It’s Golden week in Japan, an important holiday for the Nihongo population to take it easy. Not many companies are working during this week, offering their employees the time for a well deserved holiday out or to catch up watching the latest movies, go shopping or become a couch potato and get their anime or game-mode on.
This week is a particularly special one on the Oricon music charts, first we’ll give you the top 5 selling singles of this week and do the explaining below:
- モーニング娘。 – ブレインストーミング／君さえ居れば何も要らない (Morning Musume – Brainstorming)
- ClariS – Reunion
- LinQ – チャイムが終われば (LinQ – Ring when you’re finished)
- 福山雅治 – 誕生日には真白な百合を／Ｇｅｔ ｔｈｅ ｇｒｏｏｖｅ (Fukuyama Masaharu – The birthday of a pure white lily)
- Tamura Yukari – Fantastic future
First one is Morning Musume, the girls pop group that started out in 97 as “your average Idol group” turned over the Japanese charts. They’ve been dominating all these years (holding the second highest overall single sales on the Oricon charts as of February 2012), have their own TV show and show no signs to give up that throne any time soon.
Second is ClariS (J-Pop high school girls duo), with the single “Reunion”. Happens to be the opening track from the highly anticipated 2nd season of the Animated series: Ore no Imouto ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga nai (My little sister can’t be this cute). The Anime is currently aired on Japanese television, currently at around 1/3 of its 12 episode run.
Third is LinQ, a relatively new girls band consisting of 33 members. Founded in 2011, LinQ is supposed to be short for LoveInQ. In essence a “higher voltage” Kyushu offspring for the AKB phenomena. Their song isn’t particularly related to any series, however recommended to give it a little youtube search as it will give you a summer/happy feeling.
Fourth, Fukuyama-san. The smoother song in this top 5, it aims more towards the soft-rock crowd. Strong lyrics and a well balanced tune give away why this single turned out such a big seller.
And last but not least, nr5! Tamura Yukari with “Fantastic future”, the solo J-pop girl has aced it with their new single. It’s the opening song for the Animated series: Hentai Ouji to Warawanai Neko, an Anime focussing on the life of a perverted individual and his girlfriend who try to combat his “condition”. Tamura happens to be the voice actress for the role of Tsutsukakushi, Tsukushi (the coach of the sports team of the high school represented in the Animated series). Definitely a tune that’ll stay in your head, very catchy!
