Top 25 most downloaded singles in 2018 (Oricon)

With digital music becoming more popular these days, it is probably not surprising that Oricon has released the ranking for digital music downloads in 2018. It is interesting to note that the results here differ quite a bit from the physical CD sales ranking which can probably be attributed to various reasons. In AKB48's case, it's really hard to ignore the fact that their tactics to tie CD sales with getting votes for the annual election do play a part in ensuring their dominance in the singles chart and their absence from the top 25 songs here is especially obvious.

Yonezu Kenshi's Lemon is indeed the mega hit for this year as seen from its number of downloads which is more than 3 times of the No.2 song from DA PUMP. And to top it off, he has 7 songs in the top 25 ranking!

This is definitely Yonezu's year.

Note that the figures in brackets indicate the number of downloads for the song:

1) Lemon - Yonezu Kenshi (1,796,953)

2) U.S.A. - DA PUMP (541,356)

3) Mabataki - back number (434,455)

4) LOSER - Yonezu Kenshi (382,506)

5) Idea - Hoshino Gen (374,465)

6) Ai no katachi feat. HIDE (GReeeeN) - MISIA (298,189)

7) Uchiage Hanabi - DAOKO x Yonezu Kenshi (286,771)

8) Anata - Utada Hikaru (284,694)

9) Doraemon - Hoshino Gen (283,746)

10) here comes my love - Mr.Children (277,409)

11) Hero - Amuro Namie (267,966)

12) Change - ONE OK ROCK (267,499)

13) Sayonara Elegy - Suda Masaki (266,174)

14) Peace Sign - Yonezu Kenshi (248,428)

15) Haiiro to Ao (+Suda Masaki) - Yonezu Kenshi (233,280)

16) Daifuseikai - back number (232,585)

17) Hatsukoi - Utada Hikaru (227,528)

18) Flamingo - Yonezu Kenshi (209,085)

19) Eine Kleine - Yonezu Kenshi (202,422)

20) Old Fashion - back number (200,156)

21) Hope (from BEST AL [Finally]) - Amuro Namie (191,421)

22) Prologue - Uru (182,278)

23) Moshi kimi wo yurusetara - Ieiri Leo (152,067)

24) Tomoni - WANIMA (152,037)

25) Sazanka - SEKAI NO OWARI (149,393)

Source: Oricon