The Japanese YouTube charts for the week of September 18–24, 2026 revealed a remarkable achievement: M!LK secured not just the No. 1 position, but placed three separate songs in the Top 10 simultaneously. Their lead track "時空超えてユニバース" ("Transcending Time and Space to the Universe") climbed from No. 2 to claim the top spot with 6.69 million views, while the group's complete "love trilogy" dominated the upper reaches of the chart. We're breaking down exactly how this sweep happened, what it means for the group, and who else made waves in the rankings.
Published through ORICON's official YouTube chart service on September 30, 2026, these rankings reflect the viewing patterns of Japanese music fans during a particularly active week that saw total Top 100 views jump 17.2% compared to the previous seven-day period.
The Quick Version
- M!LK's "時空超えてユニバース" rose to No. 1 with 6.69 million views for September 18–24, 2026, marking its third consecutive week on the chart
- The group placed three songs in the Top 10: "時空超えてユニバース" at No. 1, "好きすぎて滅!" ("Love You So Much I'll Perish!") at No. 5, and "爆裂愛してる" ("Explosive Love") at No. 6
- Kenshi Yonezu dominated overall presence with 12 songs in the Top 100, more than any other artist
- BE:FIRST's collaboration "WATCH ME (feat. BIA)" debuted at No. 9 with 3.05 million views following its September 18, 2026 release
- The chart saw 11 new entries during the week, with overall engagement climbing significantly
M!LK's Triple Crown: Breaking Down the Top 10 Domination
What makes M!LK's September 18–24 chart performance particularly noteworthy is the trajectory we witnessed over three consecutive weeks. "時空超えてユニバース" didn't simply debut at the top—it earned its way there through sustained momentum. The song first appeared at No. 10 during September 4–10 with 2.30 million views, then surged to No. 2 the following week with 6.11 million views, before finally claiming the top position with 6.69 million views—a 9.0% week-over-week increase even after already reaching multi-million view counts.
The song serves as the lead track from M!LK's first mini-album LOVE ENG!NE, which was released on September 16, 2026. According to official descriptions, "時空超えてユニバース" represents the conclusion of a thematic trilogy exploring different facets of love. The other two songs in this series, "好きすぎて滅!" and "爆裂愛してる," had already been released separately, and both maintained strong positions at No. 5 (4.04 million views) and No. 6 (3.58 million views) respectively during the chart week.
Having three songs simultaneously in the Top 10 of any national chart represents a significant achievement, particularly on YouTube where competition includes not just new releases but the entire back catalog of Japanese music. The combined view count for M!LK's Top 10 entries alone exceeded 14 million during this single week. Beyond these three songs, M!LK placed a total of nine tracks in the overall Top 100, demonstrating deep catalog engagement from their fanbase.
Kenshi Yonezu's Remarkable Catalog Strength
While M!LK claimed the headline spots, Kenshi Yonezu demonstrated a different kind of chart dominance: sheer breadth of presence. The artist placed 12 songs in the Top 100 for September 18–24, more than any other musician on the rankings. This figure includes tracks credited under both his solo name and the joint credit "Kenshi Yonezu & Hikaru Utada" for their collaborative works.
Yonezu's highest-charting entry during this week was "IRIS OUT," which rose from No. 7 to No. 4 with approximately 4.21 million views—a substantial 48.0% increase week-over-week. The song's acceleration suggests it caught momentum from playlist placements, social media sharing, or other discovery mechanisms that drive YouTube engagement beyond the initial release window.
The presence of 12 songs in a single week's Top 100 speaks to the sustained catalog appeal Yonezu has built over his career. Unlike the typical pattern where an artist dominates with one or two current singles, this distribution suggests fans actively return to Yonezu's deeper catalog, streaming older favorites alongside newer releases. It's a pattern we typically associate with legacy artists or those who've achieved "playlist staple" status across multiple songs.
BE:FIRST's Global Expansion Move
BE:FIRST's "WATCH ME (feat. BIA)" debuted at No. 9 with 3.05 million views, representing one of the week's stronger new entries. The song appeared on the group's global EP WATCH ME, released on September 18, 2026—meaning the chart captured the track's very first week of availability.
The collaboration features BIA, a U.S.-based rapper, and marks a clear strategic move toward international expansion for BE:FIRST. According to reports, the release ties directly to the group's planned efforts to build audience reach in the United States. For a Japanese act, debuting in the Top 10 with an international collaboration represents both strong domestic support and the kind of cross-cultural appeal needed to make inroads in Western markets.
