BE:FIRST has secured the top spot on the Billboard Japan Hot 100 with their latest digital single, “Missing,” according to the chart released on July 8. The group’s latest release, which arrived on July 1, dominated the weekly tally by leading across multiple metrics, including physical sales, radio airplay, downloads, video views, and streaming data. This achievement marks the 12th time the group has topped the Billboard Japan Hot 100, following their previous success with “BE:FIRST ALL DAY.”
The Billboard Japan Hot 100 is a comprehensive industry barometer that aggregates physical and digital sales, audio streams, radio airplay, video views, and karaoke data. For the chart week dated June 29 to July 5, BE:FIRST not only secured the No. 1 position but also saw their track “Why, Why”—also featured on the same release—debut at No. 52. This dual entry highlights the group’s continued momentum in the Japanese music market. Fans can monitor future chart updates and official announcements via Billboard Japan’s official English X account.
Chart Performance and New Entries
While BE:FIRST holds the lead, the remainder of the top five remains highly competitive. Kenshi Yonezu’s “Karasu” (“Raven”) maintained its position at No. 2, while M!LK’s “Sukisugite Metsu!” climbed from No. 4 to No. 3. Sakanaction’s “Yoru no Odoriko” shifted to No. 4, and M!LK held a second entry in the top five with “Bakuretsu Aishiteru” remaining steady at No. 5.
The latest chart period saw 14 new entries, signaling significant movement in the Japanese music scene. Among the notable debuts, “Who’s Next” by GAN—the musical project of Takanori Iwata of Sandaime J SOUL BROTHERS—arrived at No. 8. This debut was bolstered by physical sales totaling 39,237 copies. Additionally, the EBiDAN 15th-anniversary single, “Yes! Tokyo,” debuted at No. 10, driven largely by performance in streaming and video metrics. Tomohiro Kamiyama also saw his track “G.O.D.” enter the chart at No. 11, securing the No. 2 spot for digital downloads.
Seasonal Trends and International Collaborations
The mid-year chart has also been influenced by seasonal shifts and international releases. As summer approaches in Japan, several seasonal staples have re-emerged on the tally. Mrs. GREEN APPLE’s “Ao to Natsu” (which translates to “Blue and Summer”) climbed from No. 79 to No. 44, with gains reported across all metrics, primarily led by streaming. Similarly, aiko’s classic “Hanabi” (“Fireworks”) returned to the chart for the first time in approximately 10 months.
International collaborations continue to find a foothold in the domestic market. A track featuring Madonna and Sabrina Carpenter, “Bring Your Love,” entered the chart at No. 16, sustained by radio airplay points. Elsewhere on the chart, the release of the film Toy Story 5 in domestic theaters on July 3 correlated with a surge for Taylor Swift’s “I Knew It, I Knew You.” The song jumped from No. 93 to No. 43, with data showing a 136% increase in radio airplay and a 280% increase in downloads week-over-week.
Historical Context of BE:FIRST’s Chart Success
BE:FIRST has established a consistent presence at the top of the Billboard Japan Hot 100 over the past several years. Their track record of No. 1 singles includes a diverse list of releases that have resonated with both domestic and international listeners. The group’s history of chart-topping success includes:
- “Bye-Good-Bye”
- “Mainstream”
- “Boom Boom Back”
- “Gifted.”
- “Gaitou”
- “Masterplan”
- “Blissful”
- “Scream”
- “Spacecraft”
- “GRIT”
- “BE:FIRST ALL DAY”
- “Missing”
The longevity of the group’s success is often attributed to their integration of high-energy performance videos and active social media engagement, which consistently drive the video and streaming metrics utilized by Billboard Japan. The next update for the Billboard Japan Hot 100 is scheduled to reflect data from the following week. Readers are encouraged to share their thoughts on these chart developments in the comments section below.