While I honestly don't understand the apathy with which this game was received in Japan, let's not forget how "well" similar games on other consoles are doing.

After all the hype from people here I too was disappointed by SMG Japan sales.
That was until I actually looked for myself at the Japanese sales figures from the last 2 Mario games on GC and N64. (SMS 0.87 million and SM64 1.92million in Japan)
It was never destined to be a huge seller in Japan and looks to be going on to sell somewhere between the sales figues of the last two games.

I think us Nintendo fans have been caught up in the mass hype that usually goes round when a big name for PS3 is about to be released and Sony fans manage to convince each other everything is about to turn around for the PS3, but end up being disappointed.

Is it possible that maybe Japan are such a hardcore Mario fan that they prefer the 2D version of Mario rather than the 3D Mario games? I mean, maybe Japan likes to keep it old school when it comes to Mario and don't like the 3D version much? All I know is that despite the fact that we all are gamers, we all still have different tastes and many times it is separated by different regions. Whereas most people in the U.S. and European nations like the 3D versions of Mario, many Japanese prefer the 2D version.

My theory is that Japan has moved over to mobile gaming. This allows them to plan while on the can. Have you seen their toilets? Frickin awesome.

We knew this information a week ago -_- . Move along. Nothing to see here.

 it did nto beat the best selling ps3 title yet. still about 100k , hsg even sells 7k every week :)

2D version Mario is definitely more fun. It reaches casual gamers because 3D, though I have been playing it for a while, I personally still prefer 2D. Oh man...I'm still waiting for MG from gamefly so I can buy it used...but they have not shipped it yet. -_-"

This just proves that better games will not always sell more copies. Perhaps the Mario vibe will start picking up... Soon... Hopefully...

You are right - it still has another 40k (1 week) to go :)

@Montana:

Sunshine/Galaxy had a similar drop-off so far - Sunshine just had a higher debut. At least week#2 for Galaxy is still between weeks #2 & #3 for Sunshine.

You can see a significant difference (for instance) when comparing EG5 & EG3 sales for instance. EG5 is easily the better game btw:

http://vgchartz.com/japcomp.php?name1=Everybodys+Golf+5&name2=Everybodys+Golf+3

(EG5 week#2 is around EG3 weeks #5 & week#6. After 16 weeks, EG5 has not reached sales of EG3 week#2. Be interesting to see how Mario goes - with Xmas around the corner)