# List of best-selling music artists in Japan

The top music artists in Japan include Japanese artists with claims of 15 million or more record sales or with over 2 million subscribers. Japan is the largest physical music market in the world and the second largest overall behind the United States, and the biggest in Asia, according to International Federation of the Phonographic Industry.
Sources that provide the sales an artist or record company claim via press release, rather than certified or reported by reliable third parties such as Oricon, are denoted by a "†".

## Oricon Charts

Oricon provides accumulated physical sales of all entries on its singles and albums charts (started in 1968 and 1970, respectively). Note that Oricon does not count sales of the records that did not enter or fell off of the charts, unlike Nielsen SoundScan. Therefore, it generally shows fewer numbers than reported sales via record labels, and may not reflect the real sales obtained by these artists. In addition, it excludes recording artists like Michiya Mihashi, Hibari Misora, Yujiro Ishihara, and Hachiro Kasuga who had garnered most of commercial success before Oricon was established in the late 1960s. The reported numbers like Mihashi's 100 million and Misora's 68 million records, are highly doubtful and cannot be confirmed by Oricon and RIAJ.
The best-selling artist according to Oricon are B'z (more than 86 million), who is also the best-selling artist by a number of albums sold (46.5 million). The best-selling artists by number of singles sold are AKB48 (73 million), B'z (35.8 million) in second place, Mr. Children (28.45 million) in third place, and Southern All Stars (25.179 million) in fourth place. Ayumi Hamasaki holds the record for being the best-selling solo artist and being the only solo artist to sell more than 50 million in total.
The list excludes sales of albums or singles recorded by artists in collaboration with others as part of a singular artist or group's total.

## Artists by sales
### 50 million or more records

* B'z
* AKB48
* Ayumi Hamasaki
| Artist | Years active | Genre | Sales |
| B'z | 1988–present | Hard rock / Pop rock / Blues rock | 86.25 million |
| AKB48 | 2005–present | J-pop / Electropop / Dance-pop | 73.4 million |
| Mr. Children | 1989–1997, 1998–present | Pop rock / Power pop / Progressive pop | 60.01 million |
| Ayumi Hamasaki | 1998–present | Pop / Dance / Electronic / Rock | 50.708 million |

### 30 million to 49 million records

* Yumi Matsutoya
* Glay
* Arashi
* Hikaru Utada
* SMAP
| Artist | Years active | Genre | Sales |
| Dreams Come True | 1988–present | J-pop / R&B / New wave / City pop | 44.94 million |
| Yumi Matsutoya | 1968–present | Pop rock / Jazz fusion / Folk rock / Kayōkyoku | 39.39 million |
| Glay | 1988–present | Pop rock / Power pop / Progressive rock | 38.80 million |
| Arashi | 1999–2020 (Hiatus) | Pop / rock / R&B | 38.44 million |
| ZARD | 1991–2007 | Pop rock / R&B / Soft rock / AOR | 37.63 million |
| Southern All Stars | 1975–present | Soft rock / Pop rock / Folk rock / Blues rock | 37.61 million |
| Hikaru Utada | 1998–2010, 2016–present | J-pop / R&B / Dance / Electronica | 37.34 million |
| SMAP | 1991–2016 | J-pop / R&B | 37.20 million |
| Namie Amuro | 1992–2018 | Pop / R&B / Hip hop / EDM / Eurobeat | 36.18 million |
| CHAGE and ASKA | 1979–1996, 1999–2009 | Folk rock / Soft rock | 31 million |
| X Japan | 1982–1997, 2007–present | Heavy metal | 30 million† |
| Seiko Matsuda | 1980–present | Pop / Kayōkyoku | 30 million† |

