The worlds largest pop group AKB48 have set a new record, by becoming the highest-selling female artists in Japan, surpassing previous record holder Ayumi Hamasaki.

AKB48’s latest single #SukiNanda was released on 30 August, and according to Oricon, it sold 1,082,988 million copies in its first week. Combined with the total sales of their singles and albums, the idol group have sold 51,298,000 million copies altogether. Because Oricon do not separate groups and solo artists in male and female categories, this topples the 50,675,000 singles and albums that Ayumi Hamasaki has sold during her career, making AKB48 the new best selling female artists in Japan.

However, they still have a way to go if they want to become the best selling Japanese artists of all time. Their current total sales place them third. In second place is the rock band Mr. Children with combined sales of 59,535,000, while the rock duo B’z are on top, with sales of 82,339,000.

Originally published on MyM Buzz on 6 September 2017.