Japan’s best-selling single of all time wasn’t from B’z, Hamasaki Ayumi or even Koda Kumi. “Oyoge! Taiyaki-kun” is a kid’s song that was released 33 years ago and had total sales of 4.55 million singles, a figure that has now earned it a place in the Guinness Book of World Records. Of course, in 1975 there were no CDs, so on March 5 the song is to be re-released coupled with another old Showa Era favorite “Ippon demo Ninjin.” It will have the original sleeve design and coloring book, with the addition of a DVD featuring the animation that was shown on the “Hirake! Ponkikki” show.
The reason for the sudden revival? Last year Taiyaki-kun stuffed toys started appearing in UFO Catcher machines in game centers across the country and were an instant hit among people old enough to remember the character. The popularity spread to couples and youngsters, and the Pony Canyon record label saw they had a hit on their hands. They contacted Guinness in the UK about possibly having the song listed under a “Children’s Songs” or “Food Songs” category only to discover that it would be recognized as Japan’s No.1-selling single. Nobody had ever thought to submit it before. Pony Canyon declined to comment on the fact that the singer, Shimon Masato – now 64 and retired from showbiz – got a single payment of ¥50,000 and a white guitar for the recording. Though he had other hits, he hasn’t appeared in public since 1998.
• Former talento Haga Kenji (46), currently on trial for extortion, was released on bail this week after his fourth court appearance at the Osaka District Court. It’s not known who forked out the ¥20 million in bail money. On Tuesday evening, Haga returned to his Tokyo home with his wife Mayu (30), who he had seen only once in the eight months since his arrest last summer. He is due back in the Osaka court today for a hearing that is to include an appearance on the witness stand by actor Yoshikawa Ginji (42), who was arrested in the case last July but faced no charges.