z The Best "Ultra Treasure". Rock singer Yui's B-side album My Short Stories debuted atop the charts, making her the second female artist after Seiko Matsuda to have a B-side album debut at the top.

The best-selling album overall of 2008 was R&B group Exile's Exile Love, released in late 2007, which sold over 1,470,000 copies. The second-best-selling album was Amuro's Best Fiction, which sold more than 1,447,000 copies, followed by pop folk band Kobukuro's 5296, with nearly 1,405,000 albums sold. The fourth- and fifth-best-selling albums were Exile Catchy Best and Heart Station by Exile and pop singer Hikaru Utada respectively. Exile Catchy Best sold over 1,222,000 copies, while Heart Station sold a little over 997,000 copies.

Chart history

See also

• 2008 in music

References

1. "Oricon Entertainment Inc" (in Japanese). Japan Association of Professional Recording Studios. Archived from the original on April 1, 2005. Retrieved April 9, 2009.
2. ^ "Mariya Takeuchi ranks in first place for three weeks in a row - a first time record for an artist above the age of 50" (in Japanese). Oricon. October 21, 2008. Archived from the original on October 1, 2011. Retrieved April 9, 2009.
3. ^ "Namie Amuro carries on weight! Sixth consecutive week in top place - a record after Dream Comes True since 14 years and 8 months" (in Japanese). Oricon. September 9, 2008. Archived from the original on March 15, 2009. Retrieved April 7, 2009.
4. "BoA achieves a record now second only after Ayumi Hamasaki" (in Japanese). Livedoor. March 4, 2008. Archived from the original on December 11, 2008. Retrieved April 7, 2009.
5. ""Thank you, Prime Minister Kimura": Queen Madonna dings no.1 since about 18 years" (in Japanese). Oricon. May 6, 2008. Archived from the original on August 18, 2012. Retrieved April 7, 2009.
6. ^ "Perfume in first place. A striking record after 25 years since YMO" (in Japanese). Oricon. April 22, 2008. Archived from the original on February 26, 2009. Retrieved April 7, 2009.
7. ^ "B'z sets a tie-breaking record with its 22nd album in first place - achieves a grand dominance of six major Oricon historical rankings" (in Japanese). Oricon. June 24, 2008. Archived from the original on October 1, 2011. Retrieved April 7, 2009.
8. ^ "B'z renews its own record with the 23rd album winning first place" (in Japanese). Oricon. September 23, 2008. Archived from the original on December 1, 2008. Retrieved April 11, 2009.
9. "Yui achieves a striking record after 24 years and 8 months since Seiko Matsuda" (in Japanese). Barks. November 18, 2008. Archived from the original on March 26, 2009. Retrieved April 8, 2009.
10. "Special article: Oricon ranking of the year 2008" (in Japanese). Oricon. December 11, 2008. Archived from the original on November 29, 2011. Retrieved April 11, 2009.
11. "Ayu gets the number-two spot by a small difference...so her record is 8 consecutive albums?". Sports Nippon (in Japanese). January 8, 2008. Archived from the original on January 16, 2008. Retrieved April 7, 2009.
12. "Kobukuro's album ranks first place for four weeks in a row" (in Japanese). Oricon. January 15, 2008. Archived from the original on October 13, 2012. Retrieved April 7, 2009.
13. "This weeks ranking topics" (in Japanese). Oricon. January 22, 2008. Archived from the original on June 12, 2008. Retrieved April 7, 2009.
14. "Zard ties first with Dream Comes True as a female vocalist group for the number of first place won with albums" (in Japanese). Oricon. January 29, 2008. Archived from the original on June 20, 2008. Retrieved April 7, 2009.
15. "Kumi Koda in first place with "Kingdom" for the first time after a year" (in Japanese). Oricon. February 5, 2008. Archived from the original on June 13, 2008. Retrieved April 7, 2009.
16. "Charts: Koda still #1". Tokyograph. February 13, 2008. Archived from the original on May 26, 2010. Retrieved August 3, 2010.
17. "Oricon ranking as of 2/25: Porno and M-Flo in first place" (in Japanese). Oricon. February 19, 2008. Archived from the original on February 18, 2013. Retrieved April 7, 2009.
18. "The Brilliant Green wins its first time ever first place after 11 years" (in Japanese). Livedoor. March 27, 2008. Archived from the original on May 5, 2008. Retrieved April 9, 2009.
19. "Oricon: BoA reaches second in history, two Jacksons in the top 10" (in Japanese). Oricon. March 4, 2008. Archived from the original on August 29, 2010. Retrieved April 7, 2009.
20. "SMAP: A podium record with its new tune at Oricon no.1" (in Japanese). Zakzak. March 11, 2008. Archived from the original on April 8, 2009. Retrieved April 11, 2009.
21. "KAT-TUN, 10th consecutive first place single since its first release" (in Japanese). Oricon. March 17, 2009. Archived from the original on March 24, 2013. Retrieved April 7, 2009.
22. "Oricon: Hikaru Utada starts her '08 with a direct no.1, 6th consecutive" (in Japanese). Oricon. March 28, 2008. Archived from the original on June 11, 2008. Retrieved April 7, 2009.
23. "Exile renews the 2008 record of new release sales with its Best" (in Japanese). Oricon. April 1, 2008. Archived from the original on June 2, 2008. Retrieved April 7, 2009.
24. "Charts: Exile hangs on to #1". Tokyograph. April 10, 2008. Archived from the original on November 21, 2008. Retrieved April 7, 2009.
