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Ayumi Hamasaki

March 05, 2023

Ayumi Hamasaki (浜崎あゆみ, Hamasaki Ayumi, born October 2, 1978) is a Japanese singer, songwriter, record producer, actress, model, spokesperson, and entrepreneur. By 2002, Hamasaki had earned the nickname "Empress of J-pop" due to her popularity in Japan and throughout Asia, as well as being referred to as "the voice of the lost generation".[1][2][3] Due to her success and relevance throughout her career, she is considered one of the top solo female artists of the Heisei era for her influence on the music industry and various fashion trends.[4]

Ayumi Hamasaki
浜崎あゆみ
Hamasaki in London (2010)
Born
Ayumi Hamasaki (濱﨑 歩)

(1978-10-02) October 2, 1978 (age 44)
Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan
Other names
  • Ayu
  • Crea
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • record producer
  • actress
  • model
  • spokesperson
  • entrepreneur
Spouse(s)
Manuel Schwarz
​
​
(m. 2011; div. 2012)​

Tyson Bodkin
​
​
(m. 2014; div. 2016)​
Children2
Musical career
Genres
Years active
  • 1993–present
Labels
Websitewww.avex.jp/ayu
Signature

Born and raised in Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture, Hamasaki moved to Tokyo at 14 in 1993 to pursue a career in singing and acting. In 1998, Hamasaki released her debut single "Poker Face"[fn 1] and debut major-label album A Song for ××. The album debuted at the top of the Oricon charts and remained there for five weeks, selling over a million copies.[fn 1] This rapid rise to fame is typically attributed to her insightful style of lyric-writing in contrast to her young age; this would continue to be a defining aspect of her work, listeners praising her poetic way of conveying relatable subjects.[5] Her next ten albums shipped over a million copies in Japan, with her third, Duty, selling nearly three million. A Best, her first compilation album, further established her position as a crowning artist with more than four million copies sold in Japan.[6][7] It was at this time that she represented more than 40% of her record label's income.[8]

After A Best, Hamasaki went on to experiment with her music style and lyricism, incorporating English into her work from Rainbow onwards. Later albums would range from electronic dream-pop to rock genres, with Hamasaki herself saying she does not feel tied to follow music trends, instead focusing on what she enjoys and wants to create "whether it is trendy or not".[9] This perspective would continue to resonate with the public throughout her career, with her albums consistently placing in the top ten of the Oricon charts to present day; she currently holds the record for the most albums to place in the top ten by a female artist in Japan, with 54 of her releases reaching that distinction.[10]

Hamasaki has sold over 60.94 million units as of 2019, making her the best-selling Japanese solo artist in history.[11][12][13][14] Hamasaki has several domestic record achievements for her singles, such as the most number-one hits by a female artist (38); the most consecutive number-one hits by a solo artist (25),[15] and the most million-sellers.[16][fn 2] From 1999 to 2010, Hamasaki had at least two singles each year topping the charts.[17] Hamasaki is also the first female recording artist to have ten studio albums since her debut to top the Oricon, and the first artist to have a number-one album for 13 consecutive years since her debut.[18][19] In addition to this, Hamasaki's remix albums Super Eurobeat Presents Ayu-ro Mix and Ayu-mi-x II Version Non-Stop Mega Mix, are recognized as two of the best selling remix albums of all time worldwide.[20]

Life and career

1978–1997: Childhood and early endeavors

Born in Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture, Hamasaki was raised as an only child by her mother and grandmother. Her father had left the family when she was three and never again came into contact with her.[21][22] Hamasaki's mother worked to support the family, so Hamasaki was primarily taken care of by her grandmother.[21] She described herself as a "tomboy" when she was a teenager, and as a "strange kid" who "liked to be alone".[23]

At age seven, Hamasaki began modeling for local institutions, such as banks, to supplement the family's income. She continued this career path by leaving her family at fourteen and moving to Tokyo as a model under SOS, a talent agency.[21] Her modeling career did not last long; SOS eventually deemed her too short for a model and transferred her to Sun Music, a musicians' agency. Under the name of "Ayumi", Hamasaki released a rap EP, Nothing from Nothing, on the Nippon Columbia label in 1995. She was dismissed from the label when the album failed to chart on the Oricon.[24] After this failure, Hamasaki took up acting and starred in B-movies such as Ladys Ladys!! Sōcho Saigo no Hi and television dramas such as Miseinen, which were poorly received by the public.[22][25] From August 1995 to March 1996, Hamasaki also co-hosted the SoundLink "magazine" Hōkago no Ōsama (After-school King) for the Nintendo Satellaview once a week with Shigeru Izumiya.[26][27] Growing dissatisfied with her job, Hamasaki quit acting and moved in with her mother, who had recently moved to Tokyo.[21]

Hamasaki initially earned good grades in junior high school. Eventually, she lost faith in the curriculum, thinking that the subjects were of no use to her. Her grades worsened as she refused to put her mind to her studies. While living in Tokyo, she attempted to further her studies at Horikoshi Gakuen, a high school for the arts, but dropped out in the first year. Hamasaki did not attend school or have a job, so she spent much of her time shopping at Shibuya boutiques and dancing at Velfarre, an Avex-owned disco club.[21][22]

At Velfarre, she was introduced to her future producer Max Matsuura through a friend. After hearing Hamasaki sing karaoke, Matsuura offered her a recording deal, but Hamasaki suspected ulterior motives and turned the offer down.[22] He persisted and succeeded in recruiting her for the Avex label in the following year.[22] Hamasaki started vocal training but skipped most of her classes after finding her instructors too rigid and the classes dull.[22] When she mentioned this to Matsuura, he sent her to New York to train her vocals under another method. While abroad, Hamasaki frequently corresponded with Matsuura and impressed him with her style of writing. On her return to Japan, he suggested that she try writing her own lyrics.[22]

1998–1999: Musical beginnings, A Song for xx, Loveppears

Hamasaki made her debut under Avex at 19 on April 8, 1998, with the single "Poker Face". It—and the following four singles—were not major hits; however, each release was better than the last, thus gradually increasing her exposure and presence on the market. Hamasaki's debut album, A Song for ×× (released on January 1, 1999), was "unassuming":[28] the tracks, composed by Yasuhiko Hoshino, Akio Togashi (of Da Pump), and Mitsuru Igarashi (of Every Little Thing), were "cautious" pop-rock songs.[22][28] However, Hamasaki's lyrics, introspective observations about her feelings and experiences that focused on loneliness and individualism, resonated with the Japanese public.[29] The songs gained Hamasaki a growing following, and the release of the album was a success: it topped the Oricon charts for five weeks and sold over a million copies.[24][30][31] For her achievements, she earned a Japan Gold Disc Award for "Best New Artist of the Year".[32]

With Ayu-mi-x (March 1999), the first of a series of remix albums, Hamasaki began moving beyond the pop-rock of A Song for ×× and began to incorporate different styles including trance, dance, and orchestra.[28] Hamasaki began to experiment with different musical styles in her singles as well, releasing dance tunes and ballads as well as remixes on the singles which spanned reggae and house. The singles were milestones: Hamasaki earned her first number-one single ("Love: Destiny") and first million-selling single ("A").[17][33] Her second studio album, Loveppears (November 1999), not only topped the Oricon charts, it sold nearly 3 million copies.[30] The album also showcased a change in Hamasaki's lyrics. Though the lyrics of Loveppears still dealt with loneliness, many of them were written from a third-person perspective.[34] In support of Loveppears, she held her first tour, Ayumi Hamasaki Concert Tour 2000 A.

A Film for XX is the first video clip collection by Ayumi Hamasaki, it was released on September 15, 1999.

2000–2002: Duty, A Best, I Am..., Rainbow

From April to June 2000, Hamasaki released the "Trilogy", a series of singles consisting of "Vogue", "Far Away", and "Seasons". The lyrics of these songs focused on hopelessness, a reflection of Hamasaki's disappointment that she had not expressed herself thoroughly in any of her previous lyrics and a sense of shame of her public image.[35] Likewise, many of the songs she wrote for her subsequent studio album, Duty (September 2000), involved feelings of loneliness, chaos, confusion, and the burden of her responsibilities. She described her feelings after the writing as "unnatural" and "nervous".[21][36] The musical style was darker as well; in contrast with Loveppears, Duty was a rock-influenced album with only one dance song, "Audience".[21][37] Duty resonated with fans: the "Trilogy" were "hit singles" ("Seasons" was a million-seller), and the album became Hamasaki's best-selling studio album.[38][39] At the end of 2000, Hamasaki held her first New Year countdown concert at the Yoyogi National Gymnasium.

In 2001, Avex forced Hamasaki to release her first compilation album, A Best, on March 28, putting the album in "competition" with Hikaru Utada's second studio album, Distance. The "competition" between the two singers (which both claimed was merely a creation of their record companies and the media) was supposedly the reason for the success of the albums; both sold over 5 million copies.[40] In support of Duty and A Best, Hamasaki held a tour of Japan's domes, making her one of few "top-drawer" Japanese artists to hold a concert at the Tokyo Dome.[41]

I Am... (January 2002) marked several milestones for Hamasaki. Hamasaki increased her control over her music by composing all of the songs on the album under the pseudonym "Crea", of which the 2000 single "M" was the first. "Connected" (November 2002) and "A Song Is Born" (December 2001) were the exceptions.[42] I Am... also showed evolution in Hamasaki's lyrical style: it was a retreat from the themes of "loneliness and confusion" of some of her earlier songs.[43] Moved by the September 11 attacks, Hamasaki revised her vision of I Am..., focusing on issues such as faith and world peace. "A Song Is Born", in particular, was directly influenced by the events.[43][44] The single, a duet with Keiko Yamada, was released as part of Avex's non-profit Song Nation project, which raised money for charity.[45][46][fn 3] She also dropped the planned cover and opted instead to be portrayed as a "peace muse", explaining,

I had a completely different idea for the cover at first. We'd already reserved the space, decided the hair and makeup and everything. But after the incident, as is typical of me, I suddenly changed my mind. I knew it wasn't the time for gaudiness, for elaborate sets and costumes. It sounds odd coming from me, but I realize what I say and how I look has a great impact.[44]

The outlook inspired by the September 11 attacks extended beyond I Am.... In 2002, Hamasaki held her first concert outside Japan, at the MTV Asia music awards ceremony in Singapore,[44][47] a move interpreted as the beginning of a campaign prompted by a sluggish Japanese market.[48][49] At the ceremony, she received the award for "Most Influential Japanese Singer in Asia".[47] In support of I Am..., Hamasaki held two tours, Ayumi Hamasaki Arena Tour 2002 A and Ayumi Hamasaki Stadium Tour 2002 A.[50] In November 2002, as "Ayu", she released her first European single, "Connected", a trance song from I Am... composed by DJ Ferry Corsten. It was released in Germany on the Drizzly label.[51] Hamasaki continued to release singles (all of them remixes of previously released songs) in Germany on Drizzly until 2005.[52]

In April 2002, Hamasaki released the single "Free & Easy". In collaboration with the magazine Free&Easy, Hamasaki also released Hamasaki Republic, a photobook that was actually a special issue of Free&Easy, in conjunction with the single. "H", Hamasaki's next single, became the best-selling single of 2002.[fn 4][53] Hamasaki released her last single of 2002, "Voyage", on September 26. In lieu of a regular-length music video, the short film Tsuki ni Shizumu, starring Hamasaki, was created for "Voyage" and was released at a select theater in Shibuya. Hamasaki's next studio album, Rainbow (December 2002) was her first to use English lyrics. After performing at the 2002 MTV Asia music awards, Hamasaki felt that by writing only Japanese lyrics, she was not able to bring her "message" to other countries. Realizing that English was a "common global language", she included English lyrics in three songs.[54][fn 5][fn 6] The album was stylistically diverse; Hamasaki included rock- and trip hop-influenced tracks as well as "summery", "up-tempo" and "grand gothic" songs and experimented with new techniques such as gospel choruses and the yells of an audience. The lyrics were also varied: themes in the album included freedom, the struggles of women, and "a summer that ends in sadness".[56]

2003–2006: My Story, (Miss)Understood, Secret

In 2003, Hamasaki released three singles, "&", "Forgiveness", and "No Way to Say". To celebrate the release of her thirtieth single ("Forgiveness"), Hamasaki held the A Museum concert at the Yoyogi National Gymnasium.[57] Her mini-album Memorial Address (December 2003) was her first album to be released in CD+DVD format in addition to the regular CD-only format, a decision that came from her increased interest in the direction of her music videos.[58] Like her previous albums, Memorial Address topped the Oricon chart and sold over a million copies.[59][60] Sales of Hamasaki's singles began to wane. Although all three of the album's singles topped the Oricon charts, "&" was Hamasaki's last single to sell over 500,000 copies.[61]

 
Hamasaki in Taiwan, 2007

By the end of her Arena Tour 2003–2004, Hamasaki had grown dissatisfied with her position in Avex: she felt that the company was treating her as a product instead of a person.[62] Along with her dissatisfaction over her last two studio albums (which she thought had been rushed), this led her to begin work on My Story (December 2004) early. In contrast with her previous albums, My Story had no set theme, nor did Hamasaki attempt to write "something good" or even "something that would give people hope"; rather, she simply wrote freely and honestly.[62][fn 7] As a result, the album contained mostly autobiographical lyrics about her emotions and reminiscences of her career. She approached the composition of the music with the same freedom as the lyrics, with the album's notable rock overtones expressing her liking for rock music.[63] She was so pleased with the result that she declared My Story the first album she felt satisfied with.[63] My Story and its singles, "Moments", "Inspire", and "Carols", all topped the weekly Oricon charts; moreover, with sales of over 1,100,000 units, My Story became Hamasaki's last million-selling studio album according to Oricon.[fn 8][64][65] From January to April 2005, Hamasaki held the nationwide My Story arena tour, her first album-based tour.[62] Also in January, she began working with Lamoureux Orchestra to create My Story Classical, a classical version of My Story; the album served as an "alter-ego" of the mostly aggressive My Story. The orchestra also created a classical version of "A Song Is Born", which was included on My Story Classical and which Hamasaki performed at the opening of the Expo 2005.[66]

(Miss)understood (January 2006), Hamasaki's seventh studio album, showed new musical directions.[67] Wanting to sing a tune like those of the group Sweetbox, Hamasaki obtained the permission of Sweetbox composer Roberto "Geo" Rosan to use demo songs he had intended to use in Sweetbox's upcoming album. She edited the songs to fit her personal vision, rewriting the lyrics and rearranging some of the songs.[67] The result was more musically diverse than the previous album; (Miss)understood included ballads, funk, dance-pop, R&B, and rock songs.[68][69] All of (Miss)understood's singles reached the top of the Oricon; "Bold & Delicious" became Hamasaki's twenty-fifth number-one single, tying her with Seiko Matsuda for the record of most number-one singles by a solo female artist.[70] Though (Miss)understood also reached the top of the charts, Oricon stated that it sold fewer than a million copies—Hamasaki's first studio album to do so.[71][fn 9][fn 8] In support of the album, Hamasaki held the (Miss)understood arena tour, which spanned three months with thirty concerts, from Saitama on March 11, 2006, to Yoyogi on June 11, 2006.[73]

Hamasaki's first single of 2006, "Startin'", became Hamasaki's twenty-sixth number-one single, setting a new record for most number-one singles held by a solo female artist.[74] The subsequent studio album, Secret, was released in November 2006.[75] "Secrets" was, appropriately, the theme of the album; the album also explored strong female figures, love, and sadness; songs depicted the artist's struggles and were written to encourage women.[76][fn 10] Although Secret was originally intended to be a mini-album, Hamasaki "began brimming with things to say" while producing the album and wrote five more songs.[76][fn 11] The album consisted mostly of rock songs and ballads; to complement these, Hamasaki experimented with new vocal techniques.[75] The album also topped the Oricon weekly charts, making Hamasaki the only artist to have eight consecutive number-one studio albums.[77]

2007–2008: A Best 2, Guilty, A Complete

On February 28, 2007, Hamasaki released A Best 2, a pair of compilation albums containing songs from I Am... to (Miss)understood. The two versions, White and Black, debuted at the first and second positions on the Oricon weekly charts, making Hamasaki the first female artist in 36 years to hold the top two positions on any Oricon album chart.[78] At the end of 2007, the pair became Japan's fifth and seventh best-selling albums of the year respectively.[79] In support of A Best 2 and Secret, Hamasaki held the four-month-long Tour of Secret from March to the end of June. Her foreign fanbase highly anticipated the concerts, and tickets for the Taipei and Hong Kong performances sold out in less than three hours.[80][81]