### 20 million to 29 million records

* L'Arc-en-Ciel
* Koda Kumi
* Akina Nakamori
* Masaharu Fukuyama
* Exile
| Artist | Years active | Genre | Sales |
| L'Arc-en-Ciel | 1991–present | Alternative rock / Pop rock / Post-punk | 29.27 million |
| Globe | 1995–2018 | Synthpop / Eurobeat / Trance | 28.94 million |
| KinKi Kids | 1997–present | Pop | 28.38 million |
| Koda Kumi | 2000–present | J-pop / pop / R&B | 27.5 million |
| Akina Nakamori | 1982–present | Pop / Kayōkyoku | 25.34 million |
| Tube | 1985–present | Power pop / Surf rock / Blues rock | 24.55 million |
| Masaharu Fukuyama | 1990–present | Pop / Rock | 24.10 million |
| Exile | 2001–present | J-pop / R&B / Dance / House | 23.44 million |
| Every Little Thing | 1996–present | Pop rock / Soft rock / Synthpop | 22.72 million |
| Maki Ohguro | 1989–present | Pop / Dance-pop / New Wave | 22.67 million |
| Morning Musume | 1997–present | J-pop / Electropop / Dance-pop | 22.47 million |
| Miyuki Nakajima | 1975–present | Kayōkyoku / Folk / Rock / Enka | 21.96 million |
| TRF | 1993–present | J-pop / Hi-NRG / Rave / Techno | 21.71 million |
| Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi | 1977–present | Rock / Folk | 21.64 million |
| Noriyuki Makihara | 1990–present | Pop | 21 million |
| Spitz | 1987–present | Alternative rock / Pop rock | 20.68 million |
| Speed | 1996–2000, 2008–2012 | Pop / Dance / R&B / Hip hop | 20 million† |
| Misia | 1998–present | R&B / Pop / Soul / Dance | 20 million† |

### 10 million to 19 million records

* Hiroshi Itsuki
* Mariya Takeuchi
* Puffy AmiYumi
* Nogizaka46
| Artist | Years active | Genre | Sales |
| Hiroshi Itsuki | 1965–present | Enka / Pop | 19.24 million |
| Kome Kome Club | 1982–1997, 2006–present | Pop rock / Psychedelic soul / Funk rock / Rakugo | 18.66 million |
| Pink Lady | 1976–1981, 1996–1997, 2003–2005, 2010–2017 | Pop / Kayōkyoku / Disco | 17 million |
| Kanjani8 | 2004–present | Pop / Rock / Enka / Kayōkyoku | 17.00 million |
| Toshinobu Kubota | 1981–present | R&B / Pop / Soul / Neo soul | 16.33 million |
| Kyosuke Himuro | 1978–2016 | Rock / Pop | 16.25 million |
| Momoe Yamaguchi | 1973–1980 | Pop / Kayōkyoku | 16.22 million |
| Dragon Ash | 1996–Present | Rap rock / Alternative rock | 16 million |
| Mariya Takeuchi | 1978–Present | Pop / Funk / Soul / Disco | 16 million |
| Yōsui Inoue | 1969–present | Rock / Folk | 15.809 million |
| Hiromi Gō | 1972–present | Pop / Kayōkyoku / R&B | 15.78 million |
| Kenji Sawada | 1969–present | Pop / Rock | 15.71 million |
| Mai Kuraki | 1999–present | Pop / R&B | 15.5 million |
| The Checkers | 1981–1992 | Rock 'n' roll / Rockabilly / Pop rock / Doo-wop | 15.38 million |
| Miki Imai | 1986–present | Pop | 15.31 million |
| Judy and Mary | 1992–2001 | Pop rock / Art punk / Alternative rock | 15 million |
| Puffy AmiYumi | 1995–present | Dance rock / Pop rock / Pop punk / Power pop | 15 million |
| Shizuka Kudo | 1987–Present | Pop / Kayōkyoku | 15 million |
| Miho Nakayama | 1985–2024 | Pop / Kayōkyoku | 14.97 million |
| Nogizaka46 | 2011–present | Pop | 14.60 million |
| Mariah Carey | 1988–present | Pop / Soul / R&B / Dance | 14.5 million |
| Kyōko Koizumi | 1982–present | Pop | 14.26 million |
| Shinichi Mori | 1966–present | Enka / Kayōkyoku | 14.10 million |
| Hideki Saijo | 1972–2018 | Pop | 13.30 million |
| Tomoyasu Hotei | 1988–present | Rock | 12.71 million |
| Misato Watanabe | 1985–present | Pop / Funk / Rock | 12.70 million |
| Toshihiko Tahara | 1980–present | Pop | 12.70 million |
| Masahiko Kondo | 1980–present | Pop / Kayōkyoku | 12.67 million |
| Hikaru Genji | 1987–1996 | Pop | 12.22 million |
| Tomomi Kahara | 1995–2006, 2013–present | Pop / Adult contemporary / Pop rock / Dance-pop | 12.19 million |
| V6 | 1995–2021 | Pop / Rock | 12.12 million |
| Sandaime J Soul Brothers | 2010–present | J-Pop / Dance / R&B | 11.15 million† |
| Orange Range | 2001–present | Rap rock / Alternative rock / Pop rock / Power pop | 11 million |
| Princess Princess | 1983–1996 | J-pop / J-rock / Glam Rock | 11 million |
| The Alfee | 1974–present | Pop rock / Hard rock / Punk rock | 10+ million |
| Luna Sea | 1989–2000, 2010–present | Progressive rock / Alternative rock / Hard rock / Punk rock | 10+ million† |
| Chemistry | 2001–present | J-pop / R&B | 10 million |
| MAX | 1995–present | J-pop | 10 million |
| Shiina Ringo | 1998–present | J-pop / J-rock | 10 million |
| KAT-TUN | 2006–present | J-pop | 10 million |
| aiko | 1998–present | J-pop | 10 million |
| Hiromi Iwasaki | 1975–present | Pop / Kayōkyoku | 10 million |

