Apple Sports Debuts at #3 in Japan's Top Free Apps

Overview

The Japan App Store has seen significant shifts in the Top Free Apps category as of May 21, 2026. Noteworthy movements include the impressive debut of Apple Sports at #3 and substantial gains by several apps. This report provides an in-depth look at the top climbers, new entries, and notable drops in the rankings.

Top Climbers

Several apps have made remarkable gains, showcasing the dynamic nature of the iOS app market:

• iAEON-イオンペイも使える！「アイイオン」: Climbed to #22 from #45, a gain of 23 positions.
• GO タクシーが呼べるアプリ - AI予約・配車・迎車・決済: Jumped to #29, up 14 positions from #43.
• TikTok Lite: Moved up to #23, gaining 8 spots from #31.

New Entries

New apps making their mark in the Top Free Apps chart include:

• Apple Sports: Debuted impressively at #3.
• 詐欺対策 by NTTタウンページ: Entered the charts at #6.
• Taska: やることリスト&プランナー: New at #10.
• Jフェス - ロッキング・オンのフェス公式アプリ: Made its entry at #12.

Top Performers

Holding strong at the top of the charts, the following apps remain dominant:

• setlog: #1
• ChatGPT: #2
• Apple Sports: #3
• Google Gemini: #4
• Instants、Instagramアプリ: #5

Notable Drops

While many apps are climbing, some have seen declines in their rankings:

• 楽天ペイ-楽天ポイントカードも利用できるスマホ決済アプリ: Dropped to #30 from #22, down 8 positions.
• しまむらパーク: Fell to #11, down 6 positions from #5.
• デジタル認証アプリ: Decreased to #17 from #13, down 4 positions.
• Gmail - Google のメール: Slipped to #28 from #24, down 4 positions.

These movements illustrate the competitive landscape of the Japan App Store, where user preferences are constantly shifting. Keep an eye on these trends as they may signal emerging opportunities for developers in this vibrant market.