 
Hamasaki in Paris for the filming of the music video for "Mirrorcle World"

In July 2007, Hamasaki released her first single in over a year, "Glitter/Fated". A short film, Distance Love, was used as the music video for "Glitter" and "Fated". The film, shot in Hong Kong, co-starred Hong Kong actor Shawn Yue as Hamasaki's romantic interest.[82] "Glitter/Fated" and the following single "Talkin' 2 Myself" reached the top of their respective charts, continuing Hamasaki's streak of number-one singles.[83] In December, Hamasaki released her first digital-only single, "Together When...", which topped the RIAJ's monthly download chart.[84][85] Unlike its predecessors, the writing of Hamasaki's ninth studio album, Guilty (January 2008), was not an emotional experience for her, nor did it have a set theme. However, she said later that the album's tracks appeared to tell a story.[36] Most of the songs were dark; the album had a notable rock tinge.[36][37] It contained some upbeat dance tracks and ballads, though the latter also had rock overtones.[86][87] Guilty peaked at the number-two position on the weekly Oricon charts, making it Hamasaki's first studio album not to reach the top and ended Hamasaki's streak of eight consecutive number-one albums.[fn 12][90] Guilty was later released as a digital album in 26 countries outside Japan, 19 of them Western nations. That, along with Hamasaki's decision to employ western DJs such as The Young Punx, Coldcut, Para One and Armand Van Helden for her 2008 remix albums Ayu-mi-x 6: Gold and Ayu-mi-x 6: Silver, has been interpreted as her first major step into the global market.[91]

In April 2008, to commemorate her tenth anniversary in Avex, Hamasaki released the single "Mirrorcle World"; it topped the Oricon, making Hamasaki the only female solo artist to have a number-one single every year for ten consecutive years.[17] Hamasaki also held her second tour of Asia, Asia Tour 2008: 10th Anniversary, to celebrate her tenth anniversary. From April until June, she toured Japan, holding seventeen concerts. On September 10, 2008, Hamasaki released A Complete: All Singles, a compilation album that includes the A-sides of all her singles along with previously unreleased footage from her A-nation concerts, which became the 8th best selling album of 2008.[92]

2009–2011: Next Level, Rock 'n' Roll Circus, Love Songs, Five

Hamasaki's next two singles, "Days/Green" (December 2008) and "Rule/Sparkle" (February 2009), continued Hamasaki's streak of number-one singles. "Rule" is used as the international theme song for the film Dragonball Evolution.[93] The subsequent studio album, Next Level, was released on March 25, 2009, in several formats: CD, CD+DVD, 2CD+DVD and a two-gigabyte USB flash drive.[94][95] Sonically, Next Level was mainly an electronic dance album.[96] Next Level reached the top of the Oricon charts, making Hamasaki the only artist to have a number-one album every year for eleven years in a row since her debut.[19] However, the album was only certified double platinum, making it Hamasaki's lowest-selling studio album to that date.[97]

On August 12, 2009, Hamasaki released her 46th single, "Sunrise/Sunset (Love Is All)". "Sunrise (Love Is All)", one of the A-sides, is being used as the opening theme song for the Japanese television drama Dandy Daddy?.[98] The single reached the top of the weekly charts, making it her 21st consecutive (33rd total) number-one single. "Sunrise/Sunset" is also her 44th single to enter the Top 10, making Hamasaki the artist with the most Top 10 singles ever.[99] Hamasaki's third single of the year, "You Were.../Ballad", was released on December 29, 2009.

Hamasaki's eleventh studio album Rock 'n' Roll Circus was released on April 14, 2010. Though the album contained a few "powerful and melodramatic gothic rock" tracks, it was mainly "pure and classic J-pop", with pop-rock songs and ballads.[100] The album topped the charts, making Hamasaki the first female solo artist in twenty years to have ten number-one original studio albums.[101] Hamasaki also began expanding her online presence, setting up accounts on MySpace, Ustream, and Twitter.[102][103] In July, entertainment company Livespire announced that Hamasaki's 2009 Next Level tour would be shown in 3D at Toho cinemas nationwide beginning on August 28.[104][105][106]

 
Hamasaki during her 2010 concert tour, Rock n' Roll Circus: 7 Days Special

On July 14, Hamasaki released her forty-eighth single, "Moon/Blossom". The single was released as the first of a three-part project to celebrate her yet-unreleased fiftieth single.[107] The two other singles in the project (her forty-ninth and fiftieth singles respectively), "Crossroad" and "L", were released within a week of each other, "Crossroad" on September 22 and "L" on September 29.[108] "Crossroad" was composed by Tetsuya Komuro and its coupling was her cover version of Komuro's band TM Network's 1988 song "Seven Days War", which was her first cover of a male song.[109] The three singles all topped the Oricon, becoming Hamasaki's twenty-third, twenty-fourth and twenty-fifth consecutive number-one singles and setting a new record for the most consecutive number-one singles by any female artist (solo or group) as well as by any solo artist.[15]

On December 22, Hamasaki released her twelfth original studio album, Love Songs. On the same day, Naoya Urata of AAA released his debut solo single "Dream On". The song, which featured Hamasaki, was written and produced by her, marking the first record she produced for another singer.[110] Love Songs and "Dream On" both reached the top spots on their respective Oricon charts. Love Songs became Hamasaki's fourth consecutive and seventeenth total number-one album. The album also marked Hamasaki's thirteenth consecutive year with a number-one album, breaking her previous record.[111]

In February 2011, it was announced that her arena tour of the year, Hotel Love Songs, would start in April. Shortly after the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami hit, it was announced that the tour was rescheduled to start in late May, and the tour was renamed to Power of Music.[112] Deeply affected by the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami devastation, Hamasaki decided to collaborate with fashion magazine, Vivi, with the sale of charity shirts and the profits going to help the victims in the devastation.

On April 20, 2011, Hamasaki simultaneously released four new remix albums, Ayu-mi-x 7:House, Acoustic Orchestra, Trance 4, Ayu-ro Mix 4, and a Limited Complete Box Set, which were also released internationally on iTunes.[113] On that same day, Hamasaki also released 2010 Rock 'n' Roll Circus Tour and A 50 Singles: Live Selection which topped the weekly chart at No. 1 and No. 2 respectively. The simultaneous releases made Hamasaki the first artist ever to have 4 albums in Oricon's top 10 and also the first artist to hold 2 top positions in the Oricon DVD chart.[114] Their original release date of March 30 was postponed due to the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami and was pushed back to April 20 instead.[115] On April 21, 2011, it was announced that she would perform in a-nation 10th Anniversary for Life Charge & Go![116] On May 4, it was announced that she broke another record – the female artist with the highest DVD sales with 2,313,000.[117]

On August 31, Hamasaki released her second mini album Five, her first since Memorial Address in 2003. This was her first album to have no singles released. Five topped the Oricon Charts for 2 consecutive weeks, her first to do so since (Miss)understood. The lead song, "Progress", was used as a theme song for the videogame, Tales of Xillia.[118] The album also featured collaborations with singers Juno and Naoya Urata from AAA.

This album managed to be certified Gold by RIAJ, making Hamasaki's first album not to be certified Platinum.[119] Complete Clip Box 1998–2011, consisting all her music videos from her first single, "Poker Face" until her latest mini-album, Five, was released on January 1, 2012.[120] "How Beautiful You Are" was later released as the theme song for a drama Saigo Kara Nibanme no Koi, and also Hamasaki's second digital single (55th single overall) on February 8.[121] Hamasaki described the song as a mid-tempo ballad, containing "feelings of gratitude towards another person".[122]

2012–2013: 15th anniversary, Party Queen, Love Again, A Summer Best

In 2012, The International 3D Society announced the winners of its 2012 3D Creative Arts Awards with Hamasaki receiving an award for "Electronic Broadcast Media (Television) – Live Event" for her A3D Ayumi Hamasaki Arena Tour 2009 A: Next Level tour.[123][124]

 
Hamasaki (bottom center) in London with a group of European fans

On March 21, Hamasaki released her thirteenth studio album, Party Queen, which was recorded entirely in London. Its title track is inspired by the British slang of being a 'party queen' - someone who is partying hard and looks to be doing well, but is emotionally self-destructing.[125] The album peaked at number two on the Oricon charts, becoming her second studio album to do so after 2008's Guilty. The album spanned themes of grief, isolation, addiction, and regret, with the singer using upbeat dance beats on key tracks to represent the contrast of fame, glitz, and glamor with personal inner turmoil; she would later comment that the album cover includes callbacks to her previous work, Duty, as if "(she) never succeeded in leaving the cage" originally depicted on the latter's own album art. During the press tour for Party Queen, Hamasaki would say that songwriting had been so easy for her during this era, that at one point she had considered making the release her first double album.[126]

On August 6, 2012, Hamasaki released her sixth compilation album A Summer Best. It included two new songs which were digitally released for the promotion of the album: the TRF cover, Happening Here, and You & Me.

In September 2012, it was announced that, to commemorate Hamasaki's 15th anniversary in the music industry on April 8, 2013, she would be releasing new material for five consecutive months starting on the 8th day of November, 2012, until the 8th of March, 2013.[127] The first releases were two mini albums, Love and Again, which were put on sale on the 8th of November and December, respectively. The third release for the 8th of January was her compilation album A Classical, which included classical arrangements of previously released songs. The fourth release was Hamasaki's 14th studio album, Love Again, which compiled the songs included in the two previous mini albums and debuted atop the weekly Oricon Albums Chart. The fifth and final release was the DVD/Blu-ray of her Arena Tour 2012 A: Hotel Love Songs, released in March.[128]

In April 2013 Hamasaki began her 15th Anniversary Tour: A Best Live, which lasted for four months until the end of July. Its setlist was chosen by fans through online voting, and was later released as her first live album CD on September 18.[129] The DVD and Blu-ray versions were released on October 30, 2013.[130]

On December 25, 2013, Hamasaki released "Feel the Love/Merry-go-round", her first physical single in three years. "Feel the Love" was composed by Tetsuya Komuro and produced by Dj Hello Kitty, while "Merry-go-round" was produced by M-Flo's Taku Takahashi and features rapper Verbal.[131] Both songs are heavily influenced by Western dance-pop music.

2014–2015: Colours, A One, Sixxxxxx

In January 2014, it was announced that a new song entitled "Pray" was chosen to be the theme song for the anime film Osamu Tezuka's Budda 2—Owarinaki Tabi, which premiered on February 8, 2014, in Japan.[132] The song was released digitally on January 27, 2014.[133] Another new song, entitled "Hello New Me", was presented as theme song for a new season of Fuji TV drama Zoku—Saigo Kara Nibanme no Koi. which started broadcasting in April, 2014. The song was released digitally on May 14, 2014.[134] From May 30 to July 6, 2014, Hamasaki held her Premium Showcase: Feel the Love tour, on which she offered 11 concerts at 3 locations: Nagoya, Osaka and Tokyo.[135] On this tour, Hamasaki abandoned for the first time the traditional format of her previous concerts and presented an uninterrupted, shorter show, on which she also debuted as an aerial acrobat.[136]

Hamasaki's fifteenth studio album, entitled Colours, was released on July 2, 2014. The album featured internationally renowned producers, such as RedOne, Rodney Jerkins, Armin van Buuren and Fedde le Grand, making the first time in Hamasaki's career in which primarily Western producers were appointed to produce one of her studio albums.[137] Colours peaked at number five on its first week on the Oricon charts, becoming Hamasaki's first studio album to debut out of the Top 3. However, it also marked a new record for her, as with this achievement she became the second artist in Japan's history—after Yumi Matsutoya—to have 47 albums within the Top 10 of the charts.[138]

In September 2014, Hamasaki released two recut singles from Colours: "Terminal" and "XOXO" on the PlugAir platform. The single was released under Linkin Park's Machine Shop Records for the American release.[139]

On October 18, 2014, Hamasaki performed as the closing act in the A-Nation premium concert held at the Marina Bay Sands' MasterCard Theatres in Singapore.[140] This was the second time performing in Singapore after her MTV Asia Awards performance 12 years ago.

On November 2, 2014, Hamasaki announced through her official Facebook page that she had started recording new material composed by Tetsuya Komuro, Kunio Tago and Tetsuya Yukumi for a "winter ballad trilogy" single.[141] On November 6, 2014, the title of the single was revealed to be "Zutto.../Last Minute/Walk", and its release date was set for December 24, 2014.[142] It would later peak at number five on the Oricon charts. With this achievement, Hamasaki became the first solo artist in Japan's history to have 50 singles within the Top 10 of the Oricon charts. As for artists in general, Hamasaki became the third artist with more Top ten singles since Oricon's foundation in 1968—being surpassed by groups Morning Musume and SMAP, with 57 and 53 Top ten singles respectively[143][144]

On November 10, 2014, it was announced that Hamasaki would be collaborating in a tribute cover album for Hikaru Utada, entitled Utada Hikaru no Uta, to be released on December 9, 2014.[145][146] For the album she contributed with a cover of Utada's 1998 single "Movin' on Without You", which was arranged by the RedOne production team. This was reportedly the track Hamasaki insisted she cover, with her later stating that it was the first song she had in mind since being told of the project.[147]

In December 2014 Hamasaki announced that she would be not attending the New Year show Kōhaku Uta Gassen for the first time in 15 years. She explained her decision stating that she wanted to lower her responsibilities and things she felt pressured to do, in order to focus on the projects she had for her career, mainly regarding her plans to expand her influence throughout Asia.[148]

On February 15, 2015, Hamasaki made a surprise guest appearance during Singaporean singer JJ Lin's concert in Taipei, Taiwan. They performed a duet version of Hamasaki's 2000 single "Seasons", and announced that JJ Lin would be producing a song for Hamasaki's next studio album, A One.[149]

 
Ayumi Hamasaki in Taipei 2015

A One was released on April 8, 2015, including singles "Zutto...", "Last Minute", "Walk", Utada's cover "Movin' on Without You", and JJ Lin-produced song "The Gift", for which a promotional music video was also made.

