while we knew from the 2nd day sales that this was going to happen, i'm still SO HAPPY FOR THEM!!!
for us, really. i mean, i remember AKB fans being pretty proud of themselves reaching 90k sales with Namida Surprise, it was a big deal back then. now they scoff at this? hypocrites. :p this is a big deal for us now, especially since they've achieved the amount of sales that they did in 2002 when Momusu was considered "still popular" (not obscure/forgotten like people talk about Momusu now), and that's with overall sales having decreased a lot in the industry since then.
the girls did good with working hard at standing out as performers, the creators worked hard with making a memorable song that people will take notice of, and the company worked hard at everything involved in the promotion. and it paid off for sure!! congratulations to them.
i don't doubt that they will sell less than 100k first week next single (mostly because i don't see UF keeping up this type of promotion even if their next single is an equally good song), but if they go up from their 35-45k trend and make it more in the 55k+ area (ideally 60k+), then i will consider this a major stepping stone to working their way back up.
more than anything, i would really like these girls to get a #1 single VERY soon. the public is more likely to take interest in Momusu as the reborn group they are if they are considered current and popular, not just respected for their history. and i think they need a #1 for that.
unfortunately that's very difficult with the definite separation between artists these days.. either you're a 100k+ seller or you're not, and often times there's at least one 100k seller during every release week. but if they DO find that sweet spot in which they can achieve a #1 again, then in news spots and magazines those stats will be mentioned (along with reporting the 50th single, the reborn aspect of the group, and hopefully increasing sales/attention), and along with their new roster of members i think people will be more likely to take an interest in this Reborn MM. and hopefully that will open the doors to the casual fanbase we've been needing for the last 10 years.