The Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) (日本レコード協会, Nippon Rekōdo Kyōkai) is an industry trade group composed of Japanese corporations involved in the music industry. It was founded in 1942 as the Japan Phonogram Record Cultural Association, and adopted its current name in 1969.

The association is responsible for certifying gold and platinum albums and singles in Japan.
In 1989, the Recording Industry Association of Japan introduced the music recording certification 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.

Currently, all music sales including singles, albums, digital download singles are on the same criteria. Unlike many countries, the highest certification is called "Million".

Physical Certification
  • Gold (G) - 100,000
  • Platinum (P) - 250,000
  • 2x Platinum (2P) - 500,000
  • 3x Platinum (3P) - 750,000
  • Million (M) - 1,000,000
  • 2x Million (2M) - 2,000,000
  • 3x Million (3M) - 3,000,000
  • 4x Million (4M) - 4,000,000
  • 5x Million (5M) - 5,000,000

Old criteria (until June 2003)

Japanese Music - Single / Album
  • Gold (Gx) - 200,000
  • Platinum (Px) - 400,000
  • 2x Platinum (2Px) - 800,000
  • Million (M) - 1,000,000
  • 3x Platinum (3Px) - 1,200,000
  • 4x Platinum (4Px) - 1,500,000
  • 2x Million (2M) - 2,000,000
  • 3x Million (3M) - 3,000,000

Western Music - Album
  • Gold (Gx) - 100,000
  • Platinum (Px) - 200,000
  • 2x Platinum (2Px) - 400,000
  • 3x Platinum (3Px) - 600,000
  • 4x Platinum (4Px) - 800,000
  • Million (M) - 1,000,000
  • 2x Million (2M) - 2,000,000
  • 3x Million (3M) - 3,000,000

Western Music - Single
  • Gold (Gx) - 50,000
  • Platinum (Px) - 100,000
  • 2x Platinum (2Px) - 200,000
  • 3x Platinum (3Px) - 300,000
  • 4x Platinum (4Px) - 400,000
  • Million (M) - 1,000,000
  • 2x Million (2M) - 2,000,000
  • 3x Million (3M) - 3,000,000

Digital Certifications

Certifications for songs and albums released digitally began on September 20, 2006, using download data collected since the early 2000s. From 2006 until 2013, there were three categories for certifications: Chaku-uta (着うた（R）, "Ringtone"), Chaku-uta Full (着うたフル（R）, "Full-length Ringtone") (i.e. a download to a cellphone) and PC Haishin (PC配信, "PC Download") for songs purchased on services such as iTunes. On February 28, 2014, the Chaku-uta Full and PC categories were merged to create the Single Track (シングルトラック) category.

While digital album certifications are possible, only certain album have rarely received this certification since the beginning of digital certifications, including the 2011 Songs for Japan charity album, and Hikaru Utada's sixth studio album Fantôme among others.

Chaku-uta (R)
  • 2x Platinum (DP) - 500,000
  • 3x Platinum (TP) - 750,000
  • Million (M) - 1,000,000
  • 2x Million (2M) - 2,000,000

Single Track / Album
  • Gold (G) - 100,000
  • Platinum (P) - 250,000
  • 2x Platinum (DP) - 500,000
  • 3x Platinum (TP) - 750,000
  • Million (M) - 1,000,000
  • 2x Million (2M) - 2,000,000

Old criteria (until June 2003)

Chaku-uta (R)
  • 2x Platinum (DP) - 500,000
  • 3x Platinum (TP) - 750,000
  • Million (M) - 1,000,000
  • 2x Million (2M) - 2,000,000

Chaku-uta Full (R) / PC Download (Single, Album)
  • Gold (G) - 100,000
  • Platinum (P) - 250,000
  • 2x Platinum (DP) - 500,000
  • 3x Platinum (TP) - 750,000
  • Million (M) - 1,000,000
  • 2x Million (2M) - 2,000,000

Digital Certifications

As of April 2020, RIAJ has begun to certify songs for streaming, just how it does for physical shipments and digital download sales.

