As is tradition, Japanese Entertainment magazine Only★Star have released their yearly Favorite Artist feature to the public.  The results for this ranking are based on a survey that the Oricon-owned publication runs each year, which polls 20,000 Japanese citizens of various different age groups in order to gain at the very least a respectable idea of the public’s opinion.  While likely not totally accurate, it’s still a very interesting statistic to consider, particularly when compared to the results for previous years.

While there has been a fair amount of flux in the rankings compared to how they stood in 2013, Arashi have stood strong and remained at #1 for the 5th year in a row, making them the first artist to achieve this feat in the magazine’s history.  Following them are popular rock band Mr.Children at #2 and veteran hard rock duo B’z at #3, both of whom have risen up in the poll as compared to last year.

Check out the rest of this year’s Top 20 artists below!

-’Only★Star’ Favorite Artist Ranking 2014-

1. Arashi (-)
2. Mr.Children (↑1)
3. B’z (↑4)
4. Ikimonogakari (↓2)
5. Utada Hikaru (↑1)
6. aiko (↑11)
7. Yuzu (↓2)
8. BUMP OF CHICKEN (↑12)
9. SMAP (↑14)
10. Kanjani∞ (↑14)
11. DREAMS COME TRUE (↑14)
12. Amuro Namie (↓1)
13. Southern All Stars (↓5)
14. TOKIO (Out of Top 50 Last Year)
15. Perfume (-)
16. AKB48 (↑5)
17. GReeeeN (↑9)
18. Fukuyama Masaharu (↓14)
19. Spitz (↓7)
20. Porno Graffitti (↓7)

(via musicman-net)