Browsing AKB48

On top of the singles charts this week is SMAP with their 50th single “JOY!!” selling over 327,000 copies. In the #2 spot is very popular Korean singer Kim Hyun Joong with his 3rd Japanese single “TONIGHT” with over 115,000 copies sold. Sliding into the #7 spot is Kana Nishino with her first single of 2013 “Believe”.

Just out of the top 10 in #15 is Yoko Hikasa with her 2nd solo single “Owaranai Uta” and #16 is Shoko Nakagawa with single “Zoku Konton”.

Topping the album charts is Korean group INFINITE with their first Japanese album “Koi ni Ochiru Toki”. Just separated by a few 100 copies in #2 is Momoiro Clover Z with their Best Indies compilation album “Iriguchi no Nai Deguchi”. The album had a early release and charted last week or it would have topped this week.

The complete top 10 single and album charts follow…

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AKB48 finished up their 5th General Election last night with the results determining the participants of their 32nd single. The single is announced for pre-order though not yet titled it will come on three Limited editions and three Regular editions all which will hit stores August 21st 2013. Read on for General Election results and more details on the new single…

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Topping the singles charts is Arashi with their 41st single “Endless Game” that’s featured as theme for TV drama series “Kazoku Game” staring member Sho Sakurai. The single sold over 477,000 copies giving the vocal group their 37th #1 single. In the second spot is Korean group 2PM with their 6th Japanese single “GIVE ME LOVE” with tie-in as theme song for TBS TV drama “TAKE FIVE – Bokutachi wa ai wo nusumeruka” that stars Goro Inagaki of SMAP.

Last week’s #1 from the idol group AKB48, their 31st single “Sayonara Crawl” slips down to the #3 and group member Asuka Kuramochi’s debut single “Itsumo Soba ni” lands in the #4 spot.

On the album charts in the top spot is “Mekaku City Records”, the second album release from the Kagerou Project and multi-creator Jin (Shizen no Teki P). In the #2 spot is Jang Keun Suk with his 2nd album “Nature Boy”.

The complete top 10 single and album charts follow…

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No problem for power idol group AKB48 topping the singles charts with 31st single “Sayonara Crawl” that’s tied to their upcoming group general election. The single sold over 1.7 million copies with fans eager to get their hands on the included voting card. With over 235 AKB idols eligible for the voting fans are hoping to support their favorite members into the top 16 who are selected to participate on the next single and the top 64 selected to participate on additional coupling songs. It will be a surprise when an AKB48 single fails to hit the 1+ million mark as they re-write the record books for sales.

Perfume with their 18th single “Magic of Love” lands in #3, band Scandal climbs to #4 with 15th single “Awanai tsumori no, genki dene” and up and coming singer Leo Ieiri (18) with her 4th single “Message” lands just in the top 10 in the #8 spot.

Topping the album charts is singer/songwriter miwa with her 3rd original album “Delight” selling a good 69,000 copies.

The complete top 10 single and album charts follow…

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AKB48 has revealed the jacket covers and preview music video for new single “Sayonara Crawl”. The single includes a voting card for the 2013 General Election “Senbatsu” and the jacket covers feature the top idols by the 2012 Senbatsu. Single “Sayonara Crawl” comes on six CD+DVD editions and hits stores May 22nd 2013. Updated details and summer themed PV music video (teaser) follow…

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AKB48 has added more details on their new single “Sayonara Crawl” – its their 31st single that includes the voting card for the 2013 General Election “Senbatsu”. The new single’s track list and more details are now revealed. Single “Sayonara Crawl” comes on six CD+DVD editions and music video for title track includes a summer “swimsuit” version. The single will hit stores May 22nd 2013 – read on for updated details…

~ cover jackets, PV revealed ~

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AKB48 has announced their 31st single which includes the voting card for the 2013 General Election “Senbatsu”. The new single isn’t yet titled but comes on six editions including three Limited that include a photo book by Japanese photographer Mika Ninagawa known for vibrant-colored photos. AKB48’s 31st and “Summer” themed single will hit stores May 22nd 2013 – read on for more details…

~ “Sayonara Crawl” – updated ~

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Topping the singles charts is powerful male vocal group Arashi with double-a side single “Calling X Breathless” selling a strong 756,000 copies. Both songs have tie-ins to productions that star group members (more details). In the #6 spot is unit EGOIST (ryo producing, chelly vocals) with their 4th single “All Alone With You” featured as the second ending theme for anime PSYCHO-PASS.

On the album charts its Korean power duo Tohoshinki (TVXQ) with their new Japanese album “TIME” selling over 243,000 copies (more details). In the #3 spot is Acid Black Cherry (yazu) who continues the winter season trend of cover albums with “Recreation 3”. Landing in the #9 spot is GRANRODEO with their greatest hits album “Greatest Hits ~ GIFT REGISTRY ~”.

The complete top 10 single and album charts follow…

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On top of the singles charts is long time male group SMAP with their 49th single “Mistake! / Battery” selling over 161,000 copies. The #2 spot goes to Perfume with single “Mirai no Museum” that’s featured as the theme song for long running anime franchise Doraemon new movie Doraemon Nobita no Himitsu Dogu Museum (Doraemon Nobita’s Secret Gadget Museum).

Last week’s #1 from mega idol group AKB48 – their 12th million+ selling single “So Long !” – slips into the #3 spot with 50,000 more copies sold.

Topping the album charts is NMB48 with their first album “Teppen Tottande!” selling a strong 328,000 copies. Solo album “D’scover” from BIGBANG member D-LITE lands in the #2 spot. Pop diva Koda Kumi hits the #3 spot with cover song album “Color the Cover” and T.M.Revolution with a self-cover album “UNDER:COVER 2” slides into the #4 spot.

The complete top 10 single and album charts follow…

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Dominating the singles charts this week is mega idol group AKB48 with their 30th single “So Long !” – selling over 1,035,000 copies. Its their 17th #1 single and sets another sales record with their 12th single (11th in-a-row) selling over one million copies. Another idol group, E-girls lands in the 2nd spot with single “The Never Ending Story” selling 40,000 copies.

Sliding into the 10th spot is ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION with their 19th single “Ima wo Ikite”.

On top of the album charts is MISIA with her compilation album “Super Best Records ~15th Celebration~” selling over 64,000 copies. Single/voice actress Kana Hanazawa lands in the 6th spot with her first album “claire”

The complete top 10 single and album charts follow…

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An idol’s life ain’t easy. Minegishi Minami (20) one of the 24 founding members of AKB48 and nearly always in the top 16 popularity has hit the Japanese scandal tabloids with the dreaded “boyfriend”! In the current issue of Shukan Bunshun Minegishi Minami is reported to have spent the night at Alan Shirahama who is a member of GENERATIONS (EXILE’s new little brother group). In a dramatic move Minegishi has shaved her head as self-imposed penance for her actions and AKB48 management has announced her demotion within the group. More details and video message from the shaved Minegishi Minami follows…

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