BTS’ “Permission to Dance,” which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, holds at No. 2 on the Japan Hot 100, ruling streaming (19,965,634 weekly streams) and video (7,718,062 weekly views) to come out on top over the group’s previous hit song “Butter,” which falls to No. 3. But the latter is still going strong, continuing its climb in terms of weekly streams (14,469,653 this week from 14,064,270 last week), and looks like it won’t be leaving the top ranks anytime soon.
Meanwhile, two tracks debut in the top 10 this week: millennium parade × Belle (Kaho Nakamura)’s “U” and Keisuke Kuwata’s “Smile – Harewataru sora no youni.” The former is the theme for Mamoru Hosoda’s new animated feature film Belle, which opened in Japanese theaters July 16. The track dropped before the movie hit theaters and blasted in at No. 1 for downloads (27,996 units) and No. 3 for radio to launch at No. 9 on the Japan Hot 100.
Veteran pop star Kuwata’s “Smile,” debuting at No. 10, comes in at No. 3 for downloads (23,340 units) and No. 1 for radio. The Southern All Stars frontman and solo artist with a career spanning over 40 years will be releasing his first-ever solo EP in September, a six-track set including this Tokyo 2020 Summer Games-related number.
The Billboard Japan Hot 100 combines physical and digital sales, audio streams, radio airplay, Twitter mentions, YouTube and GYAO! video views, Gracenote look-ups and karaoke data.
See the full Billboard Japan Hot 100 chart, dated July 12 to 18, here.
