The Billboard Japan Hot 100 is a weekly record chart in Japan that ranks the 100 most popular songs in the country. It has been compiled by Billboard Japan and Hanshin Contents Link since February 2008. The chart is updated every Wednesday at Billboard-japan.com (Japan Standard Time) and every Thursday at Billboard.com (Coordinated Universal Time).
History
The chart was launched in February 2008 as the Japanese counterpart to the American Billboard Hot 100. The first number-one song on the chart was "Stay Gold" by Hikaru Utada on the issue dated January 16, 2008. The first number-one song by a non-Japanese artist was "Bleeding Love" by Leona Lewis on the issue dated April 30, 2008.
Methodology
The Billboard Japan Hot 100 combines multiple data metrics to determine song rankings. The methodology has evolved over time:
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2008–2010: The chart combined CD single sales data from SoundScan Japan (tracking physical sales at stores across Japan) and radio airplay figures from 32 AM and FM radio stations, sourced from the Japanese company Plantech.
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December 2010: The chart expanded to include sales from online stores and iTunes Japan.
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December 2013: Additional digital music stores (such as Recochoku and Mora) were incorporated. Twitter data (collected by NTT DATA) and Gracenote data (tracking how many times a CD was registered as being inserted into a computer) were also added.
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May 2015: On-demand streaming and YouTube video views were added to the formula.
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November 2018: Karaoke plays were included.
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December 2022: The Twitter and Gracenote metrics were removed.
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June 2025: A recurrent rule was introduced for songs that chart for more than 52 weeks.
As of the most recent methodology, the chart combines: physical CD sales, digital download sales, audio streaming data, radio airplay, YouTube and GYAO! video views, and karaoke data.
Current Number One
As of the issue dated June 24, 2026, the number-one song on the chart is "Karasu" by Kenshi Yonezu.
Year-End Number Ones
| Year | Title | Artist(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | "Kiseki" | Greeeen |
| 2009 | "Ichibu to Zenbu" | B'z |
| 2010 | "Troublemaker" | Arashi |
| 2011 | "Everyday, Katyusha" | AKB48 |
| 2012 | "Manatsu no Sounds Good!" | AKB48 |
| 2013 | "Koi Suru Fortune Cookie" | AKB48 |
| 2014 | "Guts!" | Arashi |
| 2015 | "Ryusei" | Sandaime J Soul Brothers from Exile Tribe |
| 2016 | "Tsubasa wa Iranai" | AKB48 |
| 2017 | "Koi" | Gen Hoshino |
| 2018 | "Lemon" | Kenshi Yonezu |
| 2019 | — | — |
| 2020 | "Yoru ni Kakeru" | Yoasobi |
| 2021 | "Dry Flower" | Yuuri |
| 2022 | "Zankyōsanka" | Aimer |
| 2023 | "Idol" | Yoasobi |
| 2024 | "Bling-Bang-Bang-Born" | Creepy Nuts |
| 2025 | "Lilac" | Mrs. Green Apple |
Song Milestones
Most Weeks at Number One
- 22 weeks: "Idol" by Yoasobi (2023)
- 19 weeks: "Bling-Bang-Bang-Born" by Creepy Nuts (2024)
- 14 weeks: "Iris Out" by Kenshi Yonezu (2025)
- 13 weeks: "Subtitle" by Official Hige Dandism (2022); "Show" by Ado (2023)
- 11 weeks: "Koi" by Gen Hoshino (2016)
Most Total Weeks on the Chart
The longest-charting songs include "Marigold" by Aimyon (393 weeks), "Takane no Hanako-san" by Back Number (370 weeks), "Lemon" by Kenshi Yonezu (349 weeks), "Tenbyō no Uta" by Mrs. Green Apple featuring Sonoko Inoue (346 weeks), and "Ao to Natsu" by Mrs. Green Apple (333 weeks).
Japan Hot 100 Number Ones by Foreign Artists
As of 2024, only five Western songs have topped the Japan Hot 100. In November 2024, "APT." by Rosé and Bruno Mars became the first song by a foreign artist to reach number one in approximately 11 and a half years.
External Links
- Current Billboard Japan Hot 100 on billboard-japan.com (in Japanese)
- Billboard Japan Hot 100 on Billboard.com