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.
  • Silver (S) - 30,000,000
  • Gold (G) - 50,000,000
  • Platinum (P) - 100,000,000
  • Diamond (D) - 500,000,000
Music streaming service to be aggregated: Amazon Music Unlimited, Apple Music, AWA, dミュージック月額コース, Google Play Music, HMVmusic powered by KKBOX, KKBOX, LINE MUSIC, Rakuten Music, RecMusic, Spotify (as of the end of April 2020)

3x Platinum (3Px) (1,200,000+) [old]

  • 2003.01 - BoA - VALENTI (Album)

Million (M) (1,000,000+)
  • 2002.11 - BoA - LISTEN TO MY HEART (Album)
  • 2005.02 - BoA - BEST OF SOUL (Album)
  • 2011.06 - Girls' Generation - GIRLS' GENERATION (Album)

3x Platinum (3P) (750,000+)
  • 2004.01 - BoA - LOVE & HONESTY (Album)

2x Platinum (2P) (500,000+)
  • 2006.02 - BoA - OUTGROW (Album)
  • 2010.02 - TVXQ! - BEST SELECTION 2010 (Album)

Platinum (P) (250,000+)
  • 2003.07 - BoA - Shine We Are!/Earthsong (Single)
  • 2003.10 - BoA - Next World (Album)
  • 2007.02 - BoA - MADE IN TWENTY (20) (Album)
  • 2008.02 - BoA - THE FACE (Album)
  • 2009.04 - TVXQ! - The Secret Code (Album)
  • 2010.01 - TVXQ! - BREAK OUT! (Single)
  • 2010.03 - TVXQ! - Toki wo Tomete (Single)
  • 2011.01 - TVXQ! - Why? (Keep Your Head Down) (Single)
  • 2011.09 - TVXQ! - TONE (Album)
  • 2011.11 - KARA - KARA BEST 2007-2010 (Album)
  • 2012.11 - Girls' Generation - GIRLS' GENERATION II ~Girls & Peace~ (Album)
  • 2013.03 - TVXQ! - TIME (Album)
  • 2014.03 - TVXQ! - TREE (Album)
  • 2014.12 - TVXQ! - WITH (Album)
  • 2015.11 - EXO - Love Me Right ~romantic universe~ (Single)
  • 2016.12 - EXO - Coming Over (Single)

Gold (Gx) (200,000+) [old]
  • 2002.02 - BoA - LISTEN TO MY HEART (Single)
  • 2002.09 - BoA - VALENTI (Single)
  • 2002.10 - BoA - Kiseki/No.1 (Single)
  • 2002.12 - BoA - JEWEL SONG/BESIDE YOU-Boku wo Yobu Koe- (Single)

