Japan became the largest music market

International Federation of Phonogram and Videogram Producers(IFPI) on April 8th announced that Japan became the largest market of music software sales in the world including CDs and music data downloads in 2012.
Japan sold 4.3 billion dollars of music software in last year, the United States on the other hands sold 4.1 billion dollars.
Mr. Children's "[(an imitation) blood orange]" selling about 1.3 million disks acquired the 29th place in the best-selling album rankings, which is the highest among Japanese artists.


日本が音楽ソフト・配信で1位に、2012年売上が米国上回る　―INTERNET Watch
http://internet.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/news/20130409_595139.html


[SONY WALKMAN] music and swimming

Dowango Mobile 2012 Anime song download ranking

Apple's "Siri" will make CD debut

AKB48 overpowers on Single CD Sales Rankings 2012 - Oricon

Which songs are the most popular at karaoke house?("hitokara") -JOYSOUND

[SONY WALKMAN] music and swimming

Sony on February 16th released Walkman W series NWD-W273 updated for swimmers to be able to listen to music in the water. It has 4GB of capacity, 29g of weight and an USB 2.0 port and takes 90 minutes to be fully charged for 8 hours of music play. It is 9,072 yen($97.81). It can not be used inside a bath and sauna owing to the temperature.


Swim x Music"Walkman" meets Swimming　―ソニー
http://www.sony.jp/walkman/special/swim_w270/index.html


Car of the Year 2012-2013 won by CX-5

[Windows 8] Release night in Akihabara

Pervasion of Smartphone is 18% in Japan

Dowango Mobile 2012 Anime song download ranking

Anime "Sword Art Online"

Dowango Mobile on November 30th revealed "Animelo 2012 Yearly Ranking" totalizing the number of music downloads on its mobile service, AnimeloMix and Cho!Animelo. Animelo has high shares in anime song therefore the ranking reflects the trend in anime songs.

Apple's "Siri" will make CD debut

Apple's Siri personificated

The music CD named "Teach us Ms. Siri" featuring Siri, the personal assistant and navigation application for Apple's iOS will be released on December 8th. It included "Hello, Siri-tan" uploaded on video-sharing websites earlier this year and 5 new songs.
*This is not an official project by Apple Inc.


りんご電話のパーソナルアシスタント『しり』がしゃべり、歌う(!!)、りんご愛爆発のキャラクターCDが登場!!　―IOSYS
http://www.iosysos.com/cd/ringo/

2013: Whose calenders are popular? Idols, actors, animes

Anime "AKB0048"

Recochoku on November 21st announced "2013 Calender Popularity Index" resulted from the numbers pre-ordered and sold on Recochoku shopping, the e-commerce website.

AKB48 overpowers on Single CD Sales Rankings 2012 - Oricon

The Oricon's single CD sales rankings of 2012 at the point of November 13th shows that the top twenty are occupied by AKB48 groups and Johnny & Associates groups.


Oricon Single CD Sales Rankings 2012
(number of copies sold)

1 : 1.820M - AKB48 "Manatsu no Sounds Good!"
2 : 1.437M - AKB48 "GIVE ME FIVE!"
3 : 1.292M - AKB48 "Gingham Check"
4 : 1.129M - AKB48 "UZA"
5 : 0.649M - Arashi "Wild at Heart"
6 : 0.620M - Arashi "Face Down"
7 : 0.593M - SKE48 "Kataomoi Finally"
8 : 0.582M - SKE48 "Ai Shite Love Ru!"
9 : 0.578M - SKE48 "Kiss datte Hidarikiki"
10: 0.559M - Arashi "Your Eyes"
11: 0.449M - NMB48 "Nagiichi"
12: 0.385M - NMB48 "Virginity"
13: 0.376M - NMB48 "Junjō U-19"
14: 0.375M - Eightranger "ER"
15: 0.352M - Kis-My-Ft2 "WANNA BEEEE!!!/Shake It Up"
16: 0.320M - Kanjani Eight "Ai Deshita"
17: 0.319M - Kis-My-Ft2 "We never give up!"
18: 0.317M - NMB48 "Kitagawa Kenji"
19: 0.304M - NEWS "Chankapāna"
20: 0.291M - Hey!Say!JUMP "SUPER DELICATE"

Pink - AKB48 and the derivative groups
Green - Johnny & Associates groups


2012年オリコン年間シングルランキングトップ20、ついにAKB48グループとジャニーズで埋まる！　―The Natsu Style
http://www.tnsori.com/archives/51936293.html


AKB48 "Manatsu no Sounds Good!"

Two thunderbolts killed ladies at park in Osaka

Tree inside park hit by lightning

Thunderbolts struck Nagai Park in Higashisumiyoshi-ku Osaka twice in the afternoon of August 18th killing two 22-year-old ladies and injured a males and 7 females.
The thunderbolts fell twice on trees in the park first at 2:15PM and secondary at 3:05 PM. On the day, outdoor music concert was planned at the place.


大阪・長居の落雷で意識不明の女性死亡　死者２人に　―日本経済新聞
http://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXNASDG1901L_Z10C12A8CC1000/

Which songs are the most popular at karaoke house?("hitokara") -JOYSOUND

"Senbonzakura"(Thousand Cherry Trees)

JOYSOUND "HITOKARA" Song Rankings
Which songs were sang by hitokara users?
*hitokara - coming to karaoke alone

1 :Senbonzakura - WhiteFlame feat.Hatsune Miku
2 :A Cruel Angel's Thesis - Yoko Takahashi
3 :Eiko no kakehashi - Yuzu
4 :Kabutomushi - aiko
5 :HANABI - Mr.Children
6 :Maji Love 1000% - ST☆RISH
7 :Kimi no Shiranai Monogatari - supercell
8 :Lion - May'n/Megumi Nakajima
9 :Connect - ClariS
10:Hanamizuki - Yo Hitoto
11:Chiisana Koi no Uta - MONGOL800
12:Ai wo Komete Hanataba wo - Superfly
13:Heavy Rotation - AKB48
14:Manatsu no Sounds good!- AKB48
15:Cherry - SPITZ
16:Kazoku ni Naroyo - Masaharu Fukuyama
17:Matryoshka - Hachi feat.Hatsune Miku, GUMI
18:Sign - Mr.Children
19:Sakura - Kobukuro
20:Tentai Kansoku - BUMP OF CHICKEN
21:God knows... - Haruhi Suzumiya(C.V. Aya Hirano)
22:Saudade - PORNO GRAFFITTI
23:Story - AI
24:Lovers Again - EXILE
25:Nandodemo - DREAMS COME TRUE
26:Arigatou - Ikimono-gakari
27:You're the Only… - Masatoshi Ono
28:Akai Sweet Pea - Seiko Matsuda
29:Amagi-goe - Sayuri Ishikawa
30:M - PRINCESS PRINCESS

The rankings were calculated by machines at each JOYSOUND karaoke house.
Five of the best ten were anime song.


Senbonzakura



JOYSOUND「ヒトカラ」ランキング　―JOYSOUND.com
http://joysound.com/ex/st/special/feature/hitokara/index.htm?acfm=rls

Fuji Rock Festival 12 gathered 140,000 people

Fuji Rock Festival

FUJI ROCK FESTIVAL '12(Jul 27-29) gathered 119,000 people(Day 1: 39,000/2: 40,000/3: 40,000) to Naeba Ski Resort, and 140,000 people enjoyed the festival including the eve.
It was fine weather for three days, though it rains usually.

Fuji Rock Festival 12 Line ups


今年のフジロック、全日晴天で過去最多の14万人動員　―ナタリー
http://natalie.mu/music/news/74134