Between April and July 2015, Hamasaki embarked on her Arena Tour 2015 A: Cirque de Minuit tour throughout Japan, which was planned as an expanded version of her previous Countdown Live concerts held in late 2014. The tour consisted of a 34-song setlist show with a duration of 3 hours and 45 minutes, her longest concert held to date.[150] At the final show of the aforementioned tour, Hamasaki announced that she would start another tour in September, this time exclusively for members of her official fan club, TeamAyu. The TA Limited Live Tour, Hamasaki's first fan club exclusive tour in twelve years after 2003, began on September 29, 2015, and included a total of 16 concerts at 7 venues.[151]

In April 2015, a new song entitled "Step by Step" began to be broadcast as the theme song of NHK TV drama Bijo to Danshi, and was subsequently released as a digital single on July 1.[152] It became the lead single for the later released Sixxxxxx on August 5, 2015. The mini album featured six new songs, including drama theme song "Step by Step", and "Sayonara", a new song featuring Taiwanese boyband SpeXial.[153] "Sayonara" became #1 on digital downloads charts in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia, according to KK BOX, Asia's largest digital distribution site.[154]

In addition, Hamasaki participated as one of the headliners of the A-Nation Stadium Fes 2015 held on August 30 at the Ajinomoto Stadium, where she also performed a cover of Globe's hit ballad song "Departures".[155] Later in this same year, Hamasaki recorded a cover of Globe's "Many Classic Moments", which was included in the group's tribute album released on December 16, 2015.[156]

On December 23, 2015, Hamasaki released a winter-themed concept album entitled Winter Diary: A7 Classical, which included songs from her previous two albums A One and Sixxxxxx remixed with Classical arrangements, and one new song "Winter Diary", which was produced by Tetsuya Komuro.[157] Hamasaki promoted the album by starting an Instagram account, that originally was stated to only be open until the end of January 2016.[158] She shared pictures of the music video shooting of "Winter Diary" recorded in Taiwan, and also the preparations for her 2015–2016 countdown live concerts.[159]

In December 2015, Hamasaki also contributed with the lyrics of "Diary", using her past composer name of Crea, to the debut single of Micchie. Micchie's single was released on December 23, 2015, through Nippon Crown.[160]

2016–2017: Made in Japan

Hamasaki confirmed that she had been working on her seventeenth studio album for 2016 through a post published on Instagram.[161] A 15th anniversary edition of Hamasaki's 2001 greatest hits album A Best was released on March 28, 2016.[162] In May 2016, Hamasaki started her nationwide tour Arena Tour 2016 A: Made in Japan, which was expanded version of her 2015–2016 Countdown Live Made in Tokyo.[163] On May 11, Hamasaki made a surprise release of her 17th studio album, entitled Made in Japan, through music streaming website AWA, where it reached 1 million legal streams five days after release.[164][165] The album was released on physical formats on June 29, 2016. With the album peaking at number two on the weekly Oricon chart, Hamasaki became the solo-artist with the most top-ten albums (50).[166]

On September 30, 2016, Hamasaki released the digital single "We Are the Queens", which was used as a theme song of smartphone game Clash of Queens developed by Elex Wireless. Hamasaki herself starred in the TV commercial for the game, which was first broadcast on September 17.[167]

On September 6, 2017, Hamasaki released a new song entitled "Words" as a free download for attenders to her Just the Beginning: Sacrifice tour, available until November 30 through the mu-mo website.[168]

During 2017 Hamasaki embarked on her Just the Beginning -20- Tour 2017,[169] whose first leg started on May 13, 2017, at Yokohama Arena through July 17 at the Osaka-jō Hall, Osaka. The second leg of the tour, entitled Just the beginning Part 2: Sacrifice, commenced on September 6 at the Pacifico Yokohama National Convention Hall, Yokohama, and is scheduled to end on November 28 at the Shunanshi Bunka Hall, Yamaguchi. A third leg of the tour began on December 2, 2017, at the Wakayama Prefectural Cultural Hall, through February 20, 2018, at the Okinawa Convention Center.[170]

2018–2020: 20th anniversary, Trouble, M Aisubeki Hito ga Ite

Hamasaki embarked on the Power of Music 20th Anniversary arena tour from April 7 to July 22, 2018.[171] She announced her then upcoming seventh extended play, Trouble—released on August 15, 2018—on the final day of the tour.[172]

In August 2019, popular non-fiction author Narumi Komatsu released a novel about Hamasaki entitled M Aisubeki Hito ga Ite, in which it was revealed that the singer had been in a relationship with her producer, Max Matsuura, in the early days of her debut. The book was written based on interviews with Hamasaki herself and gives a rare insight in the artist's private life and her road to stardom, although before the book was published, the singer stated that the book "combined both fact and fiction" to make its own story. Hamasaki also wrote a foreword to the novel, which was set in present time as she prepared for her 20th anniversary, and of her thoughts working with Matsuura again after the two grew apart professionally earlier in the 2010s. The book instantly became a best-seller, and reached #1 in the charts. A television drama-series based on the novel aired from April to July 2020.[173] A 20th anniversary edition of Hamasaki's 1999 album Loveppears, was released on November 10, 2019.[174] On December 30 and 31, Hamasaki held her annual New Year's Eve concerts, with the latter date recorded and later released as Countdown Live 2019–2020: Promised Land.

On February 20, the singer began Trouble Tour 2020: Saigo no Trouble. The tour was suspended after only two dates due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions imposed by the Japanese government. On May 19, Hamasaki announced the cancellation of the remaining 36 dates through her official website.[175]

On July 4, a surprise TV-commercial featuring a new song by the singer, titled "Ohia no Ki", was broadcast after the airing of the final episode of M Aisubeki Hito ga Ite. Hamasaki's first new song in two years, it was also her first to have a title in Japanese instead of English. The song was composed by Kazuhito Kikuchi—known for having composed some of Hamasaki's signature songs, such as "Who..." and "Heaven"—with lyrics inspired by her newborn son.[176] "Ohia no Ki" was released on digital platforms in Japan the next day.[177][178]

The singer held her Premium Limited Live A: Natsu no Trouble special concert without an in-person audience on July 25; it was streamed live on AbemaTV.[179] A new digital single, "Dreamed a Dream", followed at the end of that month.

On August 29, Hamasaki took part in A-Nation Online 2020 - the first time Avex had streamed their annual summer festival.[180]

Due to the cancellation of her 2020 tour, Hamasaki held an online concert named Trouble Tour 2020 A: Saigo no Trouble - Final on October 2. This was without an in-person audience, the stream being hosted by Mu-mo Live.[181] On December 2, the singer also performed "Ohia no Ki" as part of the FNS Music Festival.[182] Later that same month, Hamasaki planned to hold an in-person Christmas concert titled Special Showcase Xmas Eve 2020, but it was later adapted to be a streaming exclusive via YouTube on December 24.[183] Countdown Live 2020-2021 A: Music For Life, two New Year concerts for December 30 and 31, were cancelled on December 29 due to a member of staff testing positive with COVID-19.[184] Hamasaki later confirmed she was following isolation instructions and had not tested positive herself.[185]

2021–2022: A Ballads 2

Hamasaki released the compilation album A Ballads 2 on April 8, 2021, which included remastered versions of 29 previously released songs, as well as the single "Ohia no Ki" and a new cover of Yumi Matsutoya's "Haru yo, Koi".[186] Alongside A Ballads 2, she released the digital single "23rd Monster" on April 8.[187] In the track, Hamasaki covers the themes of public pressure, self-doubt, and retaking control of one's own life; the title in reference to it being released on the date of her own 23rd anniversary since her major label debut.

On June 26 2021 Hamasaki held an online concert titled Music for Life: Return, hosted on Mu-mo Live as well as having an in-person audience, which reused the concept and parts of the setlist she had planned for the cancelled Countdown Live 2020 - 2021 A: Music For Life.[188] An in-person exclusive concert, Summer TA Party 2021, was held on August 23 at the Team Smile Toyosu Pit venue.[189] After the concert ended, Hamasaki announced a new tour named Asia Tour 2021-2022 A: 23rd Monster; despite the name, there were no confirmed dates outside of Japan due to COVID-19 restrictions. The tour began on October 2 at the Makuhari Event Hall, Chiba. On August 28, Hamasaki performed "23rd Monster" on FNS Laugh & Music.[190] On October 18, the singer appeared as a guest producer on 17LIVE 4th Anniversary meets Ayumi Hamasaki, judging auditioning artists alongside her own long-time collaborator, Yuta Nakano. The winner of the program would then work with both Hamasaki and Nakano for their own debut track.[191][192] Later that year, Hamasaki performed both "Haru yo, koi" and "No way to say" on the FNS Music Festival program, December 1.[193] At the end of the year, her Countdown Live 2021 - 2022 A: 23rd Monster concerts were held with an in-person audience, along with it being streamed online by dTV.[194]

In 2022, digital single "Nonfiction" was released on April 22, its lyrics condemning the recent uptick in false news reports and conspiracies.[195] It was first revealed at Hamasaki's Asia Tour: 24th Anniversary Special concert, held at PIA Arena MM on April 6 and streamed through dTV; the concert also had Kishidan as special guests, who performed her cover of their hit One Night Carnival with the singer.[196] Atsuo Nagahori of The First Times reviewed the concert, concluding "She continues to evolve and challenge herself as an artist, and there are more people than ever drawn to keep their eyes on her", citing her performances of "A Song For ××" , "Poker Face", and "Nonfiction" as highlights. After the concert had ended, Hamasaki commented on her feelings entering her 24th anniversary year, stating "I hope everyone who has been on this journey, whether they know me as Ayu or Ayumi Hamasaki, will think 'I'm glad I had this person in my life', even if just for a moment."[197]

"Summer Again" was released on July 1, which had callbacks to previous summer single "Inspire" in its music video, shot on Ishigaki Island.[198] From July to August, seven Summer TA Party 2022 concerts were held across Tokyo, Osaka, and Fukuoka.[199] On September 11, the singer performed "Nonfiction" on FNS Laugh & Music, along with appearing in a comedy skit and talk section.[200] Her third digital single of 2022, "Mask", was released on November 18, with its later released music video made in collaboration with TeamLabs.[201]

Hamasaki took part in the annual FNS Music Festival on December 7, performing "appears" and "Who...".[202] The final show for Asia Tour 2021-2022 A: 23rd Monster took place on December 10, 2022 in Nagoya.[203] On December 28, the singer performed "Blue Bird" and "Nonfiction" at the NTV Music Awards, announcing after the show that "(Not) Remember You" will be a pre-release album track, available from January 1 2023.[204][205]

Countdown Live 2022–2023: Remember You, Hamasaki's New Year's Eve concert, was held on December 30 and 31 at Yoyogi National Stadium.[206] The final date on December 31 was also streamed on dTV.

2023: 25th anniversary, Remember you

A new album, Remember You, was released on January 25. Its final confirmed tracklist consisted of 14 songs, which includes the seven singles released over the last two years.[207] To commemorate its release, Hamasaki hosted a YouTube Q&A livestream for the first time on January 24; during the livestream, she answered questions ranging from her Asia Tour to her current make-up, responding to both Japanese and international fans over an hour-long period.[208]

Artistry

Lyrics

In the beginning, I was searching for myself in my music. My music was for me. I didn't have the mental room to be conscious of the listener; I wrote to save myself. I didn't understand what it was to write songs. But over time I began to see many things, my influence, the responsibilities that gave me.

— Hamasaki on the new lyrical directions in I Am....[44]

Hamasaki's lyrics have resonated among her fans throughout her career, who praise them as being honest and heartfelt and "expressing determination"; in two surveys conducted by Oricon, respondents voted Hamasaki's lyrics as their favorite aspect of her artistry.[209][210] Steve McClure of The Japan Times noted that Hamasaki has "developed a reputation as a thoughtful, introspective lyricist"; Barry Walters of The Village Voice comments that Hamasaki's lyrics "pack unlikely insights".[28][211] Having "trouble voicing her thoughts", Hamasaki uses her lyrics as an outlet; she draws inspiration from her own (and occasionally her friends') experiences and emotions and tries to put them "honestly into words".[212] She has stated that honesty is essential to her lyrics, saying, "If I write when I'm low, it will be a dark song, but I don't care. I want to be honest with myself at all times."[212] This meant that she did not use English lyrics until her album Rainbow, as she felt that she could best express herself in Japanese.[fn 5] As with her musical style, the themes of her lyrics have varied. Her debut album A Song for ×× dealt mostly with themes of "loneliness and confusion", as did her second album Loveppears. Duty likewise expressed feelings of disappointment and confusion. Hamasaki began to take on a more global outlook with her following albums I Am... and Rainbow, branching out to wider themes such as faith and peace.[43] Music critic Tetsu Misaki noted a large change in her lyrics style between her debut album A Song for ×× (1999), which mostly dealt with personal problems, and her following albums Loveppears and Duty. Misaki believed Hamasaki had begun thinking about her influence on society more, and began writing songs with important messages she wanted to express to her listeners. This was signalled by her not using first person pronouns as much, and instead using the words bokura (僕ら, "we") and tsutaeru (伝える, "convey/Tell") more often.[213] As Hamasaki matured, her lyrics began to express more confidence; themes in her later albums included love and the struggles of women.[56][68][76] With Guilty, Hamasaki began to compose her lyrics not only as an exposition of her personal feelings but as encouragements for her listeners, an outlook she applied in Next Level as well. In songs such as "Talkin' 2 Myself" and "Mirrorcle World", Hamasaki deals with the "awareness and fighting spirit of surviving in a high-risk age" to encourage listeners. In addition to personal experiences and feelings, Hamasaki bases lyrics on sources such as historical events. The life of Joan of Arc was the inspiration for "Free & Easy", a story told to her by her friend about a saint named Mary served as the basis for "M", and the September 11 attacks inspired "A Song Is Born".[214]

 
"Evolution" (2001)
Many of Hamasaki's songs are dance tunes, such as "Evolution" (2001), a self-composed single that also has rock elements.
"M" (2000)
"M", the first song composed by Hamasaki under the pseudonym "Crea", shifts to a relative key, like most of her self-composed songs.[215]
"Bold & Delicious" (2005)
Hamasaki took new directions on (Miss)understood, as epitomized by the single "Bold & Delicious", a funk-influenced song that used a gospel-style chorus.
Problems playing these files? See media help.

Musical style

In addition to writing her own lyrics, Hamasaki has also involved herself in other aspects of production such as artistic direction. Though Max Matsuura is officially credited as the producer of her records, he said of Hamasaki, "Ayu is a very meticulous worker behind the scenes. A lot of the work she does by herself is more in the producer's arena. I think really we should say 'Produced by [A]yumi [H]amasaki'."[216]In 2022, Matsuura would state that he began to step away from the lead producer role from around 2000, leaving Hamasaki to coordinate production herself.[217] Until her single "M", however, Hamasaki left the task of composing to her staff; as she has explained, "I'm not a professional; I lack even basic knowledge about writing music."[42] However, she started to compose her own melodies after her staff had failed to compose a tune for "M" that appealed to her.[21] Wanting to produce works faithful to her visions, Hamasaki took control of most aspects of her artistry.[43][44] I Am... is representative of this stage in Hamasaki's career; she directed the production of its songs, videos, and artwork. She began to compose less after I Am...: whereas nearly all of I Am... was her work, only nine of Rainbow's fifteen tracks were composed by her. She was even less involved in the composition of subsequent albums, composing two tracks on Memorial Address, three on My Story, and one on (Miss)understood; since Secret, none of the songs on her studio albums have listed her as a composer. With later albums, Hamasaki also began to delegate to her staff tasks she had once handled herself.[218] Hamasaki cites Madonna, soul musicians Babyface and En Vogue, and rock bands Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple as her influences and states that she admires Michelle Branch, Kid Rock, Joan Osborne, Seiko Matsuda, Rie Miyazawa, and Keiko Yamada;[42][212] these diverse influences have led to the variety of her own music. Hamasaki began commissioning remixes of her songs early in her career, and this practice also influenced the diversity of her music.[28] Found on many of her records, these remixes span different genres of electronic dance music including Eurobeat, house, and trance, as well as acoustic genres such as classical and traditional Chinese music. She has employed Western as well as Japanese musicians; among those she has worked with are Above & Beyond, the Lamoureux Orchestra of France,[fn 13] and traditional Chinese music ensemble Princess China Music Orchestra.[219] Hamasaki has released more than a hundred original songs; through them, she has covered a wide range of musical styles, such as dance, metal, R&B, progressive rock, pop, and classical.[28] She uses different instruments and techniques including piano, orchestra, gospel choirs, guitars, traditional Japanese strings, music boxes, and effects such as yells, claps, and scratching.[28][56]

Videos and stage

 
Hamasaki's live performances are often lavish productions that use "grand-scale props".[220] Performances of "Mirrorcle World" in her 2008 tour of Asia used a floating ship.

Hamasaki is often involved in the artistic direction of her music videos. They are often artistic productions through which Hamasaki tries to convey the meaning or feeling of their respective songs.[75] The themes of the videos are varied; she has made "sad and fragile" or "emotional" videos ("Momentum", "Endless Sorrow"), "refreshing" summer videos ("Blue Bird", "Fairyland"), surreal or "scary" videos ("1 Love", "Marionette"), and humorous videos ("Evolution", "Angel's Song", "Beautiful Fighters").[54][209] Additionally, many of the videos contain short storylines, some of which use symbolism to convey their respective messages.[209] The video of "Voyage" depicts Hamasaki as a woman in a mental hospital whose previous incarnation was a woman in feudal Japan who was sacrificed to the moon; the video of "Endless Sorrow" features a young boy living in a society where speaking is forbidden by law. In the video for "Free & Easy", Hamasaki portrayed a "twenty-first-century Joan of Arc" to convey her message "freedom cannot be easily obtained; there is a price to pay for it" and to express her opposition to her marrying at the time;[221] the video for "Ourselves" featured masked people destroying "effigies of [Hamasaki's] past" such as photographs and album covers to symbolize destruction and rebirth.[222][223] Additionally, the videos of "Fairyland", "My Name's Women", "Jewel", "Green", and "Virgin Road" are among the top twenty or so most expensive music videos, making Hamasaki the only non-American artist to hold such a distinction.[224][225][226] Hamasaki is also involved in the production and artistic direction of her live performances; they, like her videos, are often lavish productions and use a variety of props, extravagant costumes, and choreographed dances. She has used large video screens, fireworks, simulated rain drops, trick stage floors, and suspended devices.[220]

Public image and legacy

Hamasaki's lyrics and image initially gained a following predominantly among the young Generation X of Asia, often referred to as "the voice of the lost generation".[3][227] Music critic Tetsu Misaki believed that the juxtaposition of her fashionable appearance and her personal lyrics was one of her most important selling points.[213] The popularity of her music extends beyond Japan, with a sizeable following across Asia.[228][229][230] She began moving towards the wider Asian market in 2002, performing at the 2002 MTV Asia awards in Singapore, and later taking her 2007 Tour of Secret concerts to Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Shanghai.

