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Recording Industry Association of Japan
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<h2 id="riaj-certification">RIAJ Certification</h2> <p>In 1989, the Recording Industry Association of Japan introduced the <a href="/facts/Music_recording_certification/zGzLFa9l">music recording certification</a> systems. It is awarded based on shipment figures of compact disc or cassette tape which was reported by record labels. In principle, the criteria are limitedly applied to the materials released after January 21, 1989. </p> <h3>Certification awards</h3> <p>Currently, all music sales including singles, albums, digital download singles are on the same criteria. Unlike many countries, the highest certification is called "Million". </p> <table><tbody><tr><th colspan="6">Thresholds per award</th></tr><tr><th>Gold</th><th>Platinum</th><th>2× Platinum</th><th>3× Platinum</th><th>Million</th><th>Multi-Million</th></tr><tr><td>100,000</td><td>250,000</td><td>500,000</td><td>750,000</td><td>1,000,000</td><td>2,000,000+</td></tr></tbody></table> <h4>Old criteria (until June 2003)</h4> <p>Before the unification of criteria and introduction of music videos category in July 2003, a separate scale had been used for certification awards.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:1" href="#fn:1"><sup>1</sup></a> </p> <table><tbody><tr><th rowspan="2">Format</th><th rowspan="2">Type</th><th colspan="7">Thresholds per award<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:2" href="#fn:2"><sup>2</sup></a></th></tr><tr><th>Gold</th><th>Platinum</th><th>2× Platinum</th><th>Million</th><th>3× Platinum</th><th>4× Platinum</th></tr><tr><td rowspan="2">Albums</td><td>Domestic</td><td>200,000</td><td>400,000</td><td>800,000</td><td rowspan="4">1,000,000</td><td>1,200,000</td><td>1,600,000</td></tr><tr><td>International</td><td>100,000</td><td>200,000</td><td>400,000</td><td>600,000</td><td>800,000</td></tr><tr><td rowspan="2">Singles</td><td>Domestic</td><td>200,000</td><td>400,000</td><td>800,000</td><td>1,200,000</td><td>1,600,000</td></tr><tr><td>International</td><td>50,000</td><td>100,000</td><td>200,000</td><td>300,000</td><td>400,000</td></tr></tbody></table> <h3>Digital certifications</h3> <p>Certifications for songs and albums released digitally began on September 20, 2006, using download data collected since the early 2000s.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3"><sup>3</sup></a> From 2006 until 2013, there were three categories for certifications: <i>Chaku-uta</i> (着うた（R）, "Ringtone"), <i>Chaku-uta Full</i> (着うたフル（R）, "Full-length Ringtone") (i.e. a download to a cellphone) and <i>PC Haishin</i> (PC配信, "PC Download") for songs purchased on services such as <a href="/facts/ITunes/pdXPE33T">iTunes</a>. On February 28, 2014, the Chaku-uta Full and PC categories were merged to create the <i>Single Track</i> (シングルトラック) category.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4"><sup>4</sup></a> </p><p>While digital album certifications are possible, only a few albums have received this certification since the RIAJ began awarding it, including the 2011 <i><a href="/facts/Songs_for_Japan/WxlhAMgL">Songs for Japan</a></i> charity album,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5"><sup>5</sup></a> and <a href="/facts/Hikaru_Utada/NLHQp3kn">Hikaru Utada</a>'s sixth studio album <i><a href="/facts/Fant%C3%B4me_(album)/xoawMjs0">Fantôme</a></i>. In 2021, <a href="/facts/Ayumi_Hamasaki/4uf5WQpE">Ayumi Hamasaki</a>'s <i><a href="/facts/A_Complete:_All_Singles/Abg8RlBS">A Complete: All Singles</a></i> (2008) became the first album released in the 2000s to receive digital certification. </p> <table><tbody><tr><th rowspan="2">Format</th><th colspan="6">Thresholds per award<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6"><sup>6</sup></a></th></tr><tr><th>Gold</th><th>Platinum</th><th>2× Platinum</th><th>3× Platinum</th><th>Million</th></tr><tr><td>Chaku-uta (R)</td><th colspan="2"></th><td rowspan="3">500,000</td><td rowspan="3">750,000</td><td rowspan="3">1,000,000</td></tr><tr><td>Single Track</td><td rowspan="2">100,000</td><td rowspan="2">250,000</td></tr><tr><td>Album</td></tr></tbody></table> <h3>Streaming only</h3> <p>As of April 2020,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7"><sup>7</sup></a> RIAJ has begun to certify songs for streaming, just how it does for physical shipments and digital download sales. </p><p>Unlike physical shipments and digital download sales, the streaming certifications have their own levels, due to the higher amount of streams compared to the other formats. </p> <table><tbody><tr><th colspan="5">Thresholds per award<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8"><sup>8</sup></a></th></tr><tr><th>Gold</th><th>Platinum</th><th>2× Platinum</th><th>3× Platinum</th><th>Diamond</th></tr><tr><td>50,000,000</td><td>100,000,000</td><td>200,000,000</td><td>300,000,000</td><td>500,000,000</td></tr></tbody></table> <h2 id="members">Members</h2> <h3>Main members</h3> <ul><li><a href="/facts/Avex_Group/z6om4Nud">Avex Group</a>1 <ul><li><a href="/facts/Avex_Entertainment/z6om4Nud">Avex Entertainment</a></li> <li>Avex Digital (supporting member)</li></ul></li> <li><a href="/facts/Being_Inc./I2vx6lmu">Being Inc.