25. "Yui achieves her third first place single" (in Japanese). Oricon. July 8, 2008. Archived from the original on October 1, 2008. Retrieved April 7, 2009.
26. "Charts: Boy bands on top". Tokyograph. April 30, 2008. Archived from the original on September 21, 2010. Retrieved August 3, 2010.
27. ^ "Madonna ranks first place in overall two weeks straight" (in Japanese). Livedoor. May 13, 2008. Archived from the original on February 17, 2012. Retrieved April 7, 2009.
28. "Striking record: Superfly wins the weekly first" (in Japanese). Livedoor. May 20, 2008. Archived from the original on September 28, 2011. Retrieved April 7, 2009.
29. "Striking record: Superfly at first place for the second consecutive week" (in Japanese). Excite. May 27, 2008. Archived from the original on January 1, 2009. Retrieved April 7, 2009.
30. "Mihimaru GT, a second album winning again first place". Livedoor. June 4, 2008. Archived from the original on October 7, 2008. Retrieved April 14, 2009.
31. "KAT-TUN becomes 4th group to win 10 wins straight since its debut" (in Japanese). Oricon. June 10, 2008. Archived from the original on January 1, 2009. Retrieved April 9, 2009.
32. "Kyosuke Himuro grabs first place after 10 years and a half" (in Japanese). Oricon. June 17, 2008. Archived from the original on April 24, 2011. Retrieved April 9, 2009.
33. "Greeeen pushed up on top of Oricon by a man in green tights and Saeko" (in Japanese). Livedoor. July 1, 2008. Archived from the original on July 8, 2008. Retrieved April 7, 2009.
34. "Greeeen's latest album charts no.1 for the second consecutive week" (in Japanese). Oricon. July 8, 2008. Archived from the original on July 11, 2008. Retrieved April 7, 2009.
35. "Panic Fancy's Oricon page" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on February 17, 2009. Retrieved April 14, 2009.
36. "Kimaguren's debut album 'Zushi' charts no.1 on Oricon" (in Japanese). Barks. July 22, 2008. Archived from the original on August 2, 2008. Retrieved April 9, 2009.
37. "Exile: a second consecutive no.1 cover song" (in Japanese). Excite. August 1, 2008. Archived from the original on February 10, 2009. Retrieved April 7, 2009.
38. "Namie Amuro sets a record again" (in Japanese). Excite. August 6, 2008. Archived from the original on February 15, 2009. Retrieved April 7, 2009.
39. "Amuro: Best album stays in no.1 for the third week - becomes the first to achieve million sellers in one's teenager, twenties and thirties" (in Japanese). Oricon. August 19, 2008. Archived from the original on March 26, 2009. Retrieved April 7, 2009.
40. "Namie Amuro's best hangs on to first place in the fourth week - approaches 1.2 million of sales" (in Japanese). Oricon. August 26, 2008. Archived from the original on September 7, 2008. Retrieved April 7, 2009.
41. "Amuro's album still in first place after five weeks, a first time in 24 years record since Akina for a female soloist" (in Japanese). Oricon. September 2, 2008. Archived from the original on March 15, 2009. Retrieved April 7, 2009.
42. "Ayumi Hamasaki: ultimate best kicks off first place with 540k sales" (in Japanese). Oricon. September 16, 2008. Archived from the original on March 31, 2009. Retrieved April 9, 2009.
43. "SMAP accumulates 10 million in album sales". Oricon (in Japanese). September 30, 2008. Archived from the original on December 7, 2008. Retrieved May 5, 2009.
44. "Mariya Takeuchi sets a record of winning first place furthest from debut for a female singer" (in Japanese). Oricon. October 7, 2008. Archived from the original on December 10, 2008. Retrieved April 9, 2009.
45. "Hexagon production finally charts no.1 for the first time - a duo of variety show after 18 years" (in Japanese). Oricon. October 28, 2008. Archived from the original on December 1, 2008. Retrieved April 9, 2009.
46. "Porno Graffitti dominates no.1 and 2 with "Ace" and "Joker"" (in Japanese). Barks. November 5, 2008. Archived from the original on February 17, 2009. Retrieved April 10, 2009.
47. 加藤ミリヤ、デビュー5年目で初の首位獲得！. Oricon (in Japanese). November 11, 2008. Archived from the original on December 9, 2009. Retrieved August 3, 2010.
48. "Yui becomes a second charting no.1 with a B-side tune, first time after 24 years since Seiko Matsuda" (in Japanese). Oricon. November 18, 2008. Retrieved April 8, 2009.
49. "Charts: UVERworld's first #1". Tokyograph. November 26, 2008. Archived from the original on May 3, 2010. Retrieved August 3, 2010.
50. "Mika Nakashima charts no.1 with album 'Voice'" (in Japanese). Excite. December 4, 2008. Archived from the original on March 3, 2009. Retrieved April 9, 2009.
51. "Exile: Third No.1 album within a single year - a record after 20 years for male since BOΦWY" (in Japanese). Oricon. December 9, 2008. Archived from the original on October 14, 2012. Retrieved April 9, 2009.
52. "【オリコン】ミスチル新アルバム、オリジナル盤今年No.1の初動売上を記録". Oricon (in Japanese). December 16, 2008. Archived from the original on September 29, 2010. Retrieved August 3, 2010.
53. "Mr.Children shows off its presence with the second consecutive week in first place" (in Japanese). Excite. December 24, 2008. Archived from the original on April 15, 2009. Retrieved April 9, 2009.

• 2008 in Japanese music
• 2008 record charts
• Lists of number-one albums in Japan