Well here's the top 100 best selling Japanese albums (and singles) of all time. You'll have to romanize it yourself though - too much work for me.

http://www2.ocn.ne.jp/~midishow/rekidai_alcd.html





Have a Happy Day!
~Jasmine

Influential --

10. "Time to Destination" - Every Little Thing
9. "Break of Dawn" - Do As Infinity
8. "globe" - globe
7. "Mother Father Brother Sister" - Misia
6. "A Song for XX" - Ayumi Hamasaki
5. "First Love" - Utada Hikaru
4. "Mars" - Gackt
3. "ark" - L'arc~en~Ciel
2. "Atomic Heart" - Mr. Children

I have to do it. They're Japanese history as the #1 selling band ever -- with just over 60million albums sold.

1. "LOOSE" - B'z

That's my list!

Aren't there any important and influential J-pop albums from the 50's, 60's, 70's, or 80's?

I almost forgot this album:

- fra-foa - 13 leaves

Cool Hikki is number one with First love GO HIKKI!

Um.. any albums by Matsuda Seiko, Yamaguchi Momoe, or Matsutoya Yumi...

BTW, Jasmine, an album may not sell very well but it can still be one of the best... I don't think hyde's ROENTGEN sold too much, but I consider it one of J-music's greatest...

well, it aint an album, but hitomi ota's single [momen no hankati-hu] (silk handkerchief) dramatically affected the japanese pop scene. it was released in '75, i havent heard the original but shiina ringos done a cool cover on the [utahite myo-ri sono iti] album... tyekku site kudasare~~~

hi jasmine!

morning musume-3rd paradice
morning musume-best morning musume one
morning musume-4th ikimashoi
morning musume-no.5

hamasaki ayumi a best
hamasaki ayumi- i am
hamasaki ayumi - rainbow
^^
~ami

ayu - i am
ayu - loveppears
mai kuraki - perfect crime
utada hikari - distance *maybe*

Aikawa Nanase - Crimson
Mai Kuraki - Perfect Crime

did this ever amount to anything? *sorry sven lol*

NP :P I'm kinda curious myself, I must say.

A BEST-Ayumi Hamasaki
Duty-Ayumi Hamasaki
VALENTI-BoA

I am...- Ayumi Hamasaki
Duty- Ayumi Hamasaki
Love- Mika Nakashima
the winter album- the brilliant green
Los angeles- the brilliant green
Chuu no fuchi- fra-foa
13 leaves- fra-foa

the Brilliant Green-the Winter Album
Do As Infinity-Break of Dawn
TommyFebruary6-Everyday at the Bus Stop
TommyHeavenly6-Wait Till I Can Dream
Ayumi Hamasaki-I am...

Haven't heard, but heard they're good:
Ayumi Hamasaki-Loveppears
Utada Hikaru-Distance

I'll take the term 'jpop' not too litteral, since 'pop' is a pretty big term to begin with. Some albums that should definitely be included:

Yellow Magic Orchestra - Solid state survivor
Loudness - Law of devil's land
Sandii And The Sunsetz - Heat scale
Seiko Matsuda - Citron
Pizzicato Five - Made in USA
Cornelius - Fantasma
Chage & Aska - Morning moon
Ayumi Hamasaki - A Song for XX/Duty
Ryuichi Sakamoto - Beauty
Boredoms - Osoresan no stoogeskyo
Shonen Knife - Burning farm
Merzbow - Cloud **** 00 grand (that should be Cloud C.O.C.K., but without the dots, 00 grand)
Melt-Banana - Scratch or stitch
Shiina Ringo - Muzai moratorium
Utada Hikaru - First love
Do As Infinity - Break of dawn
Gackt - Mars

just to name a few.

Ayumi hamasaki - Duty
Ayumi hamasaki - I am...
Utada Hikaru - 1st love
Kokia - remember me
DAI - True song

i reckon utada hikaru's distance or first love but not deep river
also when it comes to ayu i dont think a song for xx was that popular bcoz she didnt get that popular until love~destiny~ which was in loveppears. but A Best is probably the best one to put down for ayu.

dont forget various artists feat. song+nation :D

If we're talking essential albums, I think First Love is more essential than Distance, just because First Love sold millions as a debut album.

As for Ayu's records: A Song for XX would be a good choice because it marks the beginning of an era; otherwise Duty should be listed, because it sold the most copies, imho.

MISIA - MARVELOUS
Namie Amuro - DANCE TRACKS VOL.1
Namie Amuro - SWEET 19 BLUES
Ken Hirai - Gaining through losing
Every Little Thing - Time to Destination
Every Little Thing - eternity
BoA - VALENTI
CHEMISTRY - Pieces of a dream