BE:FIRST also placed three total songs in the Top 100 during this chart week, tying with SixTONES, Snow Man, and back number for the third-most entries by any single artist. This demonstrates that while the group is actively pursuing new directions with collaborations like the BIA feature, their existing Japanese-language catalog continues to engage listeners.
The Broader Chart Landscape
The September 18–24 chart period saw overall Top 100 engagement increase 17.2% compared to the previous week—a significant jump that suggests either particularly strong new releases, seasonal listening pattern shifts, or algorithmic changes in how YouTube presented music content to Japanese viewers. The chart included 11 new entries during this period, down from 16 the previous week but still representing substantial fresh content reaching significant audiences.
Beyond the artists already mentioned, the multi-entry pattern extended to several acts. SixTONES, Snow Man, and back number each placed three songs in the Top 100, while M!LK's nine entries represented the second-highest total after Yonezu's 12. This clustering pattern—where a handful of artists account for a disproportionate share of chart positions—reflects both the loyal fandom structures common in Japanese music and the way YouTube's recommendation algorithms tend to surface multiple tracks from artists a viewer has already engaged with.
The chart data comes from YouTube through ORICON's weekly chart service, tracking views during the specified seven-day period. It's worth noting that these figures represent views during that specific week, not lifetime totals, and are counted according to YouTube's internal metrics for the Japanese market.
What People Are Saying
"Three songs in the top 10 at the same time is actually insane. M!LK really said 'we're taking over the entire chart this week' and just did it," one fan posted on social media, capturing the surprise many felt at seeing the sweep unfold.
"The fact that Yonezu has 12 different songs charting shows you the difference between having hits and having a genuinely deep catalog people return to," another listener observed, noting the sustained appeal across Yonezu's body of work rather than just his latest releases.
"BE:FIRST collaborating with BIA and immediately hitting the top 10 in Japan shows they're serious about this global expansion thing. It's not just talk—they're actually making moves," a commenter wrote, connecting the chart debut to the group's stated international ambitions.
"I love that 'IRIS OUT' is still climbing weeks after release. Sometimes songs just find their moment, and clearly this is that moment for this track," one YouTube user noted about Yonezu's No. 4 entry and its 48% viewing increase.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time period does this YouTube chart cover?
This chart tracks YouTube views in Japan from September 18 through September 24, 2026. ORICON published the rankings on September 30, 2026, through their official YouTube chart service partnership.
How did M!LK get three songs in the Top 10 at once?
M!LK released their first mini-album LOVE ENG!NE on September 16, 2026, with "時空超えてユニバース" as the lead track. This song, along with two previously released singles from their "love trilogy" series—"好きすぎて滅!" and "爆裂愛してる"—all maintained strong viewing numbers during the September 18–24 period, landing at positions 1, 5, and 6 respectively.
Why does Kenshi Yonezu have so many songs on the chart?
Yonezu placed 12 songs in the Top 100 during this week, reflecting the sustained popularity of his broader catalog rather than just recent releases. His "IRIS OUT" track ranked highest at No. 4, but listeners actively streamed multiple songs from across his discography during this period.
Where can I listen to these songs?
These are YouTube chart rankings, so all the mentioned songs are available on YouTube. The specific streaming or purchase availability on other platforms hasn't been detailed in the official chart reporting.
Is this chart based on views from Japan only?
The chart is published as Japan's official YouTube ranking through ORICON and reflects the Japanese market, though the exact methodology—whether it counts only views from Japanese IP addresses or includes global views of Japanese content—hasn't been specified in the available reporting.
What This Week's Rankings Tell Us
The September 18–24, 2026 YouTube chart captures a moment where strategic album releases, sustained catalog appeal, and international collaboration all converged. M!LK's three-song Top 10 sweep demonstrates how a well-planned thematic release can create momentum across multiple tracks simultaneously, while Kenshi Yonezu's 12-entry presence shows the enduring value of building a catalog that listeners return to beyond the initial release cycle. BE:FIRST's strong debut with their BIA collaboration suggests that Japanese acts pursuing global expansion are finding domestic audiences receptive to these cross-cultural experiments.
As we move into October 2026, it'll be worth watching whether M!LK can maintain multiple Top 10 positions or if the natural chart cycle brings new contenders to the fore. Either way, this particular week marked a significant milestone for the group and offered a fascinating snapshot of what's capturing Japanese listeners' attention on YouTube.