BTS's 'Arirang' Tops Japan's Oricon Half-Year Rankings, Making History

BTS's fifth studio album, 'Arirang,' has achieved a historic double victory in the Oricon half-year rankings in Japan.

According to the 'Half-Year Ranking 2026' released by Oricon on June 25, 'Arirang' secured the top spot in both the 'Album Ranking' and the 'Combined Album Ranking.' These rankings reflect sales and streaming data from December 8 of last year to June 7 of this year.

This marks the second time BTS has topped the Oricon half-year 'Album Ranking,' following their fourth studio album, 'Map of the Soul: 7 ~The Journey~' in 2020. They are the first foreign artists to achieve this milestone twice.

During the tracking period, 'Arirang' sold over 728,000 copies. This is the first time since 2004 that an album by a foreign male artist has sold over 700,000 copies in the Oricon half-year 'Album Ranking,' a feat last accomplished by the British rock band Queen with their compilation album 'Jewels.'

In the 'Combined Album Ranking,' 'Arirang' also topped the chart with 922,000 points, marking the first time a foreign artist has reached number one in this category.

BTS is now the third artist to surpass 800,000 points in the Oricon 'Combined Album Ranking,' following Japanese groups King & Prince and Snow Man. 'Arirang' also reached third place in the 'Digital Album Ranking.'

In a statement through Oricon, BTS expressed, "'Arirang' is our first album released as a complete group in three years and nine months. We are honored and thrilled that this long-awaited album, which reflects the current BTS, is receiving so much love."

They added, "We are always grateful to everyone who loves and supports BTS and our music."

'Arirang' has also received acclaim from major international media in their half-year reviews. Billboard highlighted BTS's return, mentioning tracks like 'Body to Body,' 'Hooligan,' 'Like Animals,' and 'Into the Sun,' praising the group's hit-making ability and musical quality.

The title track 'SWIM' has been recognized as a hit that reached number one on Billboard's Hot 100 and is expected to remain a signature song for the group. Other outlets, including Rolling Stone, Complex, and NME, have also named 'Arirang' one of the key albums of the first half of the year.

BTS's previous hits continue to break records as well. The music video for 'Dynamite,' released in 2020, surpassed 2.1 billion views on YouTube as of June 24, making it the most-viewed BTS music video.