Mr. Children discography explained

The discography for the Japanese band Mr. Children consists of 19 studio albums, 5 compilation albums and 38 singles. They are one of the best selling artists in Japan.

Mr. Children debuted in 1992. The band's initial releases performed poorly on the charts but through word of mouth they gained more popularity. Their 4th single "Cross Road" after 22 weeks sold over a million copies, though released in 1993 and peaked at number five on the Oricon chart. It later managed to become the fifteenth best selling single in Oricon's 1994 yearly charts. The band's first No.1 single on Oricon chart was their 5th single "Innocent World" which was released in June, 1994, becoming the best selling single of 1994 and winning the Japan Record Award (Record of the year) in 1994. The band also released their 6th single "Tomorrow Never Knows" on November 10, 1994. The single solidified the group's popularity with its sales, managing to sell over 2.7 million copies which is the seventh highest-selling single in Japan in Oricon history.[1] and becoming the band's highest selling single to date.

In 1996, they released their 10th single which became the best selling single of 1996. The single went on to become Japan's highest first week selling single of all time for 15 years, with 1.2 million copies.

On the Oricon album charts their 12th studio album Home became the best-selling album of 2007 in Japan, making it the first time Mr.Children had topped annual album charts in their 16th year since their debut.

In December 2008, they released album Supermarket Fantasy, which became the second best selling album of 2009.

In 2012 they celebrated their 20th debut anniversary by releasing dual best album titled Mr. Children 2001–2005 <micro> and Mr. Children 2005–2010 <macro>. Both albums dominated the best-selling album category in the 2012 Oricon yearly chart. Mr.Children has become the third artists who achieved TOP two spots on the yearly album ranking, and this is the first time in 14 years for any artist to achieve this. Furthermore [(An Imitation) Blood Orange], which is the studio album released in the same year, sold over 530,000 copies in the first week. They had three albums in Top 10 best selling album in 2012.

Studio albums

YearAlbum detailsPeak chart position[2] First week salesTotal sales/RIAJ certifications
(sales thresholds)
International sales
1992Everything 252,400451,440 (Platinum)
Kind of Love
  • Released: December 1, 1992
  • Label: Toy's Factory (TFCC-88026)
  • Format: CD
137,7701,179,780 (Million)
1993Versus
  • Released: September 1, 1993
  • Label: Toy's Factory (TFCC-88034)
  • Format: CD
358,510802,140 (Million)
1994Atomic Heart
  • Released: September 1, 1994
  • Label: Toy's Factory (TFCC-88052)
  • Format: CD
1851,5603,429,650 (3x Million)
1996Shinkai (深海)
  • Released: June 24, 1996
  • Label: Toy's Factory (TFCC-88077)
  • Format: CD
11,536,1802,744,950 (2x Million)HKG

20,000[3]