</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Dreamusic_Incorporated/mT7B9JTI">Dreamusic Incorporated</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/For_Life_Music/7u8oyHqo">For Life Music</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Geneon_Universal_Entertainment/XB7yPJ8R">Geneon Universal Entertainment</a>1</li> <li><a href="/facts/King_Records_(Japan)/fv0ccxc1">King Records</a>1 <ul><li><a href="/facts/King_Records_(Japan)/fv0ccxc1">Bellwood Records</a> (supporting member)</li> <li><a href="/facts/King_Records_(Japan)/fv0ccxc1">King Records International</a> (supporting member)</li></ul></li> <li><a href="/facts/Nippon_Columbia/BJgUsYpP">Nippon Columbia</a> <ul><li>Columbia Marketing (supporting member)</li></ul></li> <li><a href="/facts/Nippon_Crown/weFz4fq7">Nippon Crown</a>1</li> <li><a href="/facts/Pony_Canyon/IGQQmzBh">Pony Canyon</a>1 <ul><li><a href="/facts/Quake_Inc./o3XHKNUE">Exit Tunes</a> (associate member)</li></ul></li> <li><a href="/facts/Sony_Music_Entertainment_Japan/DshbF68Y">Sony Music Entertainment Japan</a>1 <ul><li><a href="/facts/Ariola_Japan/SjtrzLxb">Ariola Japan</a> (supporting member)</li> <li><a href="/facts/DefStar_Records/Dh162qN0">DefStar Records</a> (supporting member)</li> <li><a href="/facts/Epic_Records_Japan/QAsPKvpU">Epic Records Japan</a> (supporting member)</li> <li><a href="/facts/Ki/oon_Records/4StB0zXu">Ki/oon Records</a> (supporting member)</li> <li><a href="/facts/SME_Records/DshbF68Y">SME Records</a> (supporting member)</li> <li><a href="/facts/Sony_Music_Entertainment_Japan/DshbF68Y">Sony Music Artists</a> (supporting member)</li> <li><a href="/facts/Sony_Music_Entertainment_Japan/DshbF68Y">Sony Music Associated Records</a> (supporting member)</li> <li><a href="/facts/Sony_Music_Entertainment_Japan/DshbF68Y">Sony Music Direct</a> (supporting member)</li> <li><a href="/facts/Sony_Music_Entertainment_Japan/DshbF68Y">Sony Music Distribution</a> (supporting member)</li> <li><a href="/facts/Sony_Music_Japan_International/DshbF68Y">Sony Music Japan International</a> (supporting member)</li> <li><a href="/facts/Sony_Music_Records/DshbF68Y">Sony Music Records</a> (supporting member)</li></ul></li> <li><a href="/facts/Teichiku_Records/kRXLnhEa">Teichiku Entertainment</a>1</li> <li><a href="/facts/Tokuma_Japan_Communications/gBfJh4zL">Tokuma Japan Communications</a>1</li> <li><a href="/facts/Universal_Music_Group/VufxcUef">Universal Music Group</a>1 <ul><li><a href="/facts/EMI_Music_Japan/WVkcD6jV">EMI Music Japan</a>1</li></ul></li> <li><a href="/facts/VAP_(company)/fzx0HAY4">VAP Inc.</a>1</li> <li><a href="/facts/Victor_Entertainment/FwnSQLFF">Victor Entertainment</a>1</li> <li><a href="/facts/Warner_Music_Group/r0x3FlQE">Warner Music Group</a>1</li> <li><a href="/facts/Yamaha_Corporation/VaulfF9U">Yamaha Music Communications</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Yoshimoto_Kogyo/wqBhEehg">Yoshimoto R&C</a></li></ul> <h3>Associate members</h3> <ul><li><a href="/facts/Amuse,_Inc./j4zkz4tX">Amuse Soft Entertainment</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Bandai_Visual/sAy7jKXW">Bandai Visual</a></li> <li>Croix</li> <li>Gambit</li> <li><a href="/facts/Taro_Hakase/lMTHBgHD">HATS Unlimited</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Johnny_and_Associates/nrTuBmVD">Johnny and Associates</a> <ul><li><a href="/facts/J_Storm/YbgpNrIX">J Storm</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Johnny%27s_Entertainment/nrTuBmVD">Johnny's Entertainment</a></li></ul></li> <li>KISS Entertainment</li> <li><a href="/facts/Konami/pBu2rpta">Konami Digital Entertainment</a> <ul><li><a href="/facts/Lantis_(company)/2MzATGaA">Lantis</a> (main member)</li></ul></li> <li>LD&K Records</li> <li><a href="/facts/Naxos_Records/yusJl4EH">Naxos Records</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/NBCUniversal_Entertainment_Japan/XB7yPJ8R">NBCUniversal Entertainment Japan</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Pryaid_Records/5dxQ4WN0">Pryaid Records</a>1</li> <li>Rambling Records</li> <li><a href="/facts/Stardust_Promotion/IdKeGyVC">Stardust Records</a></li> <li>Space Shower Networks</li> <li>Spiritual Beast</li> <li><a