So is the tally going to be they end of year number?

That's the idea!

Very much a possiblility. It will be fun to see regardless!

Wait a second, are you tracking global too?

Nah, not in this thread. The topic is Japanese sales -- throwing Global stuff into the mix would confuse the subject.

Wow! 294k and 100k is a lot! (That is why I was asking.)

I don't quite think that's the case with the 3DS.  I think the DS + the multiple models of the DS has actually harmed the 3DS' sales at launch AND the time afterward.  The DS also did not start from scratch as there were Nintendo handhelds BEFORE the DS, so the DS definitely had stood on the shoulders of its previous generation, the GBA SP.

Week 3!

DS 06 -- 56,992
3DS 13 -- 86,936

3DS had a stronger hold than I expected this week. The DS had three minor releases, Resident Evil: Deadly Silence (19.5k FW sales), Lost Magic (8.5k FW sales), and Metroid Prime Pinball (8k FW sales), while the 3DS saw no noteworthy releases.

Week 4 preview: DS almost doubled its weekly sales to 110,386 with the release of English Training: Have Fun Improving Your Skills!, one of its best-selling titles in 2006. 3DS sales should continue to decline, most likely resulting in its first week-to-week "loss" of the year, although it will maintain its YTD lead.

The tally thus far:

DS 06 -- 213,304
3DS 13 -- 482,102
Adv 3DS +268,798

Week 4!

DS 06 -- 110,386
3DS 13 -- 78,288

Animal Crossing and Fantasy Life momentum is being good to 3DS, but not good enough to beat the DS. This week, the DS sees its first major release of 2006, English Training: Have Fun Improving Your Skills! The game sold 253k its first week, and 1.65 million by year's end. It was the fourth-best-selling new release of 2006 overall in Japan.

Week 5 preview: DS sales slow to a crawl (23k) next week, likely due to the late-January reveal of the DS Lite. It has four consecutive weeks of sub-60k sales before the Lite's March 2 release propels hardware sales to new heights. 3DS has one more slow week before DQVII hits, its first major release of the year. The next four weeks are crucial for the 3DS -- I would almost go so far as to say that if at any point this year the DS surpasses the 3DS in YTD sales, that's the end of it. The 3DS must stay ahead or it stands no chance against the DS's Pokémon-fueled Holiday boost.

The tally thus far:

DS 06 -- 323,690
3DS 13 -- 560,390
Adv 3DS +236,700

Tagging. Keep up the good work, dengle!