Let’s turn back the hands of time as we look back on the songs that made the Japanese music industry what it was on the Oricon Weekly Chart. This week we look at the third week of January for both 2010 and 2015, where two Johnny’s boy groups Hey! Say! JUMP and Arashi reigned supreme with “Hitomi no Screen” and “Sakura” respectively. But just what exactly made these songs so great?

“Hitomi no Screen ( 瞳のスクリーン)” was Hey! Say! JUMP!’s fifth single and continued their streak of consecutive number one’s on the Oricon charts. It initially sold 201,000 copies and became the 21st best selling single of that year totaling 250,206 copies. The single was originally available in two editions, a CD-only regular edition and a CD + DVD limited edition with each version containing different material. “Hitomi no Screen” was composed by famous composer and arranger Makaino Kouji. Kouji had worked with many popular artists such as Arashi, SMAP, and Kinki Kids, just to name a few. The song was used as the theme to the popular j-drama “Hidarime no Tantei EYE” which also stars Hey! Say! JUMP! member Yamada Ryousuke. “Hitomi no Screen” encompasses their vocal unity, catchy chorus, and infectious melody that Hey! Say! JUMP had on the industry with their high energy and harmonious vocals. Hey! Say! JUMP! continues to dominate the Japanese music industry to this day with their latest release, I Am / Muah Muah, reaching number 1 on the Oricon chart.

“Sakura” was ARASHI’s forthy-fifth single and topped the Oricon charts for three consecutive weeks in the top ten. It originally sold 465,381 copies it first week and became the 11th best selling single of 2015 with 521,067 copies sold. The single was availabe in two editions, a CD-only regular edition and a CD + DVD limited edition with each edition containing a different track listing. “Sakura” is written and composed by eltvo, who is known for writting and composing many of ARASHI’s other famous tracks such as “Kimi Iru Kara” and “Fly on Friiday”. The track was chosen to be the theme song for the j-drama “Ouroborous” and this became a first for ARASHI as they had never had one of their songs in a j-drama despite being an established group. “Sakura” encompasses an arrangement of various instruments mixed together with each member’s vocals in a unison that is uncomparable. This track shows how ARASHI has captured and still captures the industry strongly with their enchanting melodies, vocals, and charisma. ARASHI’s domination of the industry shows in “Sakura” as the track was a part of their forty consecutive number 1 singles.

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