### 5 million to 9 million records

* Ami Suzuki
* SKE48
* TVXQ
* BoA
| Artist | Years active | Genre | Sales |
| Goro Noguchi | 1971–present | Kayōkyoku / Pop | 9.50 million |
| Ami Suzuki | 1998–2001, 2004–present | Pop / Dance-pop / EDM / Electro house | 8.83 million |
| Hitomi | 1992–present | Rock / Pop / Electronic | 8.70 million |
| TOKIO | 1994–present | Power pop / Pop rock | 8.19 million |
| SKE48 | 2008–present | Pop | 8.15 million |
| KAT-TUN | 1994–present | Pop / Rock | 8.05 million |
| TVXQ | 2003–present | Pop / Dance / R&B / Electronic / Rock | 7.80 million† |
| BoA | 2000–present | K-pop / J-pop / Dance-pop / R&B | 7.75 million |
| Ketsumeishi | 1993–present | Hip hop / Reggae / R&B | 7.60 million |
| Wink | 1988–1996 | Pop | 7.49 million |
| NMB48 | 2011–present | Pop | 7.35 million |
| Celine Dion | 1981–present | Pop / Rock | 7.150 million |
| DA PUMP | 1996–present | J-Pop / EDM / Eurodance / Hip hop | 7 million |
| Ai Otsuka | 2003–present | Pop | 6.60 million |
| Naoko Kawai | 1980–1996 | Kayōkyoku | 6.53 million |
| Madonna | 1979–present | Pop / dance / electronica | 6.45 million |
| Avril Lavigne | 1999–present | Pop/Punk | 6.4 million |
| Perfume | 2000–present | Pop, Techno, Bitpop, Electropop, Dance-pop, Synthpop | 6 million |
| Mari Amachi | 1971–1977, 1979–present | Kayōkyoku | 5.96 million |
| Hiroko Yakushimaru | 1978–present | Kayōkyoku | 5.85 million |
| Gackt | 1993–present | Rock | 5.70 million |
| Yoko Minamino | 1984–present | Pop | 5.63 million |
| Shonentai | 1985–present | Pop | 5.48 million |
| Candies | 1973–1978 | Pop / Folk pop | 5.45 million |
| Shibugakitai | 1982–1988 | Pop | 5.43 million |
| Backstreet Boys | 1993–present | Pop / Dance-pop | 5.4 million |
| Lady Gaga | 2008–present | Pop | 5.4 million |
| Yōko Oginome | 1983–present | Kayōkyoku | 5.38 million |
| Yellow Magic Orchestra | 1978–1984, 1992–1993, 2002–2004, 2007–2012 | Electronic, Electro, Electropop, House, Synthpop, Techno | 5.29 million |
| Crystal Kay | 1999–present | Pop, R&B | 5.2 million |
| Def Tech | 2002–2007, 2010–present | Jawaiian Reggae | 5 million |
| Rip Slyme | 1994–present | Hip hop | 5 million |
| Yui | 2004–present | Pop / Rock | 5 million |

