On the August 28 episode of Music Station, the show had a special feature. It was a ranking of the top 25 acts from the Showa era versus the top 25 acts from the Heisei era. The Showa era is defined as the period during the reign of Emperor Hirohito. His reign lasted from December 25, 1926 – January 7, 1989. After Hirohito’s death, his son, Akihito, became Emperor. On January 8, 1989, the Heisei era began, and it continues to this day.
In preparation for this battle between the eras, Music Station gathered the single and album sales for the best selling acts from both eras from Oricon. The sales used are accurate as of the end of this past June. We still start with the #25 act of the Showa era, and work our way up, and then do the same for the Heisei era.
SHOWA ERA
25. Koizumi Kyoko
Total sales: 8.8 million
Single sales: 5.22 million
Album sales: 3.58 million
Best selling single: Meikyuu no Under Roller (1984 / 370,000 copies)
24. Off Course
Total sales: 8.88 million
Single sales: 2.79 million
Album sales: 6.09 million
Best selling single: Sayonara (1979 / 710,000 copies)
23. Koyanagi Rumiko
Total sales: 9.21 million
Single sales: 7.95 million
Album sales: 1.26 million
Best selling single: Watashi no Joukamachi (1971 / 134,000 copies)
22. Noguchi Goro
Total sales: 9.48 million
Single sales: 7.83 million
Album sales: 1.65 million
Best selling single: Amai Seikatsu (1974 / 490,000 copies)
21. Inoue Yosui
Total sales: 9.87 million
Single sales: 2.49 million
Album sales: 7.38 million
Best selling single: Kokoro Moyo (1973 / 420,000 copies)
20. Sada Masashi
Total sales: 9.89 million
Single sales: 5.3 million
Album sales: 4.59 million
Best selling single: Kanpaku Sengen (1979 / copies 1.22 million)
19. Yashiro Aki
Total sales: 10.07 million
Single sales: not given
Album sales: not given
Best selling single: Namida Koi (1973 / 600,000 copies)
18. Iwasaki Hiromi
Total sales: 10.17 million
Single sales: 7.71 million
Album sales: 2.46 million
Best selling single: Romance (1975 / 880,000 copies)
17. Alice
Total sales: 10.32 million
Single sales: 4.53 million
Album sales: 5.79 million
Best selling single: Champion (1978 / 780,000 copies)
16. The Checkers
Total sales: 10.64 million
Single sales: 6.77 million
Album sales: 3.87 million
Best selling single: Julia no Shoushin (1984 / 700,000 copies)
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