A year ago, people would laugh at you for even asking. Now things are different in Japan, it is by far the most erratic and chaotic market right now, much of which might be due to massive economic setbacks over there.
Japan have halved (!!) their export rates (both in # of goods items and revenue) the last year-and a half and that speaks volumes of their troubles domestically.
I do find it puzzling, however, that they choose to purchase the most expensive console in such numbers only for a demo and a movie based on a popular franchise.
It shows that the PS brand still has massive selling power if marketed and used properly, something Sony are bound to realize.

If I were to guess, I'd say the PS3 will actually hold out this year and sell the most consoles in Japan for 2009, there are big Wii titles coming, yes, but the previous ones (SSBB and WiiFit among others) have failed to provide a steady and lasting, elevated sales platform and I don't see MH3 or WS Resort doing anything to alleviate that unless other measures are taken as well simultaneously. The PS brand is still strong, it just remains to be seen how strong with the release of FFXIII and GT5 (by far the two most anticipated titles overall in Japan this year).

What a deeply, deeply odd generation this is...

The Wii, easily

Wii Sports Resort will destroy Gran Turismo 5's sales even if does come out this year.

Famitsu's Most Wanted list doesn't directly equal sales, lol. 

So Wii Sports Resort, Wii Fit Plus, Monster Hunter 3, FF Crystal Chronicles does not provide the Wii with a sustained boost, but FF13 will for the PS3?

If you say so ...

Wii Sports Resort will destroy Gran Turismo 5's sales even if does come out this year.

Famitsu's Most Wanted list doesn't directly equal sales, lol. 

So Wii Sports Resort, Wii Fit Plus, Monster Hunter 3, FF Crystal Chronicles does not provide the Wii with a sustained boost, but FF13 will for the PS3?

If you say so ...

So you think that the PS3 will average less than what's doing now even with the holliday season?

If Galaxy, Mario Kart, Zelda, Wii Fit, Wii Music and SSBB didn't, then yes, that is what I believe. They need to do more to elevate sales and keep it there. My point is not that FFXIII and GT5 will most assuredly elevate sales and keep them there for the PS3, we don't know because there haven't been any games of that proportion released there yet this gen on the PS3 (FF is much bigger than MGS for instance) so we don't know what effect it will have. We have seen, however, that the Wii titles mentioned above failed to provide a lasting boost so the big hits (and you can't deny that they are big hits) on their own are apparently not enough.

I harbour no illusions that FF and GT will propel the PS3 into the record books, I halfway expect them to do a bit worse than their previous installments, but I think they will make a big difference this year, especially if launched along with other solid titles in the autumn game avalanche.

Lastly; nothing happens or refrains from happening by my word, stop trying to make me sound silly (besides, I never said that the PS3 would "win" Japan this year by a big margin at any rate). Looking at trends, there is nothing to suggest that Wii sales will rise a whole lot and stay there based on the release of these games alone and, like I said, the effect that FF and GT will have on PS3 remains to be seen.

PS: Who mentioned Famitsu? Do you realize how huge FF and GT are in Japan? Apparently not. The demo sales (GT5 Prologue as well) alone should show that much. Wii Sports has moved roughly 3,5 million units in Japan this gen and I'm not so sure the sequel will even net that much, we'll see. GT won't move more than 1,5-2 million units but that doesn't mean the PS3 can't sell more hardware this year. Factor in a pricecut and some bundles and things appear less black and white.

We'll wait and see but don't go pointing fingers on situations you cannout possibly know the outcome of (I might be even more wrong but at least I have enough balls to admit that).

The Wii with Tales of Graces, Arc Rise Fantasia, The Demon Blade, Monster Hunter 3, Kizuna.

No but:

Dynasti Warriors 5 Empire (small boost)

Gran Turismo 5 (HUGE boost)

FF13 (HUGE boost)

Atelier Rorona (nice boost)

Tales Of Vesperia (small boost)

Ninja Gaiden 2 (small boost)

Tekken 6 (nice boost)

Katamari Tribute (moderate boost)

End Of Eternity (good boost)

and maybe

ICO 3 (good- huge boost)

I'd switch the boost level for Atelier and Vesperia.

I doubt Katamari Tribute would have more boost than NG2... actually I don't see any significant boost from those two titles at all...