1997Bolero
  • Released: March 5, 1997
  • Label: Toy's Factory (TFCC-88099)
  • Format: CD
11,734,8803,283,270 (3x Million)HKG: 20,000
1999Discovery
  • Released: February 3, 1999
  • Label: Toy's Factory (TFCC-88137)
  • Format: CD
11,110,3701,814,180 (Million)
2000Q
  • Released: September 27, 2000
  • Label: Toy's Factory (TFCC-88166)
  • Format: CD
2632,350896,890 (Million)
2002It's a Wonderful World
  • Released: May 10, 2002
  • Label: Toy's Factory (TFCC-86106)
  • Format: CD
1640,1501,232,655 (Million)
2004Shifuku no Oto (シフクノオト)
  • Released: April 7, 2004
  • Format: CD, CD+DVD
1803,4221,411,799 (Million)
2005I Love U (I♥U)
  • Released: September 21, 2005
  • Label: Toy's Factory (TFCC-86200)
  • Format: CD
1686,6881,137,349 (Million)
2007Home
  • Released: March 14, 2007
  • Label: Toy's Factory (TFCC-86221)
  • Format: CD, CD+DVD
  • Note: Best-selling album of the year in 2007
1693,0381,207,417 (Million)
2008Supermarket Fantasy
  • Released: December 10, 2008
  • Label: Toy's Factory (TFCC-86291, TFCC-86292)
  • Format: CD, CD+DVD
1707,7631,277,906 (Million)
2010Sense
  • Released: December 1, 2010
  • Label: Toy's Factory (TFCC-86341)
  • Format: CD
1501,992784,282 (Triple Platinum)[4]
2012(An Imitation) Blood Orange
  • Released: November 28, 2012
  • Label: Toy's Factory (TFCC-86420, TFCC-86421)
  • Format: CD, CD+DVD
1530,235775,713(Triple Platinum)
2015Reflection
  • Released: June 4, 2015
  • Label: Toy's Factory (TFCC-86543, TFCC-86544, TFCC-86545)
  • Format: CD, CD+DVD
1355,268 587,108 (Double Platinum)
2018Jyuryoku to Kokyu (重力と呼吸, "Gravity and Respiration")
  • Released: October 3, 2018
  • Label: Toy's Factory (TFCC-86659)
  • Format: CD
1309,956446,128(Double Platinum)
2020Soundtracks
  • Released: December 2, 2020
  • Label: Toy's Factory (TFCC-86733, TFCC-86734, TFCC-86735, TFJC-38044)
  • Format: CD, CD+DVD, CD+Blu-ray, vinyl
1278,506
2023Miss You
  • Released: October 4, 2023
  • Label: Toy's Factory
  • Format: CD
1164,988[5]

Compilations

YearAlbum detailsPeak chart positionFirst week salesTotal sales/RIAJ certifications
(sales thresholds)
2001Mr. Children 1992–1995 11,201,7302,403,348(2x Million)
Mr. Children 1996–2000
  • Released: July 11, 2001
  • Label: Toy's Factory (TFCC-88181)
  • Format: CD
21,004,1901,824,634(2x Million)
2007B-Side
  • Released: May 10, 2007
  • Label: Toy's Factory (TFCC-86231)
  • Format: CD
1281,024479,320(Double Platinum)
2012Mr. Children 2001–2005 <micro>
  • Released: May 10, 2012
  • Label: Toy's Factory (TFCC-86396, TFCC-86398)
  • Format: CD, CD+DVD
  • Note: No.2 best-selling album of the year in 2012
2715,5561,116,782 (Million)
Mr. Children 2005–2010 <macro>
  • Released: May 10, 2012
  • Label: Toy's Factory (TFCC-86397, TFCC-86399)
  • Format: CD, CD+DVD
  • Note: Best-selling album of the year in 2012
1731,5891,215,909 (Million)
2022Mr. Children 2011–2015
  • Released: May 11, 2022
  • Label: Toy's Factory
  • Format: CD
2185,020[6]
Mr. Children 2015–2021 & Now
  • Released: May 11, 2022
  • Label: Toy's Factory
  • Format: CD
1193,007

