Keyakizaka46's new single, "Kaze Ni Fukaretemo," takes the No. 1 spot on the latest Billboard Japan Hot 100 dated Oct. 23 to 29, selling 722,954 copies in its first week.
The Japanese girl group's fifth single, released six months after their previous hit, "Fukyouwaon," which sold over 810,000 copies, had bowed on the Japan Hot 100 at No. 15 before the CD went on sale, powered by Twitter mentions and video views. It remained in the top 20 for four weeks -- from No. 15 to No. 4 to No. 20 to No. 15 -- and was elevated to the top spot at last after the single dropped. Coming in at No. 1 for physical sales, downloads, look-ups and Twitter mentions this week, it also fared well in other metrics such as streaming (No. 4), radio airplay (No. 7) and video views (No. 9).
The nine-member group <a href="/music/aqours">Aqours</a> formed by the voice actors who play the members of the fictional equivalent group in the anime Love Live! Sunshine!! comes in at No. 3 on the Japan Hot 100 this week with "Mirai No Bukura Ha Shitteruyo." The CD sold 64,490 copies in its first week and came in at No. 3 for physical sales. Interestingly, the single also broke out of the pattern for anime-related releases by doing well in digital metrics -- coming in at No. 2 for downloads and look-ups and No. 6 for Twitter -- indicating that the group is reaching audiences outside the anime's fandom.