DBSK, SNSD, Kara and Super Junior Enter HMV Japan's Year-End Rankings

Along with the creation of a special year-end chart exclusively for K-Pop releases, HMV Japan has recently released the best-selling albums and singles of 2011, which includes DBSK, SNSD, Kara and Super Junior. 

HMV Japan is one of the country’s top record stores, carrying everything from CDs to DVDs as well as video games, anime, manga and even books. The HMV year-end charts, which is one of the most prestigious in Japan, include categories for international and local (Japanese) albums and singles, while the newly-added K-Pop chart includes online sales figures as well.

SNSD’s debut Japanese album “Girls’ Generation” takes 4th place on HMV’s “International Album Top 30” chart, with Kara’s “Girls Talk” trailing at 5th place. SNSD also has a second entry, with “Hoot” placing at #15. Super Junior’s fifth album “Mr. Simple” is at #23 on the list. The three Korean acts are alongside foreign acts such as Lady GaGa, Taylor Swift, Bon Jovi, Beyonce, Britney Spears, and Rihanna, among others.

DBSK’s “TONE” and “Why? (Keep Your Head Down)” have made their way into both J-pop charts, making them the only Korean act to appear on the “Top 30 Japanese Pops Album” and “Top 30 Japanese Pops Single” charts. “TONE,” their fifth Japanese album which was released last September, is ranked #21 and is alongside established Japanese artists such as Mr. Children, AKB48, SMAP, Namie Amuro, EXILE, and others. Meanwhile, the duo’s single “Why? (Keep Your Head Down),” the Japanese version of their Korean comeback single, is ranked #14 on the top singles chart, alongside the likes of KAT-TUN, Hey! Say! JUMP! and Kis-My-Ft2.

The top ten of, “K-Pop Top 100,” HMV Japan’s special chart for K-Pop releases is dominated by SNSD, SHINee, Jang Geun Suk and CN Blue. SNSD claims four out of the top ten spots, while CN Blue claims three.