The J-Pop Exchange: Saturday, January 21, 2012 Playlist

Hear many of the Oricon Top 30 songs for the month of December 2011. In the list below, you'll be able to identify the Oricon Rank along with the song title and artist. Additionally, you can learn more about some of the songs you're hearing tonight!

01 - Ue kara Mariko (Mariko From the Top)- AKB48
This was the 24th major single by the Japanese girl idol group AKB48, released on 12/7/11.
02 - We never give up! - Kis-My-Ft2
On 12/14/11,the group released this as their second single
03 - BIRTH - KAT-TUN Part of their 17th single
05 - Boku no Hanbun (Half of me)- SMAP
Released on 12/21, sold 130,000 copies in the first week, and reached the No. 1 spot on Oricon’s weekly rankings for 1/2. This marked the first time a SMAP song was in the No. 1 spot. Though it is worth noting that SMAP has had 46 songs in the top 10 since their debut in 1991.
06-1 Sit! Stay! Wait! Down! - Namie Amuro
06-2 Love Story - Namie Amuro
07 - Kibou Sanmyaku - Watarirouka Hashiritai 7
This is the current opening theme for the anime “Crayon Shin-Chan”
09 - Seasons - Jin Akanishi
10 - Pedicure day - No Sleeves
11 - CHASE - L'Arc~en~Ciel
12 - Singing! - Houkago Teatime
13 - Kudokinagara Azabujuban duet with Mino Monta - SDN48
14 - Unmei♪wa♪Endless! - Houkago Teatime
15-1 BABY BORN & GO – UVERworld
15-2 KINJITO – UVERworld
16 - CRISIS - Acid Black Cherry
17 - Sho – Yuzu 18 Yasashiku Naritai - Kazuyoshi Saito
19 - Distance – FTIsland
20 - Love Me Back - Kumi Koda (Released on 11/29, this was Kumi Koda's 52nd single)
22-1 Wonderful Cupid – NYC
22-2 Garasu no Mahou - Yuma Nakayama
23 - Present – flumpool
25 - Departures~Anata ni Okuru Ai no Uta~ - EGOIST
26-1 Anata e – EXILE
28 - Tick Tack - U-Kiss