Gold (G) (100,000+)
  • 2003.10 - BoA - DOUBLE (Single)
  • 2003.12 - BoA - Rock With You (Single)
  • 2003.12 - BoA - Peace B.REMIXES (Album)
  • 2004.02 - BoA - 8 Films & more (DVD)
  • 2004.09 - BoA - QUINCY/Kono Yo no Shirushi (Single)
  • 2004.12 - BoA - Meri Kuri (Single)
  • 2005.03 - BoA - DO THE MOTION (Single)
  • 2005.08 - BoA - make a secret (Single)
  • 2005.11 - BoA - Dakishimeru (Single)
  • 2006.02 - BoA - Everlasting (Single)
  • 2006.06 - BoA - Nanairo no Ashita~brand new beat~/Your Color (Single)
  • 2006.08 - BoA - KEY OF HEART/DOTCH (Single)
  • 2006.11 - BoA - Winter Love (Single)
  • 2007.04 - BoA - Sweet Impact (Album)
  • 2008.05 - TVXQ! - T (Album)
  • 2008.06 - TVXQ! SUMMER ~Summer Dream/Song for you/Love in the Ice~ (Album)
  • 2008.06 - TVXQ! - Beautiful you/Sennen Koi Uta (Single)
  • 2008.07 - TVXQ! - Doushite Kimi wo Suki ni Natte Shimattandarou? (Single)
  • 2008.12 - TVXQ! - Jumon -MIROTIC- (Single)
  • 2009.01 - TVXQ! - Bolero/Kiss The Baby Sky/Wasurenaide (Single)
  • 2009.03 - BoA - BEST & USA (Album)
  • 2009.03 - TVXQ! - Survivor ~090325 4th Album "The Secret Code" Pre-Release Single~(Single)
  • 2009.04 - TVXQ! - Share The World/We Are! (Single)
  • 2009.07 - TVXQ! - Stand by U (Single)
  • 2009.07 - TVXQ! - Five in the Black (Album)
  • 2009.07 - TVXQ! - 3rd LIVE TOUR 2008 ~T~ (DVD)
  • 2009.09 - Jejung & Yuchun - COLORS~Melody and Harmony~/Shelter (Single)
  • 2009.09 - TVXQ! - 4th LIVE TOUR 2009 ~The Secret Code~FINAL in TOKYO DOME (DVD)
  • 2009.10 - TVXQ! - HISTORY in JAPAN Vol.4 (DVD)
  • 2010.05 - TVXQ! - TOHOSHINKI VIDEO CLIP COLLECTION - THE ONE - (DVD)
  • 2010.05 - TVXQ! - 2nd LIVE TOUR 2007 ～Five in the Black～ (DVD)
  • 2010.06 - TVXQ! - COMPLETE - SINGLE COLLECTION (Album)
  • 2010.09 - Girls' Generation - GENIE (Single)
  • 2010.10 - Girls' Generation - Gee (Single)
  • 2010.12 - Girls' Generation - HOOT (Album)
  • 2011.01 - Girls' Generation - Shoujo Jidai Torai ~Rainichi Kinenban~ Girl's Generation (DVD)
  • 2011.04 - Girls' Generation - MR.TAXI/Run Devil Run (Single)
  • 2011.06 - SHINee - Replay -Kimi wa Boku no everything- (Single)
  • 2011.07 - TVXQ! - Superstar (Single)
  • 2011.11 - TVXQ! - Winter ~Winter Rose/Duet - winter ver. - ~ (Single)
  • 2011.12 - Girls' Generation - JAPAN FIRST TOUR GIRLS' GENERATION (DVD)
  • 2011.12 - SHINee - THE FIRST (Album)
  • 2011.12 - SUPER JUNIOR - Mr.Simple (Single)
  • 2012.03 - TVXQ! - STILL (Single)
  • 2012.05 - SUPER JUNIOR - Opera (Single)
  • 2012.06 - Girls' Generation - PAPARAZZI (Single)
  • 2012.07 - TVXQ! - Tohoshinki LIVE TOUR 2012 ~TONE~ (DVD)
  • 2012.07 - TVXQ! - ANDROID (Single)
  • 2012.08 - SUPER JUNIOR - Sexy, Free & Single (Single)
  • 2012.09 - Girls' Generation - Oh! (Single)
  • 2012.09 - Girls' Generation - GIRLS' GENERATION COMPLETE VIDEO COLLECTION (DVD)
  • 2012.10 - SHINee - Dazzling Girl (Single)
  • 2013.01 - TVXQ! - Catch Me -If you wanna- (Single)
  • 2013.06 - TVXQ! - OCEAN (Single)
  • 2013.07 - SHINee - Boys Meet U (Album)
  • 2013.07 - SUPER JUNIOR - Hero (A
  • 2015.08 - TVXQ! - Tohoshinki LIVE TOUR 2015 WITH (DVD)
  • lbum)
  • 2013.08 - SHINee - Boys Meet U (Single)
  • 2013.09 - TVXQ! - SCREAM (Single)
  • 2013.10 - TVXQ! - Tohoshinki LIVE TOUR 2013 ~TIME~ (DVD)
  • 2013.11 - TVXQ! - Very Merry Xmas (Single)
  • 2013.12 - Girls' Generation - LOVE & PEACE (Album)
  • 2013.12 - TVXQ! - Tohoshinki LIVE TOUR 2013 ~TIME~ FINAL in NISSAN STADIUM (DVD)
  • 2014.02 - TVXQ! - Hide & Seek/Something (Single)
  • 2014.06 - TVXQ! - Sweat/Answer (Single)
  • 2014.07 - Girls' Generation - THE BEST (Album)
  • 2014.08 - TVXQ! - Tohoshinki LIVE TOUR 2014 TREE (DVD)
  • 2014.11 - TVXQ! - Time Works Wonders (Single)
  • 2015.02 - TVXQ! - Sakura Michi (Single)
  • 2015.03 - SHINee - Your Number (Single)
  • 2017.01 - SHINee - Winter Wonderland (Single)
  • 2017.10 - TVXQ! - FINE COLLECTION ~Begin Again~ (Album)
  • 2017.12 - TVXQ! - Reboot (Single)
  • 2018.01 - EXO - COUNTDOWN (Album)
  • 2018.04 - SHINee - SHINee THE BEST FROM NOW ON (Album)
  • 2018.07 - TVXQ! - Road (Single)
  • 2018.09 - SHINee - Sunny Side (Single)
  • 2018.09 - TVXQ! - TOMORROW (Album)
  • 2018.10 - TVXQ! - Tohoshinki LIVE TOUR 2017 ~Begin Again~ (DVD)
  • 2018.12 - TVXQ! - Jealous (Single)
  • 2019.10 - TVXQ! - XV (Album)