Singles

TitleRelease datePeak chart position[7] First week salesCopies soldAlbum
"Kimi ga Ita Natsu" (君がいた夏 :The Summer That You Were Here) August 21, 1992 69 2,940 21,710Everything
"Dakishimetai" (抱きしめたい :I Want To Hold You) December 1, 1992 56 3,490 60,790Kind of Love
"Replay" July 1, 1993 19 24,880 88,330Versus
"Cross Road" November 10, 1993 6 65,950 1,255,940Atomic Heart
"Innocent World" June 1, 1994 1 206,030 1,935,830
"Tomorrow Never Knows" November 10, 1994 1 669,540 2,766,290Bolero
"Everybody Goes -Chitsujo no Nai Gendai ni Drop-Kick-"
(Japanese: everybody goes -秩序のない現代にドロップキック-)
December 12, 1994 1 369,670 1,240,040
"【Es】 ~Theme of Es~" May 10, 1995 1 520,670 1,571,890
"See-Saw Game ~Yūkan na Koi no Uta~"
(シーソーゲーム~勇敢な恋の歌~ :See Saw Game ~a brave love song)
August 10, 1995 1 561,750 1,811,790
"Na mo Naki Uta" (名もなき詩 :Nameless Poem) February 5, 1996 1 1,208,230 2,308,790Shinkai
"Hana -Mémento Mori-" (Japanese: 花 -Mémento-Mori-:Flower ~a Reminder of Death) April 10, 1996 1 639,330 1,538,600
"Machine Gun o Buppanase -Mr. Children Bootleg-"
(Japanese: (マシンガンをぶっ放せ -Mr.Children Bootleg-):Spray Machinegun Fire)
August 8, 1996 1 301,560 733,070
"Everything (It's You)" February 5, 1997 1 602,140 1,217,090Bolero
"Nishi e Higashi E" (ニシエヒガシエ :To the East, To the West) February 11, 1998 1 361,370 663,730Discovery
"Owari Naki Tabi" (終わりなき旅 :Endless Journey) October 21, 1998 1 515,780 1,070,350
"Hikari no Sasu Hou E" (光の射す方へ :To Where the Light Points You) January 13, 1999 1 327,650 455,770
"I'll Be" May 12, 1999 1 194,770 301,000
"Kuchibue" (口笛 :Whistle) January 13, 2000 1 327,590 724,070Q
"Not Found" August 9, 2000 1 356,520 607,300
"Yasashii Uta" (優しい歌 :Gentle Song) August 21, 2001 1 250,610 477,810It's a Wonderful World
"Youthful Days" November 7, 2001 1 352,730 699,270
"Kimi Ga Suki" (君が好き :I like you) January 1, 2002 1 305,500 513,280
"Any" July 10, 2002 1 257,670 509,262Shifuku no Oto
"Hero" December 11, 2002 1 315,358 552,848
"Tenohira"/"Kurumi" (掌/くるみ :Palm of hand/Walnut) November 19, 2003 1 286,982 651,696
"Sign" May 26, 2004 1 370,451 773,990I Love U
"Yonjigen: Four Dimensions" (四次元-) June 29, 2005 1 569,116 925,632
"Houkiboshi" (箒星 :Comet) July 5, 2006 1 254,024 419,805[8] Home
"Shirushi" (しるし :*Proof) November 15, 2006 1[9] 350,059 740,080[10]
"Fake" (フェイク) January 24, 2007 1[11] 280,877 320,628[12]
"Tabidachi no uta" (旅立ちの唄 :A song for the journey) October 31, 2007 1238,380 395,343[13] Supermarket Fantasy
"Gift" July 30, 2008 1 194,144 340,132
"Hanabi" (Fireworks) September 3, 2008 1 260,196 485,803
"Inori ~Namida no Kidou/End of the Day/Pieces"
(祈り 〜涙の軌道(Prayer~The orbit of tears)/End of the day/pieces)
April 18, 2012 1 174,409 275,640(An Imitation) Blood Orange
"Ashioto ~Be Strong"
(足音 ~Be Strong)
November 19, 2014 2 114,667 175,192Reflection
"Hikari no Atelier"
(ヒカリノアトリエ)
January 11, 2017 1 100,170 161,749Non-album single
"himawari"[14] July 26, 2017 1 121,279 162,415Jyuryoku to Kokyu
"Birthday/Kimi to Kasaneta Monologue"
(Birthday/君と重ねたモノローグ)
March 4, 2020 2[15] 67,777 98,844Soundtracks

