The pop group has achieved enormous popularity in Japan.[1] The group is popular to the point of being characterized as a social phenomenon.[2] It is also one of the highest-earning musical acts in the world, with 2011 record sales of over $200 million in Japan alone.[4] According to Oricon, AKB48 had sold a total of 11,787,000 singles as of 6 January 2012, breaking the record of "the most singles sold in Japan by a female group".[8] Its twelve of its latest singles topped the Oricon TOP10 Weekly Singles Chart. In 2010, "Beginner" and "Heavy Rotation" placed, respectively, 1st and 2nd in the list of Japan's best selling singles for the year,[5] while in 2011 AKB48 occupied the top 5 positions on the Oricon Yearly Singles Chart.[6]
AKB48 holds several Guinness World Records, including for being the world's "largest pop group".[11] AKB48 received the title in 2010, when was still a 48-member group.[10][11] It also holds the record of "Most Number of Same Product Television Endorsement within 24 Hours", which it set on 28 February 2012 after 90 of the group members appeared in 90 different commercials that were aired in the Kanto, Kansai and Tokai regions of Japan.[91]
On February 1, 2012, Japan issued a postage stamp in honor of the group.[92]
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