Hamasaki is also noted for the visual aspects of her artistry; she was considered a significant fashion trendsetter in both the 2000s and 2010s, with her influence extending beyond across Asia.[231][232][233] While maintaining tight control over her image,[2][234][235][236] Teresa Nieman of The Guardian said that Hamasaki "married accessible, mainstream hits with over-the-top costumes and high-concept videos".[237] Besides her frequent appearances in fashion magazines, such as Vivi, Popteen, and Cawaii!, Hamasaki had often been lauded for her trendy choices in apparels and accessories; Oricon repeatedly named her the "Most Fashionable Female Artist".[238][239] Among the trends Hamasaki has started is hime-kei (a look inspired by the fashions of 18th century French aristocracy), along with heavily influencing the 2000s kogal subculture.[240][241][242] Hamasaki's constantly changing image was apparent not only in her fashion photo shoots and commercial endorsements but also in her record covers, an element she considered essential in conveying her message.[43]

Although Hamasaki was promoted as a girl-next-door at her debut, she began to already evolve her public image from her second album Loveppears. Its cover, along with the album covers for I Am... and Party Queen, feature Hamasaki in states of partial nudity; something which immediately matured her image, and would later be seen as a running hallmark of the singer's willingness to take risks and be vulnerable in her artistry. After the release of Party Queen in 2011, Hamasaki reinvented her public image by favouring soft, pastel-shaded concepts through the mid-2010s, along with often wearing luxury loungewear.[243] However, she has begun to receive attention in the 2020s as a heralded icon of Y2K fashion, with Hamasaki seen as the face of returning gyaru-kei inspired trends.[244]

As she approaches her 25th anniversary, there has been growing appreciation for Hamasaki's work ethic and dedication to her craft by the public. Atsuo Nagahori of The First Times wrote "Involved in the Japanese pop scene for now over 24 years, she has never stopped touring, never stopped releasing new music, and has never taken a break to recharge her batteries. How many artists can we say we have like that?".[245]

Other activities

Ayuready?

From October 2002 to March 2004, Hamasaki was also the host of her own talk and variety TV show, named Ayuready?, on Fuji Television. The talk show, which aired on Saturday nights from 11:30 to midnight, often featured her performing songs with guests. Among the names who appeared on the program were Goto Maki, Puffy, and Akina Nakamori. To promote the program (and her album Rainbow), Hamasaki opened the Rainbow House restaurant on Shōnan Beach on July 1, 2003, which was open until August 31, 2003.[246] After almost two years, the last episode of Ayuready? aired in March 2004.[247]

Branded products

In 2001, Hamasaki launched her own limited-run fashion brand, MTRLG (Material Girl); the clothes were sold at MTRLG boutiques and at Mise S*clusive stores.[246] In 2002, Hamasaki created Ayupan, a cartoon version of herself that appeared in a line of merchandise (mainly figurines), and in a 2003 animation. For her 2007 tour Tour of Secret, Hamasaki collaborated with Sanrio to create a line of merchandise, "Ayumi Hamasaki x Hello Kitty/", that featured Ayupan and Hello Kitty together.[248] The merchandise included cell phone straps and Lumix cameras decorated with a picture of Hello Kitty behind Hamasaki's "A" logo;[fn 14] the former product was a result of a collaboration with Sanrio and Japanese fashion brand Ash & Diamonds, the latter a collaboration with Sanrio and Panasonic.[249]

Philanthropy

In March 2011, Hamasaki donated 30 million yen to relief efforts for the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami.[250] In 2021, Hamasaki donated 10 million yen to the Japanese National Center for Global Health and Medicine, receiving the Medal of Honor.[251]

During the 2022 typhoon aftermath in Shizuoka prefecture, Hamasaki openly criticized the media for not reporting on the disaster thoroughly. Over a period of three days, she organized a donation point and visited Shizuoka to talk to survivors and coordinate resources.[252]

Product endorsements

Throughout her early career under Avex, Hamasaki promoted products that ranged from electronics (Tu-Ka cell phones and Panasonic)[25] to various snack foods.[238] Among the products she has advertised on television are the Honda Crea scooter,[253] KOSÉ cosmetics,[238] Mister Donut donuts,[254] and Boss coffee.[255] Although Hamasaki initially supported the exploitation of her popularity for commercial purposes, saying that it was "necessary that [she is] viewed as a product",[42] she eventually opposed Avex's decision to market her as a "product rather than a person".[256] Hamasaki has since avoided allowing her image to be used for widespread endorsements.

Personal life

Hamasaki had a seven-year relationship with actor Tomoya Nagase, from 2000 to 2007. The pair had known each other since co-starring a TV drama in 1997, and began a romantic relationship in 2000.[257] It was reported that she had intitiated the break-up due to the couple disagreeing on the subject of marriage, with Nagase rumoured to have been ready to propose to the singer, and Hamasaki not yet being willing to shift focus from her career. Hamasaki would only comment "Since we've been together for 7 years, we aren't suddenly strangers to each other. We keep in touch often. However, after so long we became more like brothers, like family... that kind of relationship."[258] Their relationship was very popular among the general public, with the two still being referred to as "the perfect couple" even over two decades later.[259]

On January 1, 2011, Hamasaki announced her engagement to Austrian actor and model Manuel Schwarz, whom Hamasaki met in August 2010 on the set of her music video for "Virgin Road".[260] On January 2, her office announced that she and Schwarz had married in the United States the day before.[261] However, on January 16, 2012, Hamasaki announced her divorce through her fanclub website. Hamasaki would go on to say that she initially planned to move to the United States, where Schwarz primarily resided; however, her experiences watching the March 2011 Tōhoku disaster footage while being outside of Japan at the time impacted her so greatly, that she felt unable to go through with a permanent relocation.[262][263]

On December 13, 2013, it was announced on her official TeamAyu site that Hamasaki had become engaged to an American medical student, whom she had been with since the spring of that year. In the announcement, the singer said "As my partner is an ordinary student, I would be very happy if you could watch over us quietly."[264][265] On March 3, 2014, the singer announced her second marriage on her fanclub site "TeamAyu". According to her agency, the couple finished their marriage procedure in the United States near the end of February. On February 3, Hamasaki's mother acted as her deputy and submitted the marriage registration in Japan.[266] Two years later on September 11, 2016, Hamasaki announced that she and her husband had separated, with their divorce finalized by the end of that month.[267][268]

With the release of the non-fiction novel M Aisubeki Hito ga Ite in August 2019, it was made public that Hamasaki had a romantic relationship with her producer, Max Matsuura, from 1998 to 2000.[269] It was written that the reason for their break-up was Hamasaki's unprecedented success, with the singer abandoning her previous expectation of an early retirement, deciding that their relationship should be focused on their shared dream of "Ayumi Hamasaki".

On January 1, 2020, Hamasaki announced on her official TeamAyu site that she had given birth to "a beautiful angel last year", having chosen to keep the pregnancy a secret until that point.[270] On October 2, 2020, Hamasaki announced her second pregnancy through her official TeamAyu site, and in May 2021 confirmed she had given birth to her second child "sometime in spring".[271]

Hearing loss

In January 2008, Hamasaki announced on her blog that an inoperable condition, possibly tinnitus or Ménière's disease, had caused complete deafness in her left ear.[13][90] She had been diagnosed with the condition in 2006 and that the problem dated to 2000, when she developed an ear infection but continued to perform against the advice of doctors.[272][273] Despite the setback, Hamasaki stated that she wished to continue singing, and that "as a professional", she wanted to "deliver the best performance for everyone".[272][274] On May 20, 2017, she wrote that she is also losing hearing in her right ear, and had experienced dizziness and nausea. She vowed to continue performing, writing: "The stage is where I belong. It's the only place I really, truly exist. I don't know anything else."[273]

Discography

Main articles: Ayumi Hamasaki discography and Ayumi Hamasaki videography

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1993 Twins Teacher Momo Tachibana
Battle Spirits Ryūko no Ken Yuri Sakazaki Voice role
1995 Sumomo mo Momo Kuriko
Miseinen Hitomi Tabata
Ladys Ladys!! Soucho Saigo no Hi Misaki
Like Grains of Sand Kasane Aihara
1996 Gakko II
2002 Tsuki ni Shizumu Minamo Hamasaki's song "Voyage" was the theme song for this movie.
2007 Distance Love Herself Short film based on her songs "Glitter" and "Fated".

Concerts

New Year's Eve concerts

Concert tours

Video games/software

  • Visual Mix Ayumi Hamasaki Dome Tour 2001 (PlayStation 2)[275]
  • A-TYPE ayumi hamasaki touch typing software (March 29, 2002, e frontier, Windows)[276]

Awards

Main article: List of awards received by Ayumi Hamasaki

See also

Footnotes

  1. ^ a b Oricon does not count Nothing from Nothing, released by Nippon Columbia, among Hamasaki's albums.
  2. ^ This last record is shared with Pink Lady, Namie Amuro, and Hikaru Utada.
  3. ^ Original text: "このシングルは2001年9月11に米国で発生した同時多発テロを追悼するために企画され、リリースと同時に日本で話題を集めたチャリティーシングル『song+nation』の3枚だ。"
    "まず、浜崎あゆみとKEIKOがデュエットした『a song is born』が2001年12月12日にリリースされた。"
  4. ^ All sales and charting positions in this article apply only to Japan or Japan's Oricon charts unless otherwise stated.
  5. ^ a b Two of Hamasaki's songs released prior to Rainbow, "Love: Since 1999" and "Audience" used English. However, the lyrics of "Love (Since 1999)" were not written by Hamasaki, and the only English in "Audience" is the word "yes"; therefore these songs are usually not counted among her songs using English.[55]
  6. ^ Original text from Cawaii: "英語を解禁にしようと思ったのは、アルバムの「Rainbow」からなんだけど、あのころMTVなどで賞をいただいてアジアでパフォーマンスするっていうようをことか何回か続いたの。そのときに、日本語だとやっぱけ傳れってをいかもっていう気がしちゃって、単純な少女はやっぱけ世界共通語だよな~っで思ったんだよね。"
  7. ^ Original text from Oricon Style: "今回、正直にとか自由にっていうことはずっと頭の中にありましたね。だから、いいことを書 こうとか感動してもらおうとか、希望を持ってもらおうっていうようをことは一切意誠していなくて。単純に、ただ正直に書いていこうというだけでした。"
  8. ^ a b (Miss)understood is listed as a million-seller by the RIAJ, but the RIAJ's certification is based on the number of albums shipped to retailers; Oricon gathers its tallies from the retailers themselves.
  9. ^ I Am... sold over 2 million copies;[31] Rainbow sold a little over 1.8 million copies.[72]
  10. ^ Literally "cheer songs for girls". Original text from Vivi: "'Secret'。 その中には、女のコのチアソングとも言える"
  11. ^ Original text from Vivi: "今回のアルバムは、はじめはミニアルバムのはずだったのを急フルアルバムに變更 したもの。傳えたいにことか、ある日を境にふねーっと溢れてきて、これは歌にして傳えなきゃ思って、詞は1日に3曲、きた1日に2曲つてハイペスで書き上げたの。"
  12. ^ Hamasaki's first-week sales were the highest for that week (the first week of January). However, Oricon's year only has fifty-one "weeks"—the first two of the year are combined. Kobukuro's sales for the combined two weeks were slightly higher than Hamasaki's, giving them the number-one position.[88][89]
  13. ^ For a comprehensive list of Hamasaki's Avex-sanctioned remixes released in Japan, see Hamasaki's discography at mu-mo.net Archived January 16, 2009, at archive.today.
  14. ^ This is the symbol:  . It is used either as a substitute for the letter a or to represent Hamasaki's name. The titles of six albums, Rainbow, A Best, A Ballads, A Best 2 -White-, A Best 2 -Black-, and A Complete use this symbol; the titles of these albums appearing as R INBOW,   Best,   Ballads,   Best 2 -White-,   Best 2 -Black-, and   Complete. (Dashes are commonly used in Japanese script to enclose subtitles.)

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Further reading

  • Ayu Press Crew (あゆ報道班) (2005). Secrets of Ayumi Hamasaki (浜崎あゆみの秘密). Data House (データハウス). ISBN 978-4-88718-851-8.
  • 富坂 剛 (2005). Ayumi Hamasaki Pure Stories (浜崎あゆみPure Stories). R's Publishing (アールズ出版). ISBN 978-4-901226-99-8.
  • 本郷陽二 (2003). Ayumi Hamasaki Stories (今輝く歌姫たち 浜崎あゆみ物語). Chobun (汐文社). ISBN 978-4-8113-7623-3.

External links

  •   Media related to Ayumi Hamasaki at Wikimedia Commons
  • Official website (in Japanese)

