AKB48 Sets Oricon's New Highest First Week Sales Records By A Big Margin!

AKB48's 26th single "Manatsu no Sounds Good!" is released on May 23rd, with pre-orders started rolling out on May 22nd. By selling 1,170,554 copies on the first day, it broke Oricon's highest first day sales records.
The hype is not over yet! The remaining 6 days of the week saw some of the most consistent sales figures AKB48 has ever had in the past. This allows them to set a new highest first week sales records of 1,617,000 copies, breaking the previous record held by AKB48's 22nd single "Flying Get" by a big margin of more than 250,000 copies. As such, they have now monopolised the Top 5 spots of the Oricon Highest First Week Singles Sales! Only about 1 year ago, Mr. Children was still the record holder of highest first week sales with about 1,200,000 copies.
Current Oricon Top 5 Highest First Week Singles Sales:
1. AKB48 - Manatsu no Sounds Good! - 1,617,000 copies
(Released 23rd May 2012)
2. AKB48 - Flying Get - 1,354,000 copies
(Released 24th Aug 2011)
3. AKB48 - Everyday Kachuusha - 1,334,000 copies
(Released 25th May 2011)
4. AKB48 - Kaze wa Fuiteiru - 1,300,000 copies
(Released 26th Oct 2011)
5. AKB48 - GIVE ME FIVE! - 1,287,000 copies
(Released 15th Feb 2012)
With this, "Manatsu no Sounds Good!" shall be their 13th consecutive #1 single and 7th consecutive million-selling single (8th overall). AKB48 is now the 3rd artist in Oricon's history to achieve 7th consecutive million release, with the two previous artists being Mr. Children and B'z, achieving it more than 16 years ago.
Congratulations!