BTS topped Japan’s album sales chart for the first half of the year.
According to Billboard Japan’s 2026 mid-year ‘Top Album Sales’ chart released on June 6, 2026 (KST), the fifth studio album by BTS, ‘ARIRANG’, ranked No. 1 with 706,961 copies sold.
‘ARIRANG’ also topped Billboard Japan’s comprehensive mid-year album chart, ‘Hot Albums.’ On Billboard Japan’s mid-year ‘Hot 100’ chart, the album’s title track, ‘SWIM,’ and B-side track, ‘2.0,’ entered at No. 38 and No. 87, respectively.
K-pop acts made a strong showing, sweeping six entries in the top 20. HYBE acts dominated the upper tier, led by the Japan-based boy group &TEAM, which secured No. 2 with its third mini-album, ‘We on Fire,’ selling 705,543 copies.
Other HYBE affiliates followed closely behind, with ENHYPEN’s ‘THE SIN : VANISH’ ranking No. 4, TOMORROW X TOGETHER (TXT)’s ‘7TH YEAR: A Moment of Stillness in the Thorns’ ranking No. 7, and TWS’s ‘NO TRAGEDY’ taking No. 10.
TREASURE, representing YG Entertainment, also entered the chart at No. 13 with ‘LOVE PULSE.’
BTS also ranked No. 6 on the comprehensive artist chart, ‘Artist 100.’ While prominent Japanese acts such as Mrs. GREEN APPLE, back number, Kenshi Yonezu, and Snow Man dominated the upper ranks, BTS was the only international artist in the top 10.
‘ARIRANG’ has maintained strong momentum on the Japanese charts since its March release, spending a total of nine weeks at No. 1 on Billboard Japan’s weekly ‘Hot Albums’ chart, underscoring both its powerful fandom and mainstream appeal.
The results highlight the continued influence of K-pop in the Japanese music market. In particular, the rapid rise of the localized group &TEAM—closely rivaling BTS at the top—underscores K-pop’s sustained strength in Japan.
