- Who
- Thelma Aoyama, SoulJa
- What
- 9,250,000 unit(s) sold
- Where
- Japan ()
- When
"Soba ni Iru ne" (“I’m by Your Side”), by Thelma Aoyama feat. SoulJa (both Japan), has sold a combined 9.25 million digital and physical copies since it was released in 2008. Aoyama’s second Japanese hit, which topped the Oricon Singles Chart on 11 February 2008, has been downloaded 8.7 million times – also making it the best-selling digital single (Japan) – and has shifted an estimated 550,000 physical copies.
Just two other Japanese singles have sold as many as 8 million digital and physical copies combined: Hikaru Utada’s “Flavor of Life” (2007; 8.65 million, including 8 million downloads) and Greeeen’s “Kiseki” (“Miracle”, 2008; 8.15 million, including 7.6 million downloads).
“Soba ni Iru ne” was taken from Aoyama’s debut album Diary and was the follow-up to her debut single “One Way”.
The best-selling physical single in Japan is “Oyoge! Taiyaki-kun” (“Swim! Taiyaki”), released by Masato Shimon (Japan). It sold more than 4.57 million copies after its release on 25 December 1975.
