First Half of 2026 "Oshi" Artist Ranking TOP 20 Announced: BTS Takes Overall 1st Place, M!LK is Top Climber

The "Oshi Artist Ranking," selected from "Oshi-katsu" (fan activities) records posted on note during the first half of 2026, has been announced. Overall 1st place goes to BTS, who started their world tour with all seven members for the first time in approximately four years this spring. Nogizaka46 followed in 2nd place, and Arashi, who held their final concert on May 31st, came in 3rd. In the rapidly rising category, M!LK ranked 1st, with Juice=Juice in 2nd place.

This ranking is a unique note ranking that combines data such as the number of posts, number of posters, PVs, and word count from articles about "oshi-katsu" posted on note, with the results of analyzing the article content itself using an LLM (Large Language Model). It visualizes the passion of fans by reflecting not only "how much buzz was generated" but also how deeply, for how long, and how intensely fans talk about their "oshi."

Overall Ranking

Overall 1st place, BTS, saw a collection of long-form analyses on note deciphering their artwork and music, sparked by their album "ARIRANG." Nogizaka46, who was 3rd last year, moved up to 2nd place with a wide range of fan articles, primarily focusing on concert reports from the graduation concert of their 3rd captain, Minami Umezawa. Arashi, in 3rd place, received numerous articles from fans who witnessed their final tour.

Additionally, the following trends were observed:

Last year's overall 1st place, timelesz, ranked 5th after their first dome tour as an 8-member group. Concentrated reports and analyses from both new and long-time fans.

Sakurazaka46 ranked 4th, celebrating their 5th anniversary with two days at the National Stadium (mobilizing approximately 140,000 people). Fans from their Keyakizaka era submitted long-form articles looking back on their journey.

Bullet Train (8th), who has a Tokyo Dome concert scheduled, Tatsuya Kitani (9th), known for in-depth lyrical analyses, and UNISON SQUARE GARDEN (10th), who announced the suspension of activities in their current form, all entered the TOP 10 for the first time.

1st Place: BTS

Can it only be read as "Ronier"? ~How a designer deciphered the universe hidden in BTS's "ARIRANG" logo | pripribarny

https://note.com/app_pippin/n/n65ac11badfe3

Watching the Heat: ARIRANG TOKYO 0417 | atarime

https://note.com/ccucumber/n/nd7f33a934d51

[BTS] Tokyo Dome Concert | noreko

https://note.com/noreko/n/nec2ae6a196eb

BTS ARIRANG | The Case of SWIM Being an Insanely Good Slurpee Song | ao

https://note.com/ao_myg/n/n14e93ce49cc4

2nd Place: Nogizaka46

Nogizaka46 14th YEAR BIRTHDAY LIVE -Day1- | ontaikun

https://note.com/ontaikun/n/n663898884ebb

My Experience at My First Nogizaka46 Live: Encountering Kindness, Enthusiasm, and Beauty | Louis

https://note.com/178szm/n/n0af51c0c345f

In My Fifties, Attending Nogizaka46 Concerts. It's the Best to Mix with the "Love" of Young People | ringoro no oto

https://note.com/ringoro/n/n98d20425e5d7

004_Attended Nogizaka's 14th Birthday Live for 3 Days Log 《Nogizaka46 Anthology Connecting Past, Present, and Future》 | twilight

https://note.com/shanxia39/n/n852b607e80c6

Rapidly Rising Category

M!LK topped the rapidly rising category with songs like "Ii Jan" and "Suki Sugite Metsu!" spreading on social media and attracting new fans. In 2nd place was Juice=Juice, who reached their first "Music Station" appearance in their 13-year history with "Sare! Mi Amore" becoming a major topic. The surge in posts, fueled by new fans joining long-time fans, boosted their performance.

Furthermore, the following trends were observed in the rapidly rising category:

HANA (7th), who debuted in 2025 from the audition program "No No Girls." Gained attention with their first appearance on Kohaku Uta Gassen and ranked again this year after being the top riser last year.