href="/facts/Toy%27s_Factory/JYz6UUL1">Toy's Factory</a></li> <li>Venus Records</li> <li>Village Again Association</li></ul> <h3>Supporting members</h3> <ul><li>Aceforce Entertainment</li> <li><a href="/facts/Aniplex/JdmE6M5f">Aniplex</a> (subsidiary of <a href="/facts/Sony_Music_Entertainment_Japan/DshbF68Y">Sony Music Entertainment Japan</a>)</li> <li>Crown-Tokuma Music (joint venture of <a href="/facts/Nippon_Crown/weFz4fq7">Nippon Crown</a> and <a href="/facts/Tokuma_Japan_Communications/gBfJh4zL">Tokuma Japan Communications</a>)</li> <li>Free Board</li> <li>Holiday Japan</li> <li>Jei One</li> <li>Kino Music</li> <li>NPPDevelop</li> <li>T-Toc Records</li> <li><a href="/facts/TV_Asahi/L9n4fxcF">TV Asahi Music</a></li> <li>Ward Records</li></ul> <p>1Member, <a href="/facts/International_Federation_of_the_Phonographic_Industry/h3f3zMVv">International Federation of the Phonographic Industry</a>. </p> <h2 id="see-also">See also</h2> <ul><li><a href="/facts/List_of_best-selling_albums_in_Japan/CIzsfhBv">List of best-selling albums in Japan</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/List_of_best-selling_singles_in_Japan/VvtLdKNG">List of best-selling singles in Japan</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/List_of_best-selling_music_artists_in_Japan/nv34sbA0">List of best-selling music artists in Japan</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Recording_Industry_Association_of_America/8a7K0Ubf">Recording Industry Association of America</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Australian_Recording_Industry_Association/tg97mRCL">Australian Recording Industry Association</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/List_of_music_recording_sales_certifications/6CPQFNNn">List of music recording sales certifications</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/RIAJ_Digital_Track_Chart/tHaRF4zo">RIAJ Digital Track Chart</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Global_music_industry_market_share_data/aQazsdXv">Global music industry market share data</a></li></ul> <h2 id="external-links">External links</h2> <ul><li><a href="http://www.riaj.or.jp/e/">Recording Industry Association of Japan</a> - in English</li></ul> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>"The Record - August 2003 - Page 15" (PDF) (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 23, 2010. Retrieved December 23, 2010. <a href="http://www.riaj.or.jp/issue/record/2003/200308.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.riaj.or.jp/issue/record/2003/200308.pdf</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>"The Record - August 2003 - Page 15" (PDF) (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 23, 2010. Retrieved December 23, 2010. <a href="http://www.riaj.or.jp/issue/record/2003/200308.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.riaj.or.jp/issue/record/2003/200308.pdf</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:3"><p>レコード協会調べ 8月度有料音楽配信認定 [Record Association Investigation: August Digital Music Download Certifications]. RIAJ (in Japanese). September 20, 2006. Archived from the original on August 12, 2014. Retrieved January 23, 2014. <a href="レコード協会調べ 8月度有料音楽配信認定" target="_blank">レコード協会調べ 8月度有料音楽配信認定</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:4"><p>音楽配信認定の基準 [Digital Music Certification Criteria] (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. February 28, 2014. Archived from the original on March 6, 2014. Retrieved March 6, 2014. <a href="音楽配信認定の基準" target="_blank">音楽配信認定の基準</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:5"><p>レコード協会調べ 5月度有料音楽配信認定 [Record Association Investigation: May Digital Music Download Certifications]. RIAJ (in Japanese). June 20, 2011. Archived from the original on September 15, 2013. Retrieved February 4, 2014. <a href="レコード協会調べ 5月度有料音楽配信認定" target="_blank">レコード協会調べ 5月度有料音楽配信認定</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:6"><p>音楽配信認定の基準 [Digital Music Certification Criteria] (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. February 28, 2014. Archived from the original on March 6, 2014. Retrieved March 6, 2014. <a href="音楽配信認定の基準" target="_blank">音楽配信認定の基準</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:7"><p>ストリーミング認定 [Streaming Certification] (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Archived from the original on June 6, 2020. Retrieved June 26, 2020. <a href="ストリーミング認定" target="_blank">ストリーミング認定</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:8"><p>ストリーミング認定 [Streaming Certification] (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Archived from the original on February 27, 2023. Retrieved March 15, 2023. <a href="ストリーミング認定" target="_blank">ストリーミング認定</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>