March 05, 2023
ayumi, hamasaki, 浜崎あゆみ, hamasaki, ayumi, born, october, 1978, japanese, singer, songwriter, record, producer, actress, model, spokesperson, entrepreneur, 2002, hamasaki, earned, nickname, empress, popularity, japan, throughout, asia, well, being, referred, voi. Ayumi Hamasaki 浜崎あゆみ Hamasaki Ayumi born October 2 1978 is a Japanese singer songwriter record producer actress model spokesperson and entrepreneur By 2002 Hamasaki had earned the nickname Empress of J pop due to her popularity in Japan and throughout Asia as well as being referred to as the voice of the lost generation 1 2 3 Due to her success and relevance throughout her career she is considered one of the top solo female artists of the Heisei era for her influence on the music industry and various fashion trends 4 Ayumi Hamasaki浜崎あゆみHamasaki in London 2010 BornAyumi Hamasaki 濱﨑 歩 1978 10 02 October 2 1978 age 44 Fukuoka Fukuoka Prefecture JapanOther namesAyuCreaOccupationsSingersongwriterrecord produceractressmodelspokespersonentrepreneurSpouse s Manuel Schwarz m 2011 div 2012 wbr Tyson Bodkin m 2014 div 2016 wbr Children2Musical careerGenresJ poppopdanceelectronicrockYears active1993 presentLabelsNippon ColumbiaAvex TraxWebsitewww wbr avex wbr jp wbr ayuSignatureBorn and raised in Fukuoka Fukuoka Prefecture Hamasaki moved to Tokyo at 14 in 1993 to pursue a career in singing and acting In 1998 Hamasaki released her debut single Poker Face fn 1 and debut major label album A Song for The album debuted at the top of the Oricon charts and remained there for five weeks selling over a million copies fn 1 This rapid rise to fame is typically attributed to her insightful style of lyric writing in contrast to her young age this would continue to be a defining aspect of her work listeners praising her poetic way of conveying relatable subjects 5 Her next ten albums shipped over a million copies in Japan with her third Duty selling nearly three million A Best her first compilation album further established her position as a crowning artist with more than four million copies sold in Japan 6 7 It was at this time that she represented more than 40 of her record label s income 8 After A Best Hamasaki went on to experiment with her music style and lyricism incorporating English into her work from Rainbow onwards Later albums would range from electronic dream pop to rock genres with Hamasaki herself saying she does not feel tied to follow music trends instead focusing on what she enjoys and wants to create whether it is trendy or not 9 This perspective would continue to resonate with the public throughout her career with her albums consistently placing in the top ten of the Oricon charts to present day she currently holds the record for the most albums to place in the top ten by a female artist in Japan with 54 of her releases reaching that distinction 10 Hamasaki has sold over 60 94 million units as of 2019 making her the best selling Japanese solo artist in history 11 12 13 14 Hamasaki has several domestic record achievements for her singles such as the most number one hits by a female artist 38 the most consecutive number one hits by a solo artist 25 15 and the most million sellers 16 fn 2 From 1999 to 2010 Hamasaki had at least two singles each year topping the charts 17 Hamasaki is also the first female recording artist to have ten studio albums since her debut to top the Oricon and the first artist to have a number one album for 13 consecutive years since her debut 18 19 In addition to this Hamasaki s remix albums Super Eurobeat Presents Ayu ro Mix and Ayu mi x II Version Non Stop Mega Mix are recognized as two of the best selling remix albums of all time worldwide 20 Contents 1 Life and career 1 1 1978 1997 Childhood and early endeavors 1 2 1998 1999 Musical beginnings A Song for xx Loveppears 1 3 2000 2002 Duty A Best I Am Rainbow 1 4 2003 2006 My Story Miss Understood Secret 1 5 2007 2008 A Best 2 Guilty A Complete 1 6 2009 2011 Next Level Rock n Roll Circus Love Songs Five 1 7 2012 2013 15th anniversary Party Queen Love Again A Summer Best 1 8 2014 2015 Colours A One Sixxxxxx 1 9 2016 2017 Made in Japan 1 10 2018 2020 20th anniversary Trouble M Aisubeki Hito ga Ite 1 11 2021 2022 A Ballads 2 1 12 2023 25th anniversary Remember you 2 Artistry 2 1 Lyrics 2 2 Musical style 2 3 Videos and stage 3 Public image and legacy 4 Other activities 4 1 Ayuready 4 2 Branded products 4 3 Philanthropy 4 4 Product endorsements 5 Personal life 5 1 Hearing loss 6 Discography 7 Filmography 8 Concerts 8 1 New Year s Eve concerts 8 2 Concert tours 9 Video games software 10 Awards 11 See also 12 Footnotes 13 References 14 Further reading 15 External linksLife and career Edit1978 1997 Childhood and early endeavors Edit Born in Fukuoka Fukuoka Prefecture Hamasaki was raised as an only child by her mother and grandmother Her father had left the family when she was three and never again came into contact with her 21 22 Hamasaki s mother worked to support the family so Hamasaki was primarily taken care of by her grandmother 21 She described herself as a tomboy when she was a teenager and as a strange kid who liked to be alone 23 At age seven Hamasaki began modeling for local institutions such as banks to supplement the family s income She continued this career path by leaving her family at fourteen and moving to Tokyo as a model under SOS a talent agency 21 Her modeling career did not last long SOS eventually deemed her too short for a model and transferred her to Sun Music a musicians agency Under the name of Ayumi Hamasaki released a rap EP Nothing from Nothing on the Nippon Columbia label in 1995 She was dismissed from the label when the album failed to chart on the Oricon 24 After this failure Hamasaki took up acting and starred in B movies such as Ladys Ladys Sōcho Saigo no Hi and television dramas such as Miseinen which were poorly received by the public 22 25 From August 1995 to March 1996 Hamasaki also co hosted the SoundLink magazine Hōkago no Ōsama After school King for the Nintendo Satellaview once a week with Shigeru Izumiya 26 27 Growing dissatisfied with her job Hamasaki quit acting and moved in with her mother who had recently moved to Tokyo 21 Hamasaki initially earned good grades in junior high school Eventually she lost faith in the curriculum thinking that the subjects were of no use to her Her grades worsened as she refused to put her mind to her studies While living in Tokyo she attempted to further her studies at Horikoshi Gakuen a high school for the arts but dropped out in the first year Hamasaki did not attend school or have a job so she spent much of her time shopping at Shibuya boutiques and dancing at Velfarre an Avex owned disco club 21 22 At Velfarre she was introduced to her future producer Max Matsuura through a friend After hearing Hamasaki sing karaoke Matsuura offered her a recording deal but Hamasaki suspected ulterior motives and turned the offer down 22 He persisted and succeeded in recruiting her for the Avex label in the following year 22 Hamasaki started vocal training but skipped most of her classes after finding her instructors too rigid and the classes dull 22 When she mentioned this to Matsuura he sent her to New York to train her vocals under another method While abroad Hamasaki frequently corresponded with Matsuura and impressed him with her style of writing On her return to Japan he suggested that she try writing her own lyrics 22 1998 1999 Musical beginnings A Song for xx Loveppears Edit Hamasaki made her debut under Avex at 19 on April 8 1998 with the single Poker Face It and the following four singles were not major hits however each release was better than the last thus gradually increasing her exposure and presence on the market Hamasaki s debut album A Song for released on January 1 1999 was unassuming 28 the tracks composed by Yasuhiko Hoshino Akio Togashi of Da Pump and Mitsuru Igarashi of Every Little Thing were cautious pop rock songs 22 28 However Hamasaki s lyrics introspective observations about her feelings and experiences that focused on loneliness and individualism resonated with the Japanese public 29 The songs gained Hamasaki a growing following and the release of the album was a success it topped the Oricon charts for five weeks and sold over a million copies 24 30 31 For her achievements she earned a Japan Gold Disc Award for Best New Artist of the Year 32 With Ayu mi x March 1999 the first of a series of remix albums Hamasaki began moving beyond the pop rock of A Song for and began to incorporate different styles including trance dance and orchestra 28 Hamasaki began to experiment with different musical styles in her singles as well releasing dance tunes and ballads as well as remixes on the singles which spanned reggae and house The singles were milestones Hamasaki earned her first number one single Love Destiny and first million selling single A 17 33 Her second studio album Loveppears November 1999 not only topped the Oricon charts it sold nearly 3 million copies 30 The album also showcased a change in Hamasaki s lyrics Though the lyrics of Loveppears still dealt with loneliness many of them were written from a third person perspective 34 In support of Loveppears she held her first tour Ayumi Hamasaki Concert Tour 2000 A A Film for XX is the first video clip collection by Ayumi Hamasaki it was released on September 15 1999 2000 2002 Duty A Best I Am Rainbow Edit From April to June 2000 Hamasaki released the Trilogy a series of singles consisting of Vogue Far Away and Seasons The lyrics of these songs focused on hopelessness a reflection of Hamasaki s disappointment that she had not expressed herself thoroughly in any of her previous lyrics and a sense of shame of her public image 35 Likewise many of the songs she wrote for her subsequent studio album Duty September 2000 involved feelings of loneliness chaos confusion and the burden of her responsibilities She described her feelings after the writing as unnatural and nervous 21 36 The musical style was darker as well in contrast with Loveppears Duty was a rock influenced album with only one dance song Audience 21 37 Duty resonated with fans the Trilogy were hit singles Seasons was a million seller and the album became Hamasaki s best selling studio album 38 39 At the end of 2000 Hamasaki held her first New Year countdown concert at the Yoyogi National Gymnasium In 2001 Avex forced Hamasaki to release her first compilation album A Best on March 28 putting the album in competition with Hikaru Utada s second studio album Distance The competition between the two singers which both claimed was merely a creation of their record companies and the media was supposedly the reason for the success of the albums both sold over 5 million copies 40 In support of Duty and A Best Hamasaki held a tour of Japan s domes making her one of few top drawer Japanese artists to hold a concert at the Tokyo Dome 41 I Am January 2002 marked several milestones for Hamasaki Hamasaki increased her control over her music by composing all of the songs on the album under the pseudonym Crea of which the 2000 single M was the first Connected November 2002 and A Song Is Born December 2001 were the exceptions 42 I Am also showed evolution in Hamasaki s lyrical style it was a retreat from the themes of loneliness and confusion of some of her earlier songs 43 Moved by the September 11 attacks Hamasaki revised her vision of I Am focusing on issues such as faith and world peace A Song Is Born in particular was directly influenced by the events 43 44 The single a duet with Keiko Yamada was released as part of Avex s non profit Song Nation project which raised money for charity 45 46 fn 3 She also dropped the planned cover and opted instead to be portrayed as a peace muse explaining I had a completely different idea for the cover at first We d already reserved the space decided the hair and makeup and everything But after the incident as is typical of me I suddenly changed my mind I knew it wasn t the time for gaudiness for elaborate sets and costumes It sounds odd coming from me but I realize what I say and how I look has a great impact 44 The outlook inspired by the September 11 attacks extended beyond I Am In 2002 Hamasaki held her first concert outside Japan at the MTV Asia music awards ceremony in Singapore 44 47 a move interpreted as the beginning of a campaign prompted by a sluggish Japanese market 48 49 At the ceremony she received the award for Most Influential Japanese Singer in Asia 47 In support of I Am Hamasaki held two tours Ayumi Hamasaki Arena Tour 2002 A and Ayumi Hamasaki Stadium Tour 2002 A 50 In November 2002 as Ayu she released her first European single Connected a trance song from I Am composed by DJ Ferry Corsten It was released in Germany on the Drizzly label 51 Hamasaki continued to release singles all of them remixes of previously released songs in Germany on Drizzly until 2005 52 In April 2002 Hamasaki released the single Free amp Easy In collaboration with the magazine Free amp Easy Hamasaki also released Hamasaki Republic a photobook that was actually a special issue of Free amp Easy in conjunction with the single H Hamasaki s next single became the best selling single of 2002 fn 4 53 Hamasaki released her last single of 2002 Voyage on September 26 In lieu of a regular length music video the short film Tsuki ni Shizumu starring Hamasaki was created for Voyage and was released at a select theater in Shibuya Hamasaki s next studio album Rainbow December 2002 was her first to use English lyrics After performing at the 2002 MTV Asia music awards Hamasaki felt that by writing only Japanese lyrics she was not able to bring her message to other countries Realizing that English was a common global language she included English lyrics in three songs 54 fn 5 fn 6 The album was stylistically diverse Hamasaki included rock and trip hop influenced tracks as well as summery up tempo and grand gothic songs and experimented with new techniques such as gospel choruses and the yells of an audience The lyrics were also varied themes in the album included freedom the struggles of women and a summer that ends in sadness 56 2003 2006 My Story Miss Understood Secret Edit In 2003 Hamasaki released three singles amp Forgiveness and No Way to Say To celebrate the release of her thirtieth single Forgiveness Hamasaki held the A Museum concert at the Yoyogi National Gymnasium 57 Her mini album Memorial Address December 2003 was her first album to be released in CD DVD format in addition to the regular CD only format a decision that came from her increased interest in the direction of her music videos 58 Like her previous albums Memorial Address topped the Oricon chart and sold over a million copies 59 60 Sales of Hamasaki s singles began to wane Although all three of the album s singles topped the Oricon charts amp was Hamasaki s last single to sell over 500 000 copies 61 Hamasaki in Taiwan 2007By the end of her Arena Tour 2003 2004 Hamasaki had grown dissatisfied with her position in Avex she felt that the company was treating her as a product instead of a person 62 Along with her dissatisfaction over her last two studio albums which she thought had been rushed this led her to begin work on My Story December 2004 early In contrast with her previous albums My Story had no set theme nor did Hamasaki attempt to write something good or even something that would give people hope rather she simply wrote freely and honestly 62 fn 7 As a result the album contained mostly autobiographical lyrics about her emotions and reminiscences of her career She approached the composition of the music with the same freedom as the lyrics with the album s notable rock overtones expressing her liking for rock music 63 She was so pleased with the result that she declared My Story the first album she felt satisfied with 63 My Story and its singles Moments Inspire and Carols all topped the weekly Oricon charts moreover with sales of over 1 100 000 units My Story became Hamasaki s last million selling studio album according to Oricon fn 8 64 65 From January to April 2005 Hamasaki held the nationwide My Story arena tour her first album based tour 62 Also in January she began working with Lamoureux Orchestra to create My Story Classical a classical version of My Story the album served as an alter ego of the mostly aggressive My Story The orchestra also created a classical version of A Song Is Born which was included on My Story Classical and which Hamasaki performed at the opening of the Expo 2005 66 Miss understood January 2006 Hamasaki s seventh studio album showed new musical directions 67 Wanting to sing a tune like those of the group Sweetbox Hamasaki obtained the permission of Sweetbox composer Roberto Geo Rosan to use demo songs he had intended to use in Sweetbox s upcoming album She edited the songs to fit her personal vision rewriting the lyrics and rearranging some of the songs 67 The result was more musically diverse than the previous album Miss understood included ballads funk dance pop R amp B and rock songs 68 69 All of Miss understood s singles reached the top of the Oricon Bold amp Delicious became Hamasaki s twenty fifth number one single tying her with Seiko Matsuda for the record of most number one singles by a solo female artist 70 Though Miss understood also reached the top of the charts Oricon stated that it sold fewer than a million copies Hamasaki s first studio album to do so 71 fn 9 fn 8 In support of the album Hamasaki held the Miss understood arena tour which spanned three months with thirty concerts from Saitama on March 11 2006 to Yoyogi on June 11 2006 73 Hamasaki s first single of 2006 Startin became Hamasaki s twenty sixth number one single setting a new record for most number one singles held by a solo female artist 74 The subsequent studio album Secret was released in November 2006 75 Secrets was appropriately the theme of the album the album also explored strong female figures love and sadness songs depicted the artist s struggles and were written to encourage women 76 fn 10 Although Secret was originally intended to be a mini album Hamasaki began brimming with things to say while producing the album and wrote five more songs 76 fn 11 The album consisted mostly of rock songs and ballads to complement these Hamasaki experimented with new vocal techniques 75 The album also topped the Oricon weekly charts making Hamasaki the only artist to have eight consecutive number one studio albums 77 2007 2008 A Best 2 Guilty A Complete EditOn February 28 2007 Hamasaki released A Best 2 a pair of compilation albums containing songs from I Am to Miss understood The two versions White and Black debuted at the first and second positions on the Oricon weekly charts making Hamasaki the first female artist in 36 years to hold