Home video

TitleVHS release dateDVD release date
Es Mr. Children in Film December 15, 1995
Alive April 25, 1997
Regress or Progress '96–'97 Document September 10, 1997
Regress or Progress '96–'97 Tour Final in Tokyo Dome October 8, 1997 June 21, 2001
Mr. Children Concert Tour '99 Discovery June 21, 2001 June 21, 2001
Mr. Children Concert Tour Q 2000~2001 August 22, 2001 August 22, 2001
Mr. Children Concert Tour Popsaurus 2001 January 1, 2002 January 1, 2002
Wonederful World on Dec 21 March 26, 2003
Mr. Children Tour 2004 Shifuku no Oto (Japanese: Tour 2004 シフクノオト) December 21, 2004
Mr. Children Dome Tour 2005 "I Love U": Final in Tokyo Dome May 10, 2006
Mr. Children Home Tour 2007 November 14, 2007
Mr. Children Home Tour 2007: In the Field August 6, 2008
Mr. Children: Shūmatsu no Confidence Songs November 11, 2009
Mr. Children Dome Tour 2009: Supermarket Fantasy May 10, 2010
Mr. Children: Split the Difference November 10, 2010
Mr.Children TOUR 2011 "SENSE" Nov 23, 2011
Mr.Children STADIUM TOUR 2011 SENSE -in the field- April 18, 2012
Mr.Children TOUR POPSAURUS 2012 Dec 19, 2012
Mr.Children[(an imitation) blood orange]Tour Dec 18, 2013

Commercial tie-ins

Commercial ties-ins include:[16]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: http://www.oricon.co.jp/news/ranking/52143/full/. ja:「およげ!たいやきくん」がギネス認定、再評価の気運高まる. Oricon. 2008-02-20. 2010-05-17. Japanese.
  2. Web site: Mr.Childrenの作品 . . ja . October 11, 2023.
  3. Web site: 1997 . 2015-10-02 . 2015-09-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150924033156/http://www.ifpihk.org/gold-disc-award-presented/1997 . dead .
  4. http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/artist/17382/products/music/896218/1/ SENSE Mr. Children
  5. Web site: https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ja/w/2023-10-16/. ja:オリコン週間 アルバムランキング 2023年10月02日~2023年10月08日. Oricon Weekly Album Ranking October 2, 2023 – October 8, 2023. Oricon. ja. October 11, 2023. October 11, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231011025103/https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ja/w/2023-10-16/. dead.
  6. Web site: https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ja/w/2022-05-23/. ja:週間 アルバムランキング 2022年05月23日付 (2022年05月09日~2022年05月15日). Weekly Album Ranking dated May 23, 2022 (May 9, 2022–May 15, 2022). Oricon. ja. https://web.archive.org/web/20220518025734/https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ja/w/2022-05-23/. May 18, 2022. dead. May 18, 2022.
  7. Web site: Mr.Children、待望のニューシングル「箒星」リリース決定!(Mr.Children, and long-awaited new single "Houkiboshi" release decision!) . oricon.co.jp . 2007-06-17 . Japanese.
  8. Web site: 2006年 年間シングルチャート大発表!(2006 annual single chart announcements) . oricon.co.jp . 2007-07-07 . Japanese.
  9. Web site: CDリリース しるし/Mr.Children (CD Release Shirushi/Mr.Children) . oricon.co.jp . 2007-06-29 . Japanese.
  10. Web site: 邦画新記録の06年、ヒット曲数も歴代1位 (2006 Japanese movie record, The first successive place of the number of hits) . oricon.co.jp . 2007-06-17 . Japanese.
  11. Web site: ミスチル、映画『どろろ』主題歌で26作連続1位!(Mr.Children 'Dororo' movie theme song and consecutive 26 works at #1!) . 2007-07-07 . Japanese.
  12. Web site: 2007年上半期シングルランキング (The first half year single rank in 2007) . oricon.co.jp . 2007-06-20 . Japanese.
  13. Web site: 2007年 年間シングルランキング大発表!(2007 annual single rank big announcements!) . oricon.co.jp . 2008-01-11 . Japanese.
  14. Web site: Mr.Children's new single to be released in July . May 25, 2017. May 29, 2021. tokyohive. 6Theory Media, LLC..
  15. Web site: 週間 CDシングルランキング 2020年03月16日付. Weekly CD Single Ranking for March 16, 2020. Oricon. March 11, 2020. Japanese.
  16. Book: The distance to "HOME" . Kadokawa television . 別冊カドカワ総力特集 Mr.Children (Separate volume Kadokawa special issue Mr.Children) . 2007 . 167–170 . Japanese . 978-4-04-894488-5 .