New fans were drawn by songs and tie-ins, such as Humbert Humbert (3rd) with the theme song for the morning drama "Babake," and CANDY TUNE (4th) whose song "Bai Bai FIGHT!" went viral on TikTok.

Notable entries include =LOVE (6th), who will have their first Tokyo Dome concert for their 8th anniversary, and Remioromen (9th), who resumed activities after approximately 14 years, marking significant milestones and comebacks.

1st Place: M!LK

Diary of Attending M!LK ARENA TOUR 2025-2026 "SMILE POP!" [Aichi] | kobayashi

https://note.com/qdxxxbp/n/n88c30058b4d9

Happy to See M!LK Getting Closer to a Giant Cow | Odandan

https://note.com/saigono_oshi/n/n7be10a97e2e3

Even Monkeys Fall from Trees, and Cynical Otaku Get Hooked on M!LK | Unlicensed

https://note.com/__rinm2580/n/nccd91ee10584

Thinking Model Learned from M!LK - What Would Jutaro Yamanaka Do? | Sayo

https://note.com/you_klassew/n/nc881ac8d0073

2nd Place: Juice=Juice

Towards the Future, Let's Run! | Juice=Juice UP TO 11 Pia Arena Concert Review | Yukidori

https://note.com/yukidorix/n/n3efe19474795

My 12-Year Journey to Juice=Juice | Caramel Maki Note

https://note.com/caramelmakinote/n/n0b02f82caf47

A Night Overwhelmed by the Current Juice=Juice, Who Say "Every Era of Juice=Juice is the Best" | Aitam

https://note.com/aitam1691/n/nd9eef1446641

I Spun Juice=Juice's Love Songs into a Personal Love Chronicle | Kamimura Itachi

https://note.com/camymula/n/n0dae79cc63de

Four Types of "Oshi" Passion Revealed Through AI Analysis

In this ranking, we analyzed the text of articles about music artists using an LLM along four axes to categorize how fans discuss their "oshi" in terms of context and distance.

Detailed analysis of each of the four axes is summarized in a note explanation article.

https://note.jp/n/n0ac9929d7846

Here, as an example, we introduce the fan perspective seen through the two axes of "Immersive Behavior/Resource Investment" and "Emotional Identification."

Example of "Immersive Behavior/Resource Investment": Bullet Train

Articles described fans traveling to various locations to "ride" (attend concerts) on their national tour "REAL?" and generously investing resources in fan events and merchandise. When the Tokyo Dome concert was announced, voices of joy like "It feels like a dream" overflowed, and the intensity of their passion was palpable from the articles.

Example of "Emotional Identification": Arashi

Regarding Arashi, who had their final tour, words like "pillar of my life," "my youth itself," and "a presence that was always by my side" were prominent. There was sadness that it was ending, along with feelings of gratitude. Many articles were submitted, expressing a desire to write before it was too late.

"Writing" Oshi-katsu Spreading on note

On note, "oshi-katsu" has become an established popular genre. In the first half of 2026, the number of people posting articles using the hashtag "#推し活" increased by approximately 3.2 times compared to the same period last year (*). During concert tours and album releases, a surge of fan-submitted concert reports, song analyses, and articles documenting moments that moved them appear, deepening the culture of "oshi-katsu" across genres.

Since note's system does not generate advertising revenue for writers based on views, many posts originate from the pure motivation of "wanting to talk about what I love." Fans deepen their own thoughts through the impressions and analyses of others, and connect with those who share the same "oshi." Articles where passionate fans "proselytize" become opportunities to create new fans, enriching the "oshi-katsu" culture.

<Ranking Overview>

Collection Period: December 1, 2025 - May 31, 2026

Target: Articles posted on note with artist hashtags.

Analysis Method: Comprehensive evaluation of data including number of posts, number of posters, PVs, word count, and LLM analysis of content.

*The rapidly rising ranking is based on a comparison with the same period last year. For artists for whom last year's data does not exist, a comparable previous year's index is estimated based on the current year's data to calculate the degree of rapid rise.

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