Label Mobile, the joint company in charge of chaku-uta (ringtone) distribution for Japan’s major record labels, revealed its download rankings for 2007.

Hikaru Utada topped the Chaku-Uta list with “Flavor of Life -Ballad Version-,” beating out “Aiuta” (GReeeeN), “Tsubomi” (Kobukuro), “Lovers Again” (EXILE), and “WINDING ROAD” (Ayaka x Kobukuro).

The Chaku-Uta Full rankings were very similar, but “Aiuta” was #1, followed in order by “Lovers Again,” “Flavor of Life,” “Tsubomi,” and “Sen no Yoru wo Koete” (Aqua Timez).

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Popularity: 9% [?]

The nominees for the 31st Japan Academy Awards were announced on Tuesday. “Tokyo Tower” led the pack with nominations in 14 categories, followed closely by “Always: Zoku Sanchome no Yuhi” (13 nominations) and “Soredemo Boku wa Yattenai” (11 nominations). Those three films are competing with “Kisaragi” and “Bizan” for Best Picture.

The winners will be decided at the awards ceremony on February 15.
Full List:

Best Picture
Always: Zoku Sanchome no Yuhi
Kisaragi
Soredemo Boku wa Yattenai
Tokyo Tower ~Okan to Boku to, Tokidoki, Oton~
Bizan

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Popularity: 5% [?]

Oricon has announced its sales rankings for 2007 and once again, Kumi Koda was #1 in total sales for the year. She sold more than 7.3 billion yen worth of CDs and DVDs. Ayumi Hamasaki was #2 at 7.0 billion yen.

The rest of the top ten were Mr.Children, EXILE, KAT-TUN, Ai Otsuka, Kobukuro, KinKi Kids, Arashi, and L’Arc~en~Ciel.

The best selling single of the year was Masafumi Akikawa’s “Sen no Kaze ni Natte,” which sold about 1.11 million copies. Hikaru Utada’s “Flavor of Life” was #2, followed by Kobukuro’s “Tsubomi.”

The best selling album was “HOME” by Mr.Children (1.18 million copies). Kumi Koda also sold a million with “Black Cherry,” while Kobukuro trailed behind them at #3 with their “ALL SINGLES BEST.”

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Popularity: 36% [?]

EXILE’s new album, “EXILE LOVE,” ended its first week with approximately 670,000 copies sold, making it the top seller. DREAMS COME TRUE also did well with their “AND I LOVE YOU,” selling 374,000 copies to make the #2 spot.

FUNKY MONKEY BABYS achieved #5 with their second album. TUBE (#7), Ulfuls (#9), and INFINITY 16 (#10) also made appearances in the top ten.

In singles, V6 topped the chart with “way of life,” selling 91,000 copies. ZARD’s posthumous release “Glorious Mind” was the #2 seller at 50,000 copies.

Several other artists had new releases in the top ten: Remioromen (#3), YUKI (#4), BoA (#6), and Shunsuke Kiyokiba (#9).

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Popularity: 10% [?]

Female rock trio chatmonchy is in charge of the theme song for Norihiro Koizumi’s movie “Gachi Boy,” which opens in theaters on March 1.

The movie stars Ryuta Sato as a young man who hits his head in an accident, resulting in an inability to retain new memories. However, he comes across the school’s professional wrestling club, and the sport becomes his new way of life.

Chatmonchy’s song will be used as the ending theme. Titled “Hirahira Hiraku Himitsu no Tobira,” it will be released as a single on February 27.

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Popularity: 4% [?]