Japanese Star Kenshi Yonezu Soars While Michael Jackson's Legacy Ignites Biopic Craze!

Kenshi Yonezu has once again demonstrated his formidable presence on the Japanese music charts, as his latest single, “Karasu,” made an immediate impact by debuting atop the Billboard Japan Hot 100 on the chart released June 24. This track, specifically composed as the theme song for NHK’s upcoming 2026 World Cup broadcasts, showcased exceptional performance across multiple metrics. It secured the No. 1 position for both downloads and streaming, while also achieving strong No. 2 rankings for radio airplay and video views.

This remarkable debut marks a significant milestone in Yonezu’s career, as “Karasu” becomes his eleventh single to reach the coveted No. 1 spot on the Billboard Japan Hot 100. It is his first chart-topper since “IRIS OUT,” and with this achievement, Yonezu extends his cumulative weeks at the peak of the Japan Hot 100 to an impressive 32 weeks. His extensive list of No. 1 singles now includes “IRIS OUT,” “Plazma,” “KICK BACK,” “M87,” “Pale Blue,” “Uma to Shika,” “Spirits of the Sea,” “Lemon,” “Flamingo,” “Peace Sign,” and now “Karasu.”

Following closely, Ae! group’s “Dekoboko Life” secured the No. 2 position on the chart. This song, which serves as the theme for the film "Osomatsusan The Movie," initially entered the digital tally at No. 6 on May 11. Its ascent to No. 2 this week is largely attributed to its physical CD release on June 17, indicating a significant boost from traditional sales.

M!LK also made considerable strides on the chart, with their track “Bakuretsu Aishiteru” climbing from No. 6 to No. 3. The group demonstrated remarkable chart dominance by placing five titles simultaneously within the top 50: “Bakuretsu Aishiteru” at No. 3, “Sukisugite Metsu!” at No. 5, “Idol Power” at No. 16, “Shin Unmei (Shunta Sono & Jutaro Yamanaka)” at No. 17, and “Iijan” at No. 43. Additionally, CUTIE STREET’s “CUTIE SPHERE” saw a substantial leap, vaulting 39 positions to land at No. 7.

Beyond the contemporary artists, the chart also highlighted a notable resurgence for the late King of Pop, Michael Jackson. The upcoming biopic about his life appears to be reigniting interest in his iconic catalog, as several of his classic hits made significant moves. “Beat It” climbed from No. 50 to No. 32, while “Billie Jean” rose from No. 61 to No. 37. Furthermore, two more of his timeless tracks, “Thriller” and “Bad,” re-entered the chart at No. 84 and No. 96, respectively. This collective movement resulted in four of Michael Jackson’s songs charting simultaneously this week, underscoring his enduring legacy.

Veteran group Arashi also maintained a consistent presence on the chart, with 13 of their titles placing within the top 100. While a slight decrease from their 19 entries last week, their catalog continues to hold steady positions, reflecting their sustained popularity among fans.

The Billboard Japan Hot 100 chart, which tallied the week from June 15 to 21, is compiled using a comprehensive methodology that integrates various data points. These include physical and digital sales, audio streams, radio airplay, video views, and karaoke data, providing a holistic measure of music popularity across Japan. For further details on Japanese music and chart insights, Billboard Japan’s English X account serves as a valuable resource.