



Popular idol group AKB48's 30th single "So long!" (released on February 20th) sold 1,036,000 copies in its first week, and topped the Oricon weekly single ranking for the week of March 4th.



This marked AKB48's 17 consecutive chart topping single since "RIVER" (released in�October�2009), and they have extended their own records for "the number of consecutive�chart topping singles" and "total number of chart topping singles". Moreover, this is their 11�consecutive single (and 12th single overall) to sell over a million copies since "Sakura no Ki ni Narou" (released in February 2011). Among those singles that sold over a million copies, 10 of them achieved the million mark during just the first week.



This accomplishment of 10 singles selling over one million copies in the first week is even more impressive considering that since Oricon's single ranking started back in 1968, there has only been three singles besides AKB48 that sold over a million copies during the first week. These are, "Namonaki Uta" (Mr.Children in 1996), �"Dango 3 Kyoudai" (Hayami Kentaro, Shigemori Ayumi, and more in�1999), and "Addicted To You" (Utada Hikaru in 1999). Additionally, there has been no artist other than AKB48 who has�achieved�it with more than one single.



Watanabe Mayu commented, "I was informed that 'So long!' that I served as the center for the first time reached a million copies, and we were the only one to accomplish the record of 'having 10 consecutive single that sold over a million copies in the first week.' I am happy from the bottom of my heart, and I'm full of gratitude toward the fans who have always been cheering for us, and the staff members who always support us."



Source & Image: Oricon



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