the top two positions on any Oricon album chart 78 At the end of 2007 the pair became Japan s fifth and seventh best selling albums of the year respectively 79 In support of A Best 2 and Secret Hamasaki held the four month long Tour of Secret from March to the end of June Her foreign fanbase highly anticipated the concerts and tickets for the Taipei and Hong Kong performances sold out in less than three hours 80 81 Hamasaki in Paris for the filming of the music video for Mirrorcle World In July 2007 Hamasaki released her first single in over a year Glitter Fated A short film Distance Love was used as the music video for Glitter and Fated The film shot in Hong Kong co starred Hong Kong actor Shawn Yue as Hamasaki s romantic interest 82 Glitter Fated and the following single Talkin 2 Myself reached the top of their respective charts continuing Hamasaki s streak of number one singles 83 In December Hamasaki released her first digital only single Together When which topped the RIAJ s monthly download chart 84 85 Unlike its predecessors the writing of Hamasaki s ninth studio album Guilty January 2008 was not an emotional experience for her nor did it have a set theme However she said later that the album s tracks appeared to tell a story 36 Most of the songs were dark the album had a notable rock tinge 36 37 It contained some upbeat dance tracks and ballads though the latter also had rock overtones 86 87 Guilty peaked at the number two position on the weekly Oricon charts making it Hamasaki s first studio album not to reach the top and ended Hamasaki s streak of eight consecutive number one albums fn 12 90 Guilty was later released as a digital album in 26 countries outside Japan 19 of them Western nations That along with Hamasaki s decision to employ western DJs such as The Young Punx Coldcut Para One and Armand Van Helden for her 2008 remix albums Ayu mi x 6 Gold and Ayu mi x 6 Silver has been interpreted as her first major step into the global market 91 In April 2008 to commemorate her tenth anniversary in Avex Hamasaki released the single Mirrorcle World it topped the Oricon making Hamasaki the only female solo artist to have a number one single every year for ten consecutive years 17 Hamasaki also held her second tour of Asia Asia Tour 2008 10th Anniversary to celebrate her tenth anniversary From April until June she toured Japan holding seventeen concerts On September 10 2008 Hamasaki released A Complete All Singles a compilation album that includes the A sides of all her singles along with previously unreleased footage from her A nation concerts which became the 8th best selling album of 2008 92 2009 2011 Next Level Rock n Roll Circus Love Songs Five Edit Hamasaki s next two singles Days Green December 2008 and Rule Sparkle February 2009 continued Hamasaki s streak of number one singles Rule is used as the international theme song for the film Dragonball Evolution 93 The subsequent studio album Next Level was released on March 25 2009 in several formats CD CD DVD 2CD DVD and a two gigabyte USB flash drive 94 95 Sonically Next Level was mainly an electronic dance album 96 Next Level reached the top of the Oricon charts making Hamasaki the only artist to have a number one album every year for eleven years in a row since her debut 19 However the album was only certified double platinum making it Hamasaki s lowest selling studio album to that date 97 On August 12 2009 Hamasaki released her 46th single Sunrise Sunset Love Is All Sunrise Love Is All one of the A sides is being used as the opening theme song for the Japanese television drama Dandy Daddy 98 The single reached the top of the weekly charts making it her 21st consecutive 33rd total number one single Sunrise Sunset is also her 44th single to enter the Top 10 making Hamasaki the artist with the most Top 10 singles ever 99 Hamasaki s third single of the year You Were Ballad was released on December 29 2009 Hamasaki s eleventh studio album Rock n Roll Circus was released on April 14 2010 Though the album contained a few powerful and melodramatic gothic rock tracks it was mainly pure and classic J pop with pop rock songs and ballads 100 The album topped the charts making Hamasaki the first female solo artist in twenty years to have ten number one original studio albums 101 Hamasaki also began expanding her online presence setting up accounts on MySpace Ustream and Twitter 102 103 In July entertainment company Livespire announced that Hamasaki s 2009 Next Level tour would be shown in 3D at Toho cinemas nationwide beginning on August 28 104 105 106 Hamasaki during her 2010 concert tour Rock n Roll Circus 7 Days Special On July 14 Hamasaki released her forty eighth single Moon Blossom The single was released as the first of a three part project to celebrate her yet unreleased fiftieth single 107 The two other singles in the project her forty ninth and fiftieth singles respectively Crossroad and L were released within a week of each other Crossroad on September 22 and L on September 29 108 Crossroad was composed by Tetsuya Komuro and its coupling was her cover version of Komuro s band TM Network s 1988 song Seven Days War which was her first cover of a male song 109 The three singles all topped the Oricon becoming Hamasaki s twenty third twenty fourth and twenty fifth consecutive number one singles and setting a new record for the most consecutive number one singles by any female artist solo or group as well as by any solo artist 15 On December 22 Hamasaki released her twelfth original studio album Love Songs On the same day Naoya Urata of AAA released his debut solo single Dream On The song which featured Hamasaki was written and produced by her marking the first record she produced for another singer 110 Love Songs and Dream On both reached the top spots on their respective Oricon charts Love Songs became Hamasaki s fourth consecutive and seventeenth total number one album The album also marked Hamasaki s thirteenth consecutive year with a number one album breaking her previous record 111 In February 2011 it was announced that her arena tour of the year Hotel Love Songs would start in April Shortly after the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami hit it was announced that the tour was rescheduled to start in late May and the tour was renamed to Power of Music 112 Deeply affected by the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami devastation Hamasaki decided to collaborate with fashion magazine Vivi with the sale of charity shirts and the profits going to help the victims in the devastation On April 20 2011 Hamasaki simultaneously released four new remix albums Ayu mi x 7 House Acoustic Orchestra Trance 4 Ayu ro Mix 4 and a Limited Complete Box Set which were also released internationally on iTunes 113 On that same day Hamasaki also released 2010 Rock n Roll Circus Tour and A 50 Singles Live Selection which topped the weekly chart at No 1 and No 2 respectively The simultaneous releases made Hamasaki the first artist ever to have 4 albums in Oricon s top 10 and also the first artist to hold 2 top positions in the Oricon DVD chart 114 Their original release date of March 30 was postponed due to the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami and was pushed back to April 20 instead 115 On April 21 2011 it was announced that she would perform in a nation 10th Anniversary for Life Charge amp Go 116 On May 4 it was announced that she broke another record the female artist with the highest DVD sales with 2 313 000 117 On August 31 Hamasaki released her second mini album Five her first since Memorial Address in 2003 This was her first album to have no singles released Five topped the Oricon Charts for 2 consecutive weeks her first to do so since Miss understood The lead song Progress was used as a theme song for the videogame Tales of Xillia 118 The album also featured collaborations with singers Juno and Naoya Urata from AAA This album managed to be certified Gold by RIAJ making Hamasaki s first album not to be certified Platinum 119 Complete Clip Box 1998 2011 consisting all her music videos from her first single Poker Face until her latest mini album Five was released on January 1 2012 120 How Beautiful You Are was later released as the theme song for a drama Saigo Kara Nibanme no Koi and also Hamasaki s second digital single 55th single overall on February 8 121 Hamasaki described the song as a mid tempo ballad containing feelings of gratitude towards another person 122 2012 2013 15th anniversary Party Queen Love Again A Summer Best EditIn 2012 The International 3D Society announced the winners of its 2012 3D Creative Arts Awards with Hamasaki receiving an award for Electronic Broadcast Media Television Live Event for her A3D Ayumi Hamasaki Arena Tour 2009 A Next Level tour 123 124 Hamasaki bottom center in London with a group of European fansOn March 21 Hamasaki released her thirteenth studio album Party Queen which was recorded entirely in London Its title track is inspired by the British slang of being a party queen someone who is partying hard and looks to be doing well but is emotionally self destructing 125 The album peaked at number two on the Oricon charts becoming her second studio album to do so after 2008 s Guilty The album spanned themes of grief isolation addiction and regret with the singer using upbeat dance beats on key tracks to represent the contrast of fame glitz and glamor with personal inner turmoil she would later comment that the album cover includes callbacks to her previous work Duty as if she never succeeded in leaving the cage originally depicted on the latter s own album art During the press tour for Party Queen Hamasaki would say that songwriting had been so easy for her during this era that at one point she had considered making the release her first double album 126 On August 6 2012 Hamasaki released her sixth compilation album A Summer Best It included two new songs which were digitally released for the promotion of the album the TRF cover Happening Here and You amp Me In September 2012 it was announced that to commemorate Hamasaki s 15th anniversary in the music industry on April 8 2013 she would be releasing new material for five consecutive months starting on the 8th day of November 2012 until the 8th of March 2013 127 The first releases were two mini albums Love and Again which were put on sale on the 8th of November and December respectively The third release for the 8th of January was her compilation album A Classical which included classical arrangements of previously released songs The fourth release was Hamasaki s 14th studio album Love Again which compiled the songs included in the two previous mini albums and debuted atop the weekly Oricon Albums Chart The fifth and final release was the DVD Blu ray of her Arena Tour 2012 A Hotel Love Songs released in March 128 In April 2013 Hamasaki began her 15th Anniversary Tour A Best Live which lasted for four months until the end of July Its setlist was chosen by fans through online voting and was later released as her first live album CD on September 18 129 The DVD and Blu ray versions were released on October 30 2013 130 On December 25 2013 Hamasaki released Feel the Love Merry go round her first physical single in three years Feel the Love was composed by Tetsuya Komuro and produced by Dj Hello Kitty while Merry go round was produced by M Flo s Taku Takahashi and features rapper Verbal 131 Both songs are heavily influenced by Western dance pop music 2014 2015 Colours A One Sixxxxxx Edit In January 2014 it was announced that a new song entitled Pray was chosen to be the theme song for the anime film Osamu Tezuka s Budda 2 Owarinaki Tabi which premiered on February 8 2014 in Japan 132 The song was released digitally on January 27 2014 133 Another new song entitled Hello New Me was presented as theme song for a new season of Fuji TV drama Zoku Saigo Kara Nibanme no Koi which started broadcasting in April 2014 The song was released digitally on May 14 2014 134 From May 30 to July 6 2014 Hamasaki held her Premium Showcase Feel the Love tour on which she offered 11 concerts at 3 locations Nagoya Osaka and Tokyo 135 On this tour Hamasaki abandoned for the first time the traditional format of her previous concerts and presented an uninterrupted shorter show on which she also debuted as an aerial acrobat 136 Hamasaki s fifteenth studio album entitled Colours was released on July 2 2014 The album featured internationally renowned producers such as RedOne Rodney Jerkins Armin van Buuren and Fedde le Grand making the first time in Hamasaki s career in which primarily Western producers were appointed to produce one of her studio albums 137 Colours peaked at number five on its first week on the Oricon charts becoming Hamasaki s first studio album to debut out of the Top 3 However it also marked a new record for her as with this achievement she became the second artist in Japan s history after Yumi Matsutoya to have 47 albums within the Top 10 of the charts 138 In September 2014 Hamasaki released two recut singles from Colours Terminal and XOXO on the PlugAir platform The single was released under Linkin Park s Machine Shop Records for the American release 139 On October 18 2014 Hamasaki performed as the closing act in the A Nation premium concert held at the Marina Bay Sands MasterCard Theatres in Singapore 140 This was the second time performing in Singapore after her MTV Asia Awards performance 12 years ago On November 2 2014 Hamasaki announced through her official Facebook page that she had started recording new material composed by Tetsuya Komuro Kunio Tago and Tetsuya Yukumi for a winter ballad trilogy single 141 On November 6 2014 the title of the single was revealed to be Zutto Last Minute Walk and its release date was set for December 24 2014 142 It would later peak at number five on the Oricon charts With this achievement Hamasaki became the first solo artist in Japan s history to have 50 singles within the Top 10 of the Oricon charts As for artists in general Hamasaki became the third artist with more Top ten singles since Oricon s foundation in 1968 being surpassed by groups Morning Musume and SMAP with 57 and 53 Top ten singles respectively 143 144 On November 10 2014 it was announced that Hamasaki would be collaborating in a tribute cover album for Hikaru Utada entitled Utada Hikaru no Uta to be released on December 9 2014 145 146 For the album she contributed with a cover of Utada s 1998 single Movin on Without You which was arranged by the RedOne production team This was reportedly the track Hamasaki insisted she cover with her later stating that it was the first song she had in mind since being told of the project 147 In December 2014 Hamasaki announced that she would be not attending the New Year show Kōhaku Uta Gassen for the first time in 15 years She explained her decision stating that she wanted to lower her responsibilities and things she felt pressured to do in order to focus on the projects she had for her career mainly regarding her plans to expand her influence throughout Asia 148 On February 15 2015 Hamasaki made a surprise guest appearance during Singaporean singer JJ Lin s concert in Taipei Taiwan They performed a duet version of Hamasaki s 2000 single Seasons and announced that JJ Lin would be producing a song for Hamasaki s next studio album A One 149 Ayumi Hamasaki in Taipei 2015A One was released on April 8 2015 including singles Zutto Last Minute Walk Utada s cover Movin on Without You and JJ Lin produced song The Gift for which a promotional music video was also made Between April and July 2015 Hamasaki embarked on her Arena Tour 2015 A Cirque de Minuit tour throughout Japan which was planned as an expanded version of her previous Countdown Live concerts held in late 2014 The tour consisted of a 34 song setlist show with a duration of 3 hours and 45 minutes her longest concert held to date 150 At the final show of the aforementioned tour Hamasaki announced that she would start another tour in September this time exclusively for members of her official fan club TeamAyu The TA Limited Live Tour Hamasaki s first fan club exclusive tour in twelve years after 2003 began on September 29 2015 and included a total of 16 concerts at 7 venues 151 In April 2015 a new song entitled Step by Step began to be broadcast as the theme song of NHK TV drama Bijo to Danshi and was subsequently released as a digital single on July 1 152 It became the lead single for the later released Sixxxxxx on August 5 2015 The mini album featured six new songs including drama theme song Step by Step and Sayonara a new song featuring Taiwanese boyband SpeXial 153 Sayonara became 1 on digital downloads charts in Taiwan Hong Kong Singapore and Malaysia according to KK BOX Asia s largest digital distribution site 154 In addition Hamasaki participated as one of the headliners of the A Nation Stadium Fes 2015 held on August 30 at the Ajinomoto Stadium where she also performed a cover of Globe s hit ballad song Departures 155 Later in this same year Hamasaki recorded a cover of Globe s Many Classic Moments which was included in the group s tribute album released on December 16 2015 156 On December 23 2015 Hamasaki released a winter themed concept album entitled Winter Diary A7 Classical which included songs from her previous two albums A One and Sixxxxxx remixed with Classical arrangements and one new song Winter Diary which was produced by Tetsuya Komuro 157 Hamasaki promoted the album by starting an Instagram account that originally was stated to only be open until the end of January 2016 158 She shared pictures of the music video shooting of Winter Diary recorded in Taiwan and also the preparations for her 2015 2016 countdown live concerts 159 In December 2015 Hamasaki also contributed with the lyrics of Diary using her past composer name of Crea to the debut single of Micchie Micchie s single was released on December 23 2015 through Nippon Crown 160 2016 2017 Made in Japan Edit Hamasaki confirmed that she had been working on her seventeenth studio album for 2016 through a post published on Instagram 161 A 15th anniversary edition of Hamasaki s 2001 greatest hits album A Best was released on March 28 2016 162 In May 2016 Hamasaki started her nationwide tour Arena Tour 2016 A Made in Japan which was expanded version of her 2015 2016 Countdown Live Made in Tokyo 163 On May 11 Hamasaki made a surprise release of her 17th studio album entitled Made in Japan through music streaming website AWA where it reached 1 million legal streams five days after release 164 165 The album was released on physical formats on June 29 2016 With the album peaking at number two on the weekly Oricon chart Hamasaki became the solo artist with the most top ten albums 50 166 On September 30 2016 