Masafumi Akikawa Phenomenon

[winner]

Sen no Kaze ni Natte. Released on 24 May 2006.

I'm just totally out of ideas about this song. It stays in the top 3 for 1 year. stays in the top 50 for another half year and is now jumping back to the top 3 again.
I like the song, his voice does have character, and it did had a different feel from the mainstream stuff. And he's a rep for olympics. OK.

But this is like crazy. No single song should be placed for so long, doesn't it cause a breakdown in the music industry since it's like saying nobody is going to get a chance in one of the top 3 spots for the next 3 years?! 

Is it from basic popularity through all ages, crazy single sales, high media coverage, scandal, is he dead?
Can someone give me a clue why this is even happening before i fall into a deep coma? 

[doinkies]

It didn't sell well until he sang Sen no Kaze ni Natte on Kouhaku 2 years ago, then it became a huge seller.

I think it sold well because of the lyrics...it's basically a Japanese translation of the poem "Do not stand at my grave and weep" set to music
(the original poem is here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Do_not_stand_at_my_grave_and_weep). I think a lot of people were moved by the song and his voice.