During it’s 1st week on release, AKB48’s latest single ‘Ue kara Mariko’ managed to sell 1.19 million copies. In doing this, AKB48 have managed to break another record. They currently occupy 4 of the 5 positions in the Best First Week Sales in Japan charts with Mr Children at no.4. Flying Get is at the top with 1.35 million sales followed by Everyday Kachuusha, Kaze wa Fuiteiru and Ue kara Mariko at no.5. It’s not going to be too long before AKB48 shifts Mr Children from the no.4 position and takes over the entire Best First Week Sales charts. All of their singles this year have been million sellers and ‘Ue kara Mariko’ marks as their 5th consecutive million seller ever since ‘Sakura no Ki ni Narou’.
AKB48 are also at the top of the best Female Artists With A Million Singles Sold chart having had 6 million selling singles so far. They take over from such illustrious company as Pink Lady, Namie Amuro, Hikaru Utada and Ayumi Hamasaki who have had 5 million selling singles. To overtake these artists is one hell of an achievement for AKB48.
They are currently sharing the record for the most no.1 singles by a female group with Morning Musume – both have had 11 singles at no.1. Next year will definitely see AKB48 overtaking them.
Well done girls on what has been a sensational 2011 for them.
IXA Ready - Fist On! 
[…] AKB48 Smashes More Records – IXA Ready And the best part is, Mr Children continue to fall lower and lower in the rankings! […]
Part of me feels like they need to slow down. There’s just so much stuff, and while as I fan I love it all (mostly), I can understand why people are getting sick of seeing them everywhere. Short-term gain, long-term pain?