Joy (stylized as JOY) is the third studio album by Japanese singer Shizuka Kudo. It was released on March 15, 1989, through Pony Canyon. It is the first of three albums released by Kudo that year: it was followed by the concept album Karelia in October and the compilation album Harvest in December. A limited first pressing of Joy was released in gold CD format. Kudo has stated that Joy is one of her favorite albums she has recorded.[1]Nanase Aikawa has also listed the album as a major influence behind her decision to pursue a musical career. Joy was re-issued in APO-CD format on December 1, 1993.
The standard edition of Joy debuted at number one on the Oricon Albums Chart, with 131,000 units sold in its first week,[2] while the limited edition entered the chart at number three, with 47,000 copies sold.[2] The standard edition dropped three positions to number four on its second week, selling 57,000 copies.[3] It slid up to number three the following week, logging sales of 41,000 copies.[4] It fell to number five next, where it stayed for two consecutive weeks, selling 26,000 and 19,000 copies, respectively.[5][6] The album dropped to number eight the following week, then to number thirteen. It rose to number ten on its eighth week, charting one last time in the top ten. The album fell back down to number thirteen before dropping out from the top twenty the next week. The standard edition of Joy charted in the top 100 for seventeen weeks, selling a reported total of 360,000 copies during its run,[7][8] while the limited edition charted for four weeks, selling a reported total of 56,000 copies.[8]Joy, the standard edition, was ranked number 24 on the year-end Oricon Albums Chart.[9]
