For all we hear about the PS3 finally catching up in the console race it forgot to sign up for, PSP’s finally shipping by the barrel load and the Xbox 360 prices being cut to the bone on Japanese shores, this week’s Japanese sales charts say more than any amount of corporate spin ever could. At number one is J-League Winning Eleven 2008; a PlayStation 2 game.

There was plenty of room in the Nintendo dominated line-up for something a little different; there usually is, though it’s been a while since a previous gen console has shown the gumption to be able to beat the new kids back so late into the game.

Without wanting to Sony bash at all (sincerely!), the electronics giant has as much to be proud of as it has to be ashamed of. The PS3 is beating admiration from plenty of gamers - though only through sheer marketing brutality - while the PS2 is easily one of the greatest and most popular games machines ever released.

The fact that a PS3 title can’t even make its way into the charts is all the more apparent when its predecessor hits the number one spot (and not a little excruciating for Sony to smile publicly about). Then again, the Xbox 360 has had just as much difficulty enamouring the Japanese gamer, so maybe this is more of a commentary on the state of the industry in general?

Here’s how the rest of the charts looked:

1. J-League Winning Eleven 2008 (PS2)
2. Rhythm Tengoku Gold (DS)
3. Inazuma Eleven (DS)
4. Dragon Quest V (DS)
5. Phantasy Star Portable (PSP)
6. Wii Fit (Wii)
7. Harukanaru Toki no Naka de: Yumenoukihashi (DS)
8. Sigma Harmonics (DS)
9. Mario Kart Wii (Wii)
10. Daigasso! Band Brothers DX (DS)