Yeah, first day sales could like totally surprise and everyone will be like "Woah! How?!" :) But I also try to wait until at least second or third day sales are out because her first day is always pretty high - although if her first day sales end up being significantly lower than usual, I'd say that is pretty much the nail in the coffin of this single.

Yeah, tell me about it! I'm struggling to find people to see it with me -_-; It makes me really worried for Ayu... but can the lack of interest for the movie equal a lack of interest in the single? talkin' 2 myself sold about 80K (correct me if I'm wrong), but it contained two rock songs and much fewer tracks overall. Couldn't Sparkle maybe spark some interest?

Don't forget Tohoshinki too. These days I would at least consider them a small threat. Although they just released a single only a couple weeks ago, so this one might not sell as well.

Maybe if it had a PV and some performances. But how would anyone who isn't a hard core Ayu fan have even heard Sparkle? Plus, even though Sparkle technically isn't rock, it still falls into the "hard" category I would say thats why it seems like talkin' 2 myself/Decision. There is no soft song on it and that is usually what Japan (generally speaking) prefers.

..........watch me say all of this and then have the sales be sky high tomorrow, lol.

Reading Japanese bbs again now, it seems finally someone saw a DBE commercial for the first time during the comedian Sanma's show - it appears the CM just began today.

The movie doesn't come out for another two weeks in Japan. Dragonball is a huge franchise around the world, so I wouldn't be surprised if the movie studio decides to start promoting the movie left and right within the next few weeks (at least in Japan, anyway; we'll be waiting another few weeks before that happens around the rest of the world).

But, no, Avex really hasn't been doing any good promotion for the single, but we all know that's because she's been recording songs and filming PVs. I honestly think this single is just for the fans - we're obviously the ones who know the most about it, and honestly, as long as some people buy it and like it, I'm sure Ayu will be happy. She doesn't need continuous #1 singles (though that is a pretty awesome record).

I wouldn't really say that Dragonball is a huge worldwide franchise, I mean yes, it is a franchise, but it is only huge to people that are into anime already. That's also assuming that people in Japan would be interested in seeing the movie to begin with. Do you think people in Japan were really interested in seeing The Ring or The Grudge remakes? Probably not. Would people in America be interested in seeing a Japanese live action version of, I don't know, Charlie Brown (or any famous American cartoon)? Probably not - maybe only to laugh at. :)

As far as I know, Speed Racer was not a hit there either. (only opened at #5 and then completely dropped off the charts after that.) From what I understand, the biggest motivation for people in Japan to see that movie at all was because fan girls wanted to hear Akanishi Jins voice. Not a good track record so far.

Wow that's kind of late... but it appears that the actors themselves have actually held promotions in South Korea... Maybe the movie doesn't have much hype in America/Japan... who knows perhaps it's much hyped up in other countries.

P.S: No CMs or anything of that sort in Singapore either... I only see posters of the movie in various places.

Really though, how much can promotion actually do? t2m had a decent amount of TV promotion (plus magazines and radio) and still tanked. People might simply think that Rule and Sparkle are bad songs. They don't have to hear it a thousand times to know that. :shrug

anybody in Japan right now? even if there's no magazine or tv performances, there should be atleast some kind of posters around right?

I'm so anxious, I really hope that this can atleast make weekly number 1

I think the problem with Talkin' 2 Myself is that both songs were way too hard for the general public to get into.(even though both songs were great) Plus, unless you really follow Ayu, you are not used to seeing her with that style of music. So imagine how much worse it may have sold if it had no promotion - I guess we will never know.

I would like to know too. :yes

I don't know when this satellite shot was taken, but if there were any posters up and around, you would see them in this area of Tokyo - http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&sour...JKBTCA&split=0

Usually they change every billboard in the area each week or 2 weeks. I remember seeing that "Stop STD" billboard when I was there as of 2/11; so it seems like this shot should be fairly recent. It's crazy what you can see on google maps nowadays!

With NEXT LEVEL just around the corner. I don't see this single selling great. Although Ayu should retain her #1 Streak. I still don't understand why they announced NEXT LEVEL before Rule/Sparkle was even released.

Usually photos of posters would have already surfaced.. so I dunno.

Did Days/GREEN have poster promotions? I vaguely remember seeing some pictures.

Kinda offtopic, but I wonder if the tracklist/covers for NEXT LEVEL will be announced this week or if they'll wait until after first week sales.

GAMBATTE Rule/Sparkle!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

GAAAMBATTEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!! :D:D:D:D:D

As much as I want this single to succeed because I really love both of the A-sides...I agree with Sunshineslayer, I will be very surprised if this sells above 120K. Granted, MW had 2 TV performances and sold above 180K, but it did have the 10th anniversary promotion...

I kind of wished it was a digital single instead, because it would act as a way to promote the album.

The Sparkle Honda Spark CM has been airing a lot for the past month. That might generate interest. Also, I've seen the DB Evolution CM 4 or 5 times in the past week or so, so Rule is sorta getting out there.

^ Well at least thats better than my experience. :) I was recently in Tokyo for 2 weeks and did not see the Honda CM once! Also, from what I read on a Japanese Ayu forum, people didn't start seeing the DBE cm until today.

recession!! i think people would rather wait for NEXT LEVEL x.x
but im still going to buy Rule/Sparkle.

25k, I say, but I hope she does better...

YAY! i know it will be n1 :P

I saw the trailer play last night on Channel 5 when I was watching the Oscars at 11pm+ :)