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.
Jessica “JJ” Rabone is the little sister of talent Becky, and has her eyes set on the Japanese entertainment industry! She recently just earned a very high profile endorsement deal with the beverage company Minute Maid.
The bright and colorful adverts and CM show off Jessica’s impressive dance skills, while she does everyday tasks like housekeeping and heading to work at the office. Multiple short videos were created for social media, and then all of them were combined to create a 60 second version. She’s in charge of promoting the new 100% fruit drink Minute Maid Once a Day Multi Vitamin. A brand new twitter account was created by Minute Maid just for this new campaign, and has already garnered thousands of retweets since it began to tweet 3 days ago.
This week’s guests were Sayuri Ishikawa, Inoue Yoshio, Iwasaki Hiromi, AKB48, Ota Hiromi, Oka Midori, Kitajima Saburo, Kome Kome CLUB, Sakai Masaaki, Judy Ongg, TOKIO, Nogizaka46, Noguchi Goro, Yamauchi Keisuke, Yuki Saori, Flash Kaneko, and MUSIC CONCERTO.
Mega girlgroup AKB48 continues to make history, according to Oricon they have officially surpassed Ayumi Hamasaki as the highest selling female Japanese artist of all time. While AKB is a group, Oricon does not differentiate between solo artists and groups under the male and female categories. Hamasaki still holds her record as the best selling solo artist, male or female, in Japan. Naturally, these sales are only accounted for in Japan and not worldwide.
This record was announced shortly after the first week sales were revealed for AKB48’s latest single #SukiNanda, released on August 30th. In just one week over million copies were sold pushing AKB’s grand total to 51, 298, 000. Hamasaki is currently at 50,675,000 units. The girls continued their separate set of records by releasing 30 singles in a row that all sold over 1 million copies, starting with their 20th major single Sakura no Ki ni Narou. AKB48 has also extended their #1 weekly rank streak which started with their 14th single RIVER.
The winners of this year’s MTV Video Music Awards Japan have been announced! Hoshino Gen topped the awards, winning two trophies. Two special awards were given out; BUCK-TICK received the Inspiration Award Japan, while Keyakizaka46 took home the Best Buzz Award.
On September 27, the big prize, Best Video of the Year, will be handed out at MTV VMAJ 2017 -THE LIVE-. The Best Video of the Year award will be voted on by viewers online from among the winners of the other regular categories. BUCK-TICK, KICK THE CAN CREW, Momoiro Clover Z, MONDO GROSSO, and WANIMA will perform at MTV VMAJ 2017 -THE LIVE-.
See who won below!
On September 18, MUSIC STATION ULTRA FES 2017 will air. The first set of performers was announced, and now the second set has been revealed. This new group includes the likes of Hoshino Gen, Daichi Miura, Perfume, AKB48, EXILE THE SECOND, and Kyary Pamyu Pamyu.
An amateur act will also perform on the show, the band POLU. They are the winners of the “Music Station e no Kaidan” contest, beating out 2000 other acts who were vying for the spot on MUSIC STATION ULTRA FES 2017. The band is from Tokushima Prefecture and fronted by 13 year old Maruyama Junna. Contest judge Shinichi Osawa praised Junna’s unique voice and the band’s songwriting. Judge zopp said he got goosebumps listening to them, while judge Kosaka Daimaou also praised Junna’s exciting vocals.
Check out the full second set below!
This week’s guests were Wagakki Band and Thelma Aoyama.
Wagakki Band – Ame Nochi Kanjouron
Thelma Aoyama – Issho Nakama
This week, DAOKO x Yonezu Kenshi topped the Hot 100 chart with “Uchiage Hanabi.”
Kuwata Keisuke topped the Hot Albums chart his new album “Garakuta.”