New data released by Media Create has revealed that the Nintendo DS sold 1,852,000 units since release in Japan.

For comparison, Total sales of the PSP were lower by about 800,000 units, at 1,068,000 units. (To the disappointment of fanboys, this does not mean that the DS is "owning" the PSP in Japan – remember, the DS has been on the market longer.)

Here are the hardware sales in Japan for the week of April 18 - 24.

1. Nintendo DS - 96,191 units
2. PlayStation 2 - 33,080 units
3. PlayStation Portable - 33,004 units
4. GameBoy Advance SP - 10,820 units
5. GameCube - 8,329 units
6. GameBoy Advance - 422 units
7. Xbox - 112 units

Nintendo has shipped well over 5 million DS handheld consoles around the globe.

The five-million mark was actually passed mid-March, the company said, just after the console's UK launch, during which it became the fastest-selling console in UK videogaming history. After an initial two-day rush yielded 87,000 sales, Nintendo went on to ship 200,000 DS handhelds in the UK.

Nintendo said it was "on track" to meet its target and ship 5-6 million DS consoles during its current fiscal year, which ends 31 March 2006.

By contrast, Sony is believed to have shipped over 2.5 million PlayStation Portables so far, 2.46 million in Q1 2005 alone.

Here are the Top 10 Best Selling Games in Japan for the week of April 18 - 24.

1. Romancing SaGa: Minstrel Song (PS2, Square Enix) - 217,000 units
2. Fire Emblem: Souen no Kiseki (GC, Nintendo) - 102,000 units
3. Naruto: Saikyo Ninja Daikesshu 3 for DS (NDS, Tomy) - 84,000 units
4. Nintendogs: Shiba and friends (NDS, Nintendo) - 83,000 units
5. Nintendogs: Dachs and friends (NDS, Nintendo) - 53,000 units
6. Nintendogs: Chihuahua and friends (NDS, Nintendo) - 46,000 units
7. Baseball Live 2005 (PS2, Namco) - 44,000 units
8. Rockman Zero 4 (GBA, Capcom) - 38,000 units
9. Mobilt Suit Gundam: The One Year War (PS2, Bandai) - 30,000 (234,000) units
10. Shutokou Battle: Zone of Control (PSP, Genki) - 29,000 units

Nintendogs looks like the next Pokemon. Wait untill it hits the US and Europe.

Numbers compiled from several locations.