Hamasaki released the digital single We Are the Queens which was used as a theme song of smartphone game Clash of Queens developed by Elex Wireless Hamasaki herself starred in the TV commercial for the game which was first broadcast on September 17 167 On September 6 2017 Hamasaki released a new song entitled Words as a free download for attenders to her Just the Beginning Sacrifice tour available until November 30 through the mu mo website 168 During 2017 Hamasaki embarked on her Just the Beginning 20 Tour 2017 169 whose first leg started on May 13 2017 at Yokohama Arena through July 17 at the Osaka jō Hall Osaka The second leg of the tour entitled Just the beginning Part 2 Sacrifice commenced on September 6 at the Pacifico Yokohama National Convention Hall Yokohama and is scheduled to end on November 28 at the Shunanshi Bunka Hall Yamaguchi A third leg of the tour began on December 2 2017 at the Wakayama Prefectural Cultural Hall through February 20 2018 at the Okinawa Convention Center 170 2018 2020 20th anniversary Trouble M Aisubeki Hito ga Ite Edit Hamasaki embarked on the Power of Music 20th Anniversary arena tour from April 7 to July 22 2018 171 She announced her then upcoming seventh extended play Trouble released on August 15 2018 on the final day of the tour 172 In August 2019 popular non fiction author Narumi Komatsu released a novel about Hamasaki entitled M Aisubeki Hito ga Ite in which it was revealed that the singer had been in a relationship with her producer Max Matsuura in the early days of her debut The book was written based on interviews with Hamasaki herself and gives a rare insight in the artist s private life and her road to stardom although before the book was published the singer stated that the book combined both fact and fiction to make its own story Hamasaki also wrote a foreword to the novel which was set in present time as she prepared for her 20th anniversary and of her thoughts working with Matsuura again after the two grew apart professionally earlier in the 2010s The book instantly became a best seller and reached 1 in the charts A television drama series based on the novel aired from April to July 2020 173 A 20th anniversary edition of Hamasaki s 1999 album Loveppears was released on November 10 2019 174 On December 30 and 31 Hamasaki held her annual New Year s Eve concerts with the latter date recorded and later released as Countdown Live 2019 2020 Promised Land On February 20 the singer began Trouble Tour 2020 Saigo no Trouble The tour was suspended after only two dates due to COVID 19 pandemic restrictions imposed by the Japanese government On May 19 Hamasaki announced the cancellation of the remaining 36 dates through her official website 175 On July 4 a surprise TV commercial featuring a new song by the singer titled Ohia no Ki was broadcast after the airing of the final episode of M Aisubeki Hito ga Ite Hamasaki s first new song in two years it was also her first to have a title in Japanese instead of English The song was composed by Kazuhito Kikuchi known for having composed some of Hamasaki s signature songs such as Who and Heaven with lyrics inspired by her newborn son 176 Ohia no Ki was released on digital platforms in Japan the next day 177 178 The singer held her Premium Limited Live A Natsu no Trouble special concert without an in person audience on July 25 it was streamed live on AbemaTV 179 A new digital single Dreamed a Dream followed at the end of that month On August 29 Hamasaki took part in A Nation Online 2020 the first time Avex had streamed their annual summer festival 180 Due to the cancellation of her 2020 tour Hamasaki held an online concert named Trouble Tour 2020 A Saigo no Trouble Final on October 2 This was without an in person audience the stream being hosted by Mu mo Live 181 On December 2 the singer also performed Ohia no Ki as part of the FNS Music Festival 182 Later that same month Hamasaki planned to hold an in person Christmas concert titled Special Showcase Xmas Eve 2020 but it was later adapted to be a streaming exclusive via YouTube on December 24 183 Countdown Live 2020 2021 A Music For Life two New Year concerts for December 30 and 31 were cancelled on December 29 due to a member of staff testing positive with COVID 19 184 Hamasaki later confirmed she was following isolation instructions and had not tested positive herself 185 2021 2022 A Ballads 2 Edit Hamasaki released the compilation album A Ballads 2 on April 8 2021 which included remastered versions of 29 previously released songs as well as the single Ohia no Ki and a new cover of Yumi Matsutoya s Haru yo Koi 186 Alongside A Ballads 2 she released the digital single 23rd Monster on April 8 187 In the track Hamasaki covers the themes of public pressure self doubt and retaking control of one s own life the title in reference to it being released on the date of her own 23rd anniversary since her major label debut On June 26 2021 Hamasaki held an online concert titled Music for Life Return hosted on Mu mo Live as well as having an in person audience which reused the concept and parts of the setlist she had planned for the cancelled Countdown Live 2020 2021 A Music For Life 188 An in person exclusive concert Summer TA Party 2021 was held on August 23 at the Team Smile Toyosu Pit venue 189 After the concert ended Hamasaki announced a new tour named Asia Tour 2021 2022 A 23rd Monster despite the name there were no confirmed dates outside of Japan due to COVID 19 restrictions The tour began on October 2 at the Makuhari Event Hall Chiba On August 28 Hamasaki performed 23rd Monster on FNS Laugh amp Music 190 On October 18 the singer appeared as a guest producer on 17LIVE 4th Anniversary meets Ayumi Hamasaki judging auditioning artists alongside her own long time collaborator Yuta Nakano The winner of the program would then work with both Hamasaki and Nakano for their own debut track 191 192 Later that year Hamasaki performed both Haru yo koi and No way to say on the FNS Music Festival program December 1 193 At the end of the year her Countdown Live 2021 2022 A 23rd Monster concerts were held with an in person audience along with it being streamed online by dTV 194 In 2022 digital single Nonfiction was released on April 22 its lyrics condemning the recent uptick in false news reports and conspiracies 195 It was first revealed at Hamasaki s Asia Tour 24th Anniversary Special concert held at PIA Arena MM on April 6 and streamed through dTV the concert also had Kishidan as special guests who performed her cover of their hit One Night Carnival with the singer 196 Atsuo Nagahori of The First Times reviewed the concert concluding She continues to evolve and challenge herself as an artist and there are more people than ever drawn to keep their eyes on her citing her performances of A Song For Poker Face and Nonfiction as highlights After the concert had ended Hamasaki commented on her feelings entering her 24th anniversary year stating I hope everyone who has been on this journey whether they know me as Ayu or Ayumi Hamasaki will think I m glad I had this person in my life even if just for a moment 197 Summer Again was released on July 1 which had callbacks to previous summer single Inspire in its music video shot on Ishigaki Island 198 From July to August seven Summer TA Party 2022 concerts were held across Tokyo Osaka and Fukuoka 199 On September 11 the singer performed Nonfiction on FNS Laugh amp Music along with appearing in a comedy skit and talk section 200 Her third digital single of 2022 Mask was released on November 18 with its later released music video made in collaboration with TeamLabs 201 Hamasaki took part in the annual FNS Music Festival on December 7 performing appears and Who 202 The final show for Asia Tour 2021 2022 A 23rd Monster took place on December 10 2022 in Nagoya 203 On December 28 the singer performed Blue Bird and Nonfiction at the NTV Music Awards announcing after the show that Not Remember You will be a pre release album track available from January 1 2023 204 205 Countdown Live 2022 2023 Remember You Hamasaki s New Year s Eve concert was held on December 30 and 31 at Yoyogi National Stadium 206 The final date on December 31 was also streamed on dTV 2023 25th anniversary Remember you Edit A new album Remember You was released on January 25 Its final confirmed tracklist consisted of 14 songs which includes the seven singles released over the last two years 207 To commemorate its release Hamasaki hosted a YouTube Q amp A livestream for the first time on January 24 during the livestream she answered questions ranging from her Asia Tour to her current make up responding to both Japanese and international fans over an hour long period 208 Artistry EditLyrics Edit In the beginning I was searching for myself in my music My music was for me I didn t have the mental room to be conscious of the listener I wrote to save myself I didn t understand what it was to write songs But over time I began to see many things my influence the responsibilities that gave me Hamasaki on the new lyrical directions in I Am 44 Hamasaki s lyrics have resonated among her fans throughout her career who praise them as being honest and heartfelt and expressing determination in two surveys conducted by Oricon respondents voted Hamasaki s lyrics as their favorite aspect of her artistry 209 210 Steve McClure of The Japan Times noted that Hamasaki has developed a reputation as a thoughtful introspective lyricist Barry Walters of The Village Voice comments that Hamasaki s lyrics pack unlikely insights 28 211 Having trouble voicing her thoughts Hamasaki uses her lyrics as an outlet she draws inspiration from her own and occasionally her friends experiences and emotions and tries to put them honestly into words 212 She has stated that honesty is essential to her lyrics saying If I write when I m low it will be a dark song but I don t care I want to be honest with myself at all times 212 This meant that she did not use English lyrics until her album Rainbow as she felt that she could best express herself in Japanese fn 5 As with her musical style the themes of her lyrics have varied Her debut album A Song for dealt mostly with themes of loneliness and confusion as did her second album Loveppears Duty likewise expressed feelings of disappointment and confusion Hamasaki began to take on a more global outlook with her following albums I Am and Rainbow branching out to wider themes such as faith and peace 43 Music critic Tetsu Misaki noted a large change in her lyrics style between her debut album A Song for 1999 which mostly dealt with personal problems and her following albums Loveppears and Duty Misaki believed Hamasaki had begun thinking about her influence on society more and began writing songs with important messages she wanted to express to her listeners This was signalled by her not using first person pronouns as much and instead using the words bokura 僕ら we and tsutaeru 伝える convey Tell more often 213 As Hamasaki matured her lyrics began to express more confidence themes in her later albums included love and the struggles of women 56 68 76 With Guilty Hamasaki began to compose her lyrics not only as an exposition of her personal feelings but as encouragements for her listeners an outlook she applied in Next Level as well In songs such as Talkin 2 Myself and Mirrorcle World Hamasaki deals with the awareness and fighting spirit of surviving in a high risk age to encourage listeners In addition to personal experiences and feelings Hamasaki bases lyrics on sources such as historical events The life of Joan of Arc was the inspiration for Free amp Easy a story told to her by her friend about a saint named Mary served as the basis for M and the September 11 attacks inspired A Song Is Born 214 Evolution 2001 source source Many of Hamasaki s songs are dance tunes such as Evolution 2001 a self composed single that also has rock elements M 2000 source source M the first song composed by Hamasaki under the pseudonym Crea shifts to a relative key like most of her self composed songs 215 Bold amp Delicious 2005 source source Hamasaki took new directions on Miss understood as epitomized by the single Bold amp Delicious a funk influenced song that used a gospel style chorus Problems playing these files See media help Musical style Edit In addition to writing her own lyrics Hamasaki has also involved herself in other aspects of production such as artistic direction Though Max Matsuura is officially credited as the producer of her records he said of Hamasaki Ayu is a very meticulous worker behind the scenes A lot of the work she does by herself is more in the producer s arena I think really we should say Produced by A yumi H amasaki 216 In 2022 Matsuura would state that he began to step away from the lead producer role from around 2000 leaving Hamasaki to coordinate production herself 217 Until her single M however Hamasaki left the task of composing to her staff as she has explained I m not a professional I lack even basic knowledge about writing music 42 However she started to compose her own melodies after her staff had failed to compose a tune for M that appealed to her 21 Wanting to produce works faithful to her visions Hamasaki took control of most aspects of her artistry 43 44 I Am is representative of this stage in Hamasaki s career she directed the production of its songs videos and artwork She began to compose less after I Am whereas nearly all of I Am was her work only nine of Rainbow s fifteen tracks were composed by her She was even less involved in the composition of subsequent albums composing two tracks on Memorial Address three on My Story and one on Miss understood since Secret none of the songs on her studio albums have listed her as a composer With later albums Hamasaki also began to delegate to her staff tasks she had once handled herself 218 Hamasaki cites Madonna soul musicians Babyface and En Vogue and rock bands Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple as her influences and states that she admires Michelle Branch Kid Rock Joan Osborne Seiko Matsuda Rie Miyazawa and Keiko Yamada 42 212 these diverse influences have led to the variety of her own music Hamasaki began commissioning remixes of her songs early in her career and this practice also influenced the diversity of her music 28 Found on many of her records these remixes span different genres of electronic dance music including Eurobeat house and trance as well as acoustic genres such as classical and traditional Chinese music She has employed Western as well as Japanese musicians among those she has worked with are Above amp Beyond the Lamoureux Orchestra of France fn 13 and traditional Chinese music ensemble Princess China Music Orchestra 219 Hamasaki has released more than a hundred original songs through them she has covered a wide range of musical styles such as dance metal R amp B progressive rock pop and classical 28 She uses different instruments and techniques including piano orchestra gospel choirs guitars traditional Japanese strings music boxes and effects such as yells claps and scratching 28 56 Videos and stage Edit Hamasaki s live performances are often lavish productions that use grand scale props 220 Performances of Mirrorcle World in her 2008 tour of Asia used a floating ship Hamasaki is often involved in the artistic direction of her music videos They are often artistic productions through which Hamasaki tries to convey the meaning or feeling of their respective songs 75 The themes of the videos are varied she has made sad and fragile or emotional videos Momentum Endless Sorrow refreshing summer videos Blue Bird Fairyland surreal or scary videos 1 Love Marionette and humorous videos Evolution Angel s Song Beautiful Fighters 54 209 Additionally many of the videos contain short storylines some of which use symbolism to convey their respective messages 209 The video of Voyage depicts Hamasaki as a woman in a mental hospital whose previous incarnation was a woman in feudal Japan who was sacrificed to the moon the video of Endless Sorrow features a young boy living in a society where speaking is forbidden by law In the video for Free amp Easy Hamasaki portrayed a twenty first century Joan of Arc to convey her message freedom cannot be easily obtained there is a price to pay for it and to express her opposition to her marrying at the time 221 the video for Ourselves featured masked people destroying effigies of Hamasaki s past such as photographs and album covers to symbolize destruction and rebirth 222 223 Additionally the videos of Fairyland My Name s Women Jewel Green and Virgin Road are among the top twenty or so most expensive music videos making Hamasaki the only non American artist to hold such a distinction 224 225 226 Hamasaki is also involved in the production and artistic direction of her live performances they like her videos are often lavish productions and use a variety of props extravagant costumes and choreographed dances She has used large video screens fireworks simulated rain drops trick stage floors and suspended devices 220 Public image and legacy EditHamasaki s lyrics and image initially gained a following predominantly among the young Generation X of Asia often referred to as the voice of the lost generation 3 227 Music critic Tetsu Misaki believed that the juxtaposition of her fashionable appearance and her personal lyrics was one of her most important selling points 213 The popularity of her music extends beyond Japan with a sizeable following across Asia 228 229 230 She began moving towards the wider Asian market in 2002 performing at the 2002 MTV Asia awards in Singapore and later taking her 2007 Tour of Secret concerts to Hong Kong Taiwan and Shanghai Hamasaki is also noted for the visual aspects of her artistry she was considered a significant fashion trendsetter in both the 2000s and 2010s with her influence extending beyond across Asia 231 232 233 While maintaining tight control over her image 2 234 235 236 Teresa Nieman of The Guardian said that Hamasaki married accessible mainstream hits with over the top costumes and high concept videos 237 Besides her frequent appearances in fashion magazines such as Vivi Popteen and Cawaii Hamasaki had often been lauded for her trendy choices in apparels and accessories Oricon repeatedly named her the Most Fashionable Female Artist 238 239 Among the trends Hamasaki has started is hime kei a look inspired by the fashions of 18th century French aristocracy along with heavily influencing the 2000s kogal subculture 240 241 242 Hamasaki s constantly changing image was apparent not only in her fashion photo shoots and commercial endorsements but also in her record covers an element she considered essential in conveying her message 43 Although Hamasaki was promoted as a girl