Keyakizaka46 Rises to No. 1 on Japan Hot 100 as Breakthrough Band WANIMA Hits Top 20

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.

The three-member rock band <a href="/music/wanima">WANIMA</a> announced the release of their new album, Everybody!!, on Jan. 17. The lead single from the album, "Human," is currently being used as the theme song for a TV drama series and debuts at No. 16 on the Japan Hot 100 powered by downloads (No. 3). Formerly signed to <a href="/music/hi-standard">Hi-STANDARD</a>'s Pizza of Death Records, the new album will be the trio's first release under a major label, and the melodic punk band is on its way to becoming one of the biggest breakthrough artists in recent years.

The Billboard Japan Hot 100 combines physical and digital sales, radio airplay, Twitter mentions, YouTube and GYAO! video views, Gracenote look-ups and audio streams from Apple Music, AWA, Google Play Music, KKBOK, LINE MUSIC, Rakuten Music, Recochoku provided by Gfk Japan, as well as streaming counts based on lyrics displayed on PetitLyrics.

Billboard Japan Hot 100 Top 20 (dated Oct. 23-29)
1. Kaze Ni Fukaretemo / Keyakizaka46
2. BIG CITY RODEO / GENERATIONS from EXILE TRIBE
3. Mirai No Bokura Ha Shitteruyo / Aqours
4. One More Time / TWICE
5. Itsuka Dekiru Kara Kyou Dekiru / Nogizaka 46
6. Uchiage Hanabi / Daoko X Kenshi Yonezu
7. LIFE / AAA
8. Shape Of You / Ed Sheeran
9. Haiiro To Ao (+ Masaki Suda) / Kenshi Yonezu
10. Step Up LOVE / DAOKO X Yasuyuki Okamura
11. Hana No Uta / Aimer
12. Kimi the WORLD / Hash Tag
13. We are the light / miwa
14. TT / TWICE
15. c.o.s.m.o.s / Uchida Maaya
16. Human / WANIMA
17. Hora, Waratteru / SHISHAMO
18. DNA / BTS
19. Dancing Hero / Yoko Oginome
20. ONE / Aimer