## Best-selling Western acts

The long-standing second world's biggest music market have seen record sales dominated by their local music acts.
A selected group of Western acts have achieved certified units of over 4 million since Japan's music certification system inception by RIAJ in 1989. Various of them debuted before that tracking system, selling millions of their catalogue along with thousand of copies for individual titles alone; ranging from Madonna to Michael Jackson according to Oricon's chart book figures. By other estimates, Western acts like the 1970s band, The Nolans have claimed sales of 12 million in the country during their height of career, while according to Jeff Rovin in Julio! (1985) many of Julio Iglesias' albums sold over two million copies in the country.
Highest certified Western artists by RIAJ (1989–present) :
| Artist | Certified sales (in millions) |
| Mariah Carey | 14.5 million |
| Celine Dion* | 7.150 million |
| Madonna | 6.450 million |
| Avril Lavigne | 6.4 million |
| Backstreet Boys | 5.4 million |
| Lady Gaga | 5.4 million |
| The Beatles | 4.950 million |
| Michael Jackson | 4.650 million |
| Enya | 4.6 million |
| Bon Jovi | 4.4 million |
| Whitney Houston | 4.3 million |
| ‡ | Indicates a debutant artist prior RIAJ's certification program (e. 1989) |
Note: *Dion's "international" debut is considered to be dated in 1990, with her first English-recording album. It is the decade when she also entered the Japanese charts.

## Best-selling artist sales by year

| Year | Artist | Album Sales | Single Sales | Total Sales |
| 1999 | Hikaru Utada | 7,365,830 | 5,383,770 | 12,749,600 |
| 2000 | Ayumi Hamasaki | 5,267,350 | 3,914,920 | 9,182,270 |
| 2001 | Ayumi Hamasaki | 5,311,950 | 5,067,910 | 10,379,860 |
| 2002 | Hikaru Utada | 3,526,780 | 2,410,990 | 5,667,770 |
| 2003 | Ayumi Hamasaki | 2,774,474 | 1,056,148 | 3,830,622 |
| 2004 | Hikaru Utada | 3,537,845 | 365,206 | 3,903,051 |
| 2005 | Orange Range | 3,479,539 | 2,242,257 | 5,721,796 |
| 2006 | Koda Kumi | 2,411,470 | 1,281,022 | 3,692,492 |
| 2007 | Koda Kumi | 1,318,072 | 534,035 | 1,852,107 |
| 2008 | Exile | 4,363,967 | 678,458 | 5,042,425 |
| 2009 | Arashi | 1,432,781 | 2,213,423 | 3,646,204 |
| 2010 | Arashi | 1,395,807 | 3,778,313 | 5,174,120 |
| 2011 | AKB48 | 829,645 | 6,871,281 | 7,700,926 |
| 2012 | AKB48 | 1,029,954 | 6,954,599 | 7,984,553 |
| 2013 | AKB48 | - | 5,961,213 | 5,961,213 |
| 2014 | AKB48 | 1,041,355 | 6,241,987 | 7,283,342 |
| 2015 | AKB48 | 1,468,279 | 5,062,100 | 6,530,379 |
| 2016 | AKB48 | - | 5,413,328 | 5,413,328 |
| 2017 | AKB48 | 632,615 | 4,715,415 | 5,348,030 |
| 2018 | AKB48 | 611,056 | 5,677,095 | 6,288,151 |
| 2019 | Arashi | 2,100,438 | 709,813 | 2,810,251 |
| 2020 | Arashi | 822,459 | 1,147,865 | 1,970,324 |
| 2021 | BTS | | | |
| 2022 | BTS | | | |
| 2023 | King & Prince | 1,399,236 | | |
| 2024 | Snow Man | | | |