Do i have to explain again why the game is forbidden? well, here i go:
Dragon Quest has always been (until now) a console JRPG, and being that much popular causes people to absent from work or school, but that's because it can't be played everywhere (i'm talking about the originals, not the remakes) so people stay at home and play it... DQ3 (my favorite DQ game) caused this back then and it was Enix, not the Japanese government, the ones that decided this...
Pokemon is not like that, it has always been a handheld game, it doesn't matter if it gets more popular than Mario, it's still a handheld game that can be played everywhere so people don't get absent from work...
Now, saleswise, here's your proof from Famitsu:
1 GB Pokemon Red/Green/Blue 10,077,000
2 GB Pokemon Gold/Silver 7,961,000
4 DS Pokemon Diamond/Pearl 5,465,000
5 GBA Pokemon Ruby/Sapphire 5,337,000
11 PS Dragon Quest VII 3,893,000
14 FC Dragon Quest III 3,800,000
17 PS2 Dragon Quest VIII 3,546,000
18 PS Final Fantasy VIII 3,502,000
19 PS Final Fantasy VII 3,278,000
20 GB Pokemon Yellow 3,160,000
21 FC Dragon Quest IV 3,100,000
22 SFC Dragon Quest VI 3,082,000
26 GBA Pokemon FireRed/LeafGreen 2,884,000
28 SFC Dragon Quest V 2,800,000
29 PS Final Fantasy IX 2,707,000
32 SFC Final Fantasy VI 2,550,000
34 SFC Final Fantasy V 2,450,000
35 FC Dragon Quest II 2,400,000
38 GB Dragon Quest Monsters 2,350,000
39 PS2 Final Fantasy X 2,325,000
40 PS2 Final Fantasy XII 2,322,000
49 GB Pokemon Crystal 2,120,000
And do i have to repost the pictures i put in this very thread? when was the last time (or any time) Dragon Quest got painted in Japanese airlines, subways and cars??? Pokemon did that, and of course stars play Pokemon, old people??? well the last time i went to Nihon i saw some old folks playing it, but i don't know if it's the exception or the rule...