We’re back with this week’s edition of Oricon Flashback. This is where we look back on what topped Oricon this week 5, 10, 15, and 20 years ago. Think of it as a way to reminisce and learn about the past of Japanese music.

Starting this week there will be a new addition to this weekly feature.  See what it is after the jump!

2/27/95

Album:

Hotei Tomoyasu – GUITARHYTHM FOREVER Vol.1 (first week sales: about 250,000)

 

Single:

WANDS – Secret Night~It’s My Treat~ (first week sales: about 293,000)

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2/28/00

Album:

DREAMS COME TRUE – DREAMS COME TRUE GREATEST HITS “THE SOUL” (first week sales: 446,450)

 

Single:

Southern All Stars – TSUNAMI (fourth week sales: 251,260 / third non-consecutive week at #1)

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2/28/05

Album:

LOVE PSYCHEDELICO – Early Times (second week sales: 90,341 / second week at #1)

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xgivce_my-last-fight-love-psychedelico_music

 

Single:

Ketsumeishi – Sakura (first week sales: 210,336)

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3/1/10

Album:

Tohoshinki – BEST SELECTION 2010 (first week sales: 412,861)

 

Single:

AKB48 – Sakura no Shiori (first week sales: 317,828)

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Ok, so this is the where the new addition comes in. At one time, there was an official digital chart for Japan. It was called the RIAJ Digital Track Chart. It was in operation from April 2009 to July 2012. It replaced the monthly Yuryo Ongaku Haishin Chart that only measured ringtones. That chart ran from August 2006 to February 2009, marking the first time Japan ever had an official digital chart. The RIAJ Digital Track Chart measured cellphone downloads only. It didn’t include PC downloads or ringtones. The RIAJ Digital Track Chart was discontinued because it was going to be retooled. That retooling is still sort of taking place because we currently have no official digital chart. The data for this chart came from 5 digital retailers initially, and then expanded to 14. Recochoku, the largest digital retailer, was always included in this data. With that being said, we will now include the RIAJ Digital Track Chart #1. This week’s #1 for 2010 would be Nishino Kana’s “Best Friend”:

This was the song’s second week at #1.

Oricon Flashback started the week of 2/9. This is the fourth week this feature is running. To catch us up on the digital side, here is the song that was #1 on the RIAJ Digital Track Chart the first 2 weeks of this feature:

Shota Shimizu x Kato Miliyah – Forever Love