BTS has made history on the Japanese charts once again. According to Oricon's 2026 First Half Rankings — covering the period from December 8, 2025 through June 7, 2026 — the group's fifth studio album ARIRANG claimed No. 1 on both the Oricon Album Chart and the Combined Album Chart. Oricon noted that topping the Combined Album Chart is a rare achievement for an overseas artist.
Five HYBE Acts Make the Top 10
BTS wasn't alone in dominating the rankings. Four more acts under the HYBE Music Group umbrella secured spots in the top 10 across both charts. &TEAM's third mini album We on Fire landed at No. 3 on both the Album Chart and the Combined Album Chart, while ENHYPEN's seventh mini album THE SIN: VANISH followed closely at No. 4 on both charts.
TOMORROW X TOGETHER's 7TH YEAR: 가시덤불에 잠시 바람이 멈췄을 때 — the group's seventh-anniversary release — charted at No. 9 on the Combined Album Chart and No. 7 on the Album Chart. Rounding out the group of HYBE acts, TWS's NO TRAGEDY came in at No. 10 on the Combined Album Chart and No. 9 on the Album Chart.
Why This Matters
Japan's Oricon charts are widely regarded as one of the most competitive music markets in the world, making a No. 1 ranking — especially on the Combined Album Chart, which factors in both physical and digital sales — a significant milestone for any artist. For BTS to claim the top spot as an overseas act is described by Oricon as an exceptional record. With five HYBE artists filling five of the top ten slots in a single half-year cycle, the results underscore just how deeply Korean acts have embedded themselves in the Japanese music landscape heading into the second half of 2026.