DOWNLOAD CERTIFICATIONS

Million (M) (1,000,000+)
  • 2014.01 - Girls' Generation - Gee (Single Track)
  • 2017.04 - Girls' Generation - MR.TAXI (Single Track)

3x Platinum (TP) (750,000+)
  • 2007.03 - BoA - Winter Love (Chaku-uta (R))
  • 2014.01 - TVXQ! Share The World (Single Track)

2x Platinum (DP) (500,000+)
  • 2006.08 - BoA - Nanairo no Ashita ~brand new beat~ (Chaku-uta (R))
  • 2006.08 - BoA - Meri Kuri (Chaku-uta (R))
  • 2006.08 - BoA - Kimi no Tonari de (Chaku-uta (R))
  • 2006.08 - BoA - Everlasting (Chaku-uta (R))
  • 2011.04 - Girls' Generation - Gee (Chaku-uta (R))
  • 2011.04 - TVXQ! - Share The World (Chaku-uta (R))
  • 2011.12 - Girls' Generation - MR.TAXI (Chaku-uta (R))
  • 2014.01 - TVXQ! - Doushite Kimi wo Suki ni Natte Shimattandarou? (Single Track)
  • 2014.07 - BoA - Meri Kuri (Single Track)

Platinum (P) (250,000+)
  • 2006.08 - BoA - Nanairo no Ashita ~brand new beat~ (Chaku-uta Full (R))
  • 2007.03 - BoA - Winter Love (Chaku-uta Full (R))
  • 2011.01 - Girls' Generation - GENIE (PC Download)
  • 2011.08 - Girls' Generation - GENIE (Chaku-uta Full (R))
  • 2014.01 - TVXQ! - Stand by U (Single Track)
  • 2014.07 - TVXQ! - Why? (Keep Your Head Down) (Single Track)

Gold (G) (100,000+)
  • 2006.08 - BoA - Everlasting (Chaku-uta Full (R))
  • 2009.10 - TVXQ! - We Are! (Chaku-uta Full (R))
  • 2010.08 - BoA - Mamoritai ~White Wishes~ (Chaku-uta Full (R))
  • 2011.05 - Girls' Generation - Run Devil Run (Chaku-uta Full (R))
  • 2011.06 - BoA - Sweet Impact (Chaku-uta Full (R))
  • 2011.06 - BoA - Eien (Chaku-uta Full (R))
  • 2012.10 - Girls' Generation - PAPARAZZI (PC Download)
  • 2014.01 - TVXQ! - Amaku Hateshinaku (Single Track)
  • 2014.01 - TVXQ! - Survivor (Single Track)
  • 2014.01 - TVXQ! - Lovin' you (Single Track)
  • 2014.01 - TVXQ! - Catch Me -If you wanna- (Single Track)
  • 2014.01 - TVXQ! - BREAK OUT! (Single Track)
  • 2014.01 - TVXQ! - Bolero (Single Track)
  • 2014.01 - TVXQ! - B.U.T (BE-AU-TY) (Single Track)
  • 2014.02 - Girls' Generation - Oh! (Single Track)
  • 2014.07 - BoA - LOVE LETTER (Single Track)
  • 2014.07- TVXQ! - Jumon -MIROTIC- (Single Track)
  • 2014.07- TVXQ! - Purple Line (Single Track)
  • 2016.12 - BoA - VALENTI (Single Track)
  • 2017.08 - Girls' Generation - GALAXY SUPERNOVA (Single Track)