next door at her debut she began to already evolve her public image from her second album Loveppears Its cover along with the album covers for I Am and Party Queen feature Hamasaki in states of partial nudity something which immediately matured her image and would later be seen as a running hallmark of the singer s willingness to take risks and be vulnerable in her artistry After the release of Party Queen in 2011 Hamasaki reinvented her public image by favouring soft pastel shaded concepts through the mid 2010s along with often wearing luxury loungewear 243 However she has begun to receive attention in the 2020s as a heralded icon of Y2K fashion with Hamasaki seen as the face of returning gyaru kei inspired trends 244 As she approaches her 25th anniversary there has been growing appreciation for Hamasaki s work ethic and dedication to her craft by the public Atsuo Nagahori of The First Times wrote Involved in the Japanese pop scene for now over 24 years she has never stopped touring never stopped releasing new music and has never taken a break to recharge her batteries How many artists can we say we have like that 245 Other activities EditAyuready Edit From October 2002 to March 2004 Hamasaki was also the host of her own talk and variety TV show named Ayuready on Fuji Television The talk show which aired on Saturday nights from 11 30 to midnight often featured her performing songs with guests Among the names who appeared on the program were Goto Maki Puffy and Akina Nakamori To promote the program and her album Rainbow Hamasaki opened the Rainbow House restaurant on Shōnan Beach on July 1 2003 which was open until August 31 2003 246 After almost two years the last episode of Ayuready aired in March 2004 247 Branded products Edit In 2001 Hamasaki launched her own limited run fashion brand MTRLG Material Girl the clothes were sold at MTRLG boutiques and at Mise S clusive stores 246 In 2002 Hamasaki created Ayupan a cartoon version of herself that appeared in a line of merchandise mainly figurines and in a 2003 animation For her 2007 tour Tour of Secret Hamasaki collaborated with Sanrio to create a line of merchandise Ayumi Hamasaki x Hello Kitty that featured Ayupan and Hello Kitty together 248 The merchandise included cell phone straps and Lumix cameras decorated with a picture of Hello Kitty behind Hamasaki s A logo fn 14 the former product was a result of a collaboration with Sanrio and Japanese fashion brand Ash amp Diamonds the latter a collaboration with Sanrio and Panasonic 249 Philanthropy Edit In March 2011 Hamasaki donated 30 million yen to relief efforts for the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami 250 In 2021 Hamasaki donated 10 million yen to the Japanese National Center for Global Health and Medicine receiving the Medal of Honor 251 During the 2022 typhoon aftermath in Shizuoka prefecture Hamasaki openly criticized the media for not reporting on the disaster thoroughly Over a period of three days she organized a donation point and visited Shizuoka to talk to survivors and coordinate resources 252 Product endorsements Edit Throughout her early career under Avex Hamasaki promoted products that ranged from electronics Tu Ka cell phones and Panasonic 25 to various snack foods 238 Among the products she has advertised on television are the Honda Crea scooter 253 KOSE cosmetics 238 Mister Donut donuts 254 and Boss coffee 255 Although Hamasaki initially supported the exploitation of her popularity for commercial purposes saying that it was necessary that she is viewed as a product 42 she eventually opposed Avex s decision to market her as a product rather than a person 256 Hamasaki has since avoided allowing her image to be used for widespread endorsements Personal life EditHamasaki had a seven year relationship with actor Tomoya Nagase from 2000 to 2007 The pair had known each other since co starring a TV drama in 1997 and began a romantic relationship in 2000 257 It was reported that she had intitiated the break up due to the couple disagreeing on the subject of marriage with Nagase rumoured to have been ready to propose to the singer and Hamasaki not yet being willing to shift focus from her career Hamasaki would only comment Since we ve been together for 7 years we aren t suddenly strangers to each other We keep in touch often However after so long we became more like brothers like family that kind of relationship 258 Their relationship was very popular among the general public with the two still being referred to as the perfect couple even over two decades later 259 On January 1 2011 Hamasaki announced her engagement to Austrian actor and model Manuel Schwarz whom Hamasaki met in August 2010 on the set of her music video for Virgin Road 260 On January 2 her office announced that she and Schwarz had married in the United States the day before 261 However on January 16 2012 Hamasaki announced her divorce through her fanclub website Hamasaki would go on to say that she initially planned to move to the United States where Schwarz primarily resided however her experiences watching the March 2011 Tōhoku disaster footage while being outside of Japan at the time impacted her so greatly that she felt unable to go through with a permanent relocation 262 263 On December 13 2013 it was announced on her official TeamAyu site that Hamasaki had become engaged to an American medical student whom she had been with since the spring of that year In the announcement the singer said As my partner is an ordinary student I would be very happy if you could watch over us quietly 264 265 On March 3 2014 the singer announced her second marriage on her fanclub site TeamAyu According to her agency the couple finished their marriage procedure in the United States near the end of February On February 3 Hamasaki s mother acted as her deputy and submitted the marriage registration in Japan 266 Two years later on September 11 2016 Hamasaki announced that she and her husband had separated with their divorce finalized by the end of that month 267 268 With the release of the non fiction novel M Aisubeki Hito ga Ite in August 2019 it was made public that Hamasaki had a romantic relationship with her producer Max Matsuura from 1998 to 2000 269 It was written that the reason for their break up was Hamasaki s unprecedented success with the singer abandoning her previous expectation of an early retirement deciding that their relationship should be focused on their shared dream of Ayumi Hamasaki On January 1 2020 Hamasaki announced on her official TeamAyu site that she had given birth to a beautiful angel last year having chosen to keep the pregnancy a secret until that point 270 On October 2 2020 Hamasaki announced her second pregnancy through her official TeamAyu site and in May 2021 confirmed she had given birth to her second child sometime in spring 271 Hearing loss Edit In January 2008 Hamasaki announced on her blog that an inoperable condition possibly tinnitus or Meniere s disease had caused complete deafness in her left ear 13 90 She had been diagnosed with the condition in 2006 and that the problem dated to 2000 when she developed an ear infection but continued to perform against the advice of doctors 272 273 Despite the setback Hamasaki stated that she wished to continue singing and that as a professional she wanted to deliver the best performance for everyone 272 274 On May 20 2017 she wrote that she is also losing hearing in her right ear and had experienced dizziness and nausea She vowed to continue performing writing The stage is where I belong It s the only place I really truly exist I don t know anything else 273 Discography EditMain articles Ayumi Hamasaki discography and Ayumi Hamasaki videography A Song for 1999 Loveppears 1999 Duty 2000 I Am 2002 Rainbow 2002 My Story 2004 Miss understood 2006 Secret 2006 Guilty 2008 Next Level 2009 Rock n Roll Circus 2010 Love Songs 2010 Party Queen 2012 Love Again 2013 Colours 2014 A One 2015 Made in Japan 2016 Remember You 2023 Filmography EditYear Title Role Notes1993 Twins Teacher Momo TachibanaBattle Spirits Ryuko no Ken Yuri Sakazaki Voice role1995 Sumomo mo Momo KurikoMiseinen Hitomi TabataLadys Ladys Soucho Saigo no Hi MisakiLike Grains of Sand Kasane Aihara1996 Gakko II2002 Tsuki ni Shizumu Minamo Hamasaki s song Voyage was the theme song for this movie 2007 Distance Love Herself Short film based on her songs Glitter and Fated Concerts EditNew Year s Eve concerts Edit Ayumi Hamasaki Countdown Live 2000 2001 A 2000 2001 Ayumi Hamasaki Countdown Live 2001 2002 A 2001 2002 Ayumi Hamasaki Countdown Live 2002 2003 A 2002 2003 Ayumi Hamasaki Countdown Live 2004 2005 A 2004 2005 Ayumi Hamasaki Countdown Live 2005 2006 A 2005 2006 Ayumi Hamasaki Best of Countdown Live 2006 2007 A 2006 2007 Ayumi Hamasaki Countdown Live 2007 2008 Anniversary 2007 2008 Ayumi Hamasaki Premium Countdown Live 2008 2009 A 2008 2009 Ayumi Hamasaki Countdown Live 2009 2010 A Future Classics 2009 2010 Ayumi Hamasaki Countdown Live 2010 2011 A Do It Again 2010 2011 Ayumi Hamasaki Countdown Live 2011 2012 A Hotel Love Songs 2011 2012 Ayumi Hamasaki Countdown Live 2012 2013 A Wake Up 2012 2013 Ayumi Hamasaki Countdown Live 2013 2014 A 2013 2014 Ayumi Hamasaki Countdown Live 2014 2015 A Cirque de Minuit 2014 2015 Ayumi Hamasaki Countdown Live 2015 2016 A Made In Tokyo 2015 2016 Ayumi Hamasaki Countdown Live 2016 2017 A Just The Beginning 20 2016 2017 Ayumi Hamasaki Countdown Live 2018 2019 A Trouble 2018 2019 Ayumi Hamasaki Countdown Live 2019 2020 Promised Land A 2019 2020 Ayumi Hamasaki Countdown Live 2021 2022 A 23rd Monster 2021 2022 Ayumi Hamasaki Countdown Live 2022 2023 A Remember You 2022 2023 Concert tours Edit Ayumi Hamasaki Concert Tour 2000 Vol 1 2000 Ayumi Hamasaki Concert Tour 2000 Vol 2 2000 Ayumi Hamasaki Dome Tour 2001 A 2001 Ayumi Hamasaki Arena Tour 2002 A 2002 Ayumi Hamasaki Stadium Tour 2002 A 2002 Limited Team Ayu Live Tour 2003 Ayumi Hamasaki A Museum 30th Single Collection Live 2003 Ayumi Hamasaki Arena Tour 2003 2004 A 2003 2004 Ayumi Hamasaki Arena Tour 2005 A My Story 2005 Ayumi Hamasaki Arena Tour 2006 A Miss understood 2006 Ayumi Hamasaki Asia Tour 2007 A Tour of Secret 2007 Ayumi Hamasaki Asia Tour 2008 10th Anniversary 2008 Ayumi Hamasaki Arena Tour 2009 A Next Level 2009 Ayumi Hamasaki Rock n Roll Circus Tour Final 7 Days Special 2010 Ayumi Hamasaki Power of Music 2011 A 2011 Ayumi Hamasaki Arena Tour 2012 A Hotel Love Songs 2012 Ayumi Hamasaki 15th Anniversary Tour A Best Live 2013 Ayumi Hamasaki Premium Showcase Feel the Love 2014 Ayumi Hamasaki Arena Tour 2015 A Cirque de Minuit The Final 2015 Team Ayu Limited Live Tour 2015 2015 Ayumi Hamasaki Arena Tour 2016 A Made In Japan 2016 Team Ayu Limited Live Tour 2016 2016 Ayumi Hamasaki Just the Beginning 20 Tour 2017 2017 2018 Ayumi Hamasaki Arena Tour 2018 Power of Music 20th Anniversary 2018 Ayumi Hamasaki Trouble Tour 2018 2019 A 2018 2019 Ayumi Hamasaki 21st Anniversary Power of A 3 2019 Ayumi Hamasaki Trouble Tour 2019 A Misunderstood 2019 Ayumi Hamasaki Premium Limited Live A Natsu no Trouble 2020 Ayumi Hamasaki Trouble Tour 2020 A Saigo no Trouble Final 2020 Ayumi Hamasaki Music for Life Return 2021 Ayumi Hamasaki Asia Tour 2021 2022 A 23rd Monster 2021 2022 Video games software EditVisual Mix Ayumi Hamasaki Dome Tour 2001 PlayStation 2 275 A TYPE ayumi hamasaki touch typing software March 29 2002 e frontier Windows 276 Awards EditMain article List of awards received by Ayumi HamasakiSee also Edit Asia portal Biography portal Japan portal Pop music portalList of awards received by Ayumi Hamasaki List of best selling music artists List of best selling music artists in Japan List of J pop artistsFootnotes Edit a b Oricon does not count Nothing from Nothing released by Nippon Columbia among Hamasaki s albums This last record is shared with Pink Lady Namie Amuro and Hikaru Utada Original text このシングルは2001年9月11に米国で発生した同時多発テロを追悼するために企画され リリースと同時に日本で話題を集めたチャリティーシングル song nation の3枚だ まず 浜崎あゆみとKEIKOがデュエットした a song is born が2001年12月12日にリリースされた All sales and charting positions in this article apply only to Japan or Japan s Oricon charts unless otherwise stated a b Two of Hamasaki s songs released prior to Rainbow Love Since 1999 and Audience used English However the lyrics of Love Since 1999 were not written by Hamasaki and the only English in Audience is the word yes therefore these songs are usually not counted among her songs using English 55 Original text from Cawaii 英語を解禁にしようと思ったのは アルバムの Rainbow からなんだけど あのころMTVなどで賞をいただいてアジアでパフォーマンスするっていうようをことか何回か続いたの そのときに 日本語だとやっぱけ傳れってをいかもっていう気がしちゃって 単純な少女はやっぱけ世界共通語だよな っで思ったんだよね Original text from Oricon Style 今回 正直にとか自由にっていうことはずっと頭の中にありましたね だから いいことを書 こうとか感動してもらおうとか 希望を持ってもらおうっていうようをことは一切意誠していなくて 単純に ただ正直に書いていこうというだけでした a b Miss understood is listed as a million seller by the RIAJ but the RIAJ s certification is based on the number of albums shipped to retailers Oricon gathers its tallies from the retailers themselves I Am sold over 2 million copies 31 Rainbow sold a little over 1 8 million copies 72 Literally cheer songs for girls Original text from Vivi Secret その中には 女のコのチアソングとも言える Original text from Vivi 今回のアルバムは はじめはミニアルバムのはずだったのを急フルアルバムに變更 したもの 傳えたいにことか ある日を境にふねーっと溢れてきて これは歌にして傳えなきゃ思って 詞は1日に3曲 きた1日に2曲つてハイペスで書き上げたの Hamasaki s first week sales were the highest for that week the first week of January However Oricon s year only has fifty one weeks the first two of the year are combined Kobukuro s sales for the combined two weeks were slightly higher than Hamasaki s giving them the number one position 88 89 For a comprehensive list of Hamasaki s Avex sanctioned remixes released in Japan see Hamasaki s discography at mu mo net Archived January 16 2009 at archive today This is the symbol It is used either as a substitute for the letter a or to represent Hamasaki s name The titles of six albums Rainbow A Best A Ballads A Best 2 White A Best 2 Black and A Complete use this symbol the titles of these albums appearing as R INBOW Best Ballads Best 2 White Best 2 Black and Complete Dashes are commonly used in Japanese script to enclose subtitles References Edit Takeuchi Cullen Lisa March 25 2002 Empress of Pop Time pp Splash Archived from the original on January 2 2008 Retrieved January 24 2008 a b Talk Asia Program Descriptions Turner International Asia Pacific Archived from the original on April 5 2008 Retrieved February 19 2008 a b 鈴木 智之 西田 善行 2012 失われざる十年の記憶 一九九 年代の社会学 A Decade of Unforgettable Memories Sociology in the 1990s Seikyusha Co 平成を代表する女性ソロアーティスト 誰だと思う みんなの意見 Yahoo ニュース in Japanese Retrieved December 8 2022 浜崎あゆみ デビュー10周年記念 彼女の魅力を様々な角度から徹底解剖 ORICON STYLE ミュージック June 1 2009 Archived from the original on June 1 2009 Retrieved December 9 2022 Oricon April 9 2001 Japan s Top Selling Albums in Japanese Retrieved October 25 2012 Oricon 歴代アルバム初動ランキング in Japanese Music TV Archived from the original on February 20 2012 Retrieved November 2 2012 INTERVIEW Team Ayumi Hamasaki DNA that always creates unprecedented avex com Retrieved January 12 2023 Ayumi Hamasaki s biggest regret SPH Razor December 1 2014 Archived from the original on June 13 2020 Retrieved January 15 2023 via YouTube TOMORROW X TOGETHER 7作連続 アルバム 1位 オリコンランキング ORICON NEWS Retrieved January 31 2023 オリコン 浜崎あゆみ ソロ初の総売上5000万枚超え ファンのみんなの記録 First solo artist with over 50 million in sales Oricon August 8 2012 Retrieved January 28 2017 15年間ありがとう ケータイランキング 発表 アーティスト1位はEXILE 楽曲はGReeeeN キセキ レコチョクのケータイ向け 着うた R 着うたフル R サービス12 15終了 Oricon December 13 2016 Retrieved January 28 2017 a b Japanese pop singer Ayumi Hamasaki deaf in left ear BBC News Agency January 7 2008 Archived from the original on January 10 2008 Retrieved January 7 2008 オリコン 浜崎あゆみ ソロ初の総売上5000万枚超え ファンのみんなの記録 Oricon in Japanese August 15 2012 Retrieved October 13 2012 a b 浜崎あゆみ シングル25作連続首位で歴代単独1位 松田聖子の記録22年ぶり更新 in Japanese Oricon October 5 2010 Retrieved October 4 2010 A Great Achievement Hamasaki Ayumi Ties with Akina Nakamori for the Achievement of Five Crowns in Japanese Oricon July 24 2007 Archived from the original on March 11 2008 Retrieved March 22 2008 a b c Ayu Controlling a Fierce Battle Is the First Female Singer to Have a Number One Single for Ten Consecutive Years in Japanese Oricon April 15 2008 Archived from the original on April 20 2008 Retrieved April 15 2008 Ayumi Hamasaki s Feat First to Have Eight Consecutive Original Albums in Japanese Oricon December 6 2006 Archived from the original on December 7 2008 Retrieved December 2 2008 a b Unprecedented Hamasaki Ayumi Has Attained a Number One for Eleven Years Straight Since Her Debut Oricon in Japanese March 31 2009 Archived from the original on April 2 2009 Retrieved May 2 2009 浜崎あゆみ ORICON STYLE ミュージック Archived from the original on April 14 2010 a b c d e f g h Shikano Atsushi February 20 2001 Interview with Ayumi Hamasaki Rockin on Japan in Japanese a b c d e f g h Takeuchi Cullen Lisa March 25 2002 Empress of Pop Time p 3 Archived from the original on April 3 2002 Retrieved November 28 2011 Tan Tammi October 18 2014 Ayumi Hamasaki A strange kid that liked to be alone Singapore xinmsn Archived from the original on October 20 2014 Retrieved October 20 2014 a b True Chris Ayumi Hamasaki Allmusic Retrieved April 17 2008 a b Wilce Matt Big in Japan Ayumi Hamasaki Metropolis Magazine Archived from the original on April 10 2008 Retrieved March 23 2008 スーパーファミコンアワー番組表8 1 8 31 スーパーファミコンアワー番組ガイド サテラビュー通信 in Japanese Vol 2 September 1995 pp 33 66 スーパーファミコンアワー音声連動番組ガイド3 1 3 30 サテラビュー通信 in Japanese Vol 10 April 1996 pp 40 73 a b c d e f g Walters Barry March 5 2002 Turning Japanese Point The Village Voice Archived from the original on August 5 2008 Retrieved April 19 2008 A Song for XX Beatfreak in Japanese Vol 132 January 1999 a b You Can t Top This The Straits Times Singapore Singapore Press Holdings Reuters November 25 1999 a b Siege Mentality South China Morning Post Hong Kong China SCMP Group May 13 2002 p 1 The 14th Japan Gold Disc Award 1999 RIAJ Retrieved April 17 2008 Million Selling Singles of 1999 in Japanese RIAJ Archived from the original on April 17 2008 Retrieved April 19 2008 Loveppears Beatfreak in Japanese Vol 142 November 1999 Review of Ayu s Year 2000 amp M J Point in Japanese Vol 75 December 22 2000 a b c Tsuriya Takako May 2008 Ayu 10th Year Career Anniversary Cawaii in Japanese pp 15 18 a b Tsuriya Takako November 2007 Side Face Story Cawaii in Japanese Ranking of Ayumi Hamasaki s Albums by Sales in Japanese Oricon Archived from the original on August 13 2010 Retrieved July 24 2010 Million Selling Singles of 2000 in Japanese RIAJ Archived from the original on April 18 2008 Retrieved April 19 2008 J pop Divas Fight It Out Straits Times Singapore Singapore Press Holdings Reuters April 20 2001 Rain to Perform at Prestigious Tokyo Dome Chosun Ilbo Chosun Ilbo Co April 19 2007 Retrieved July 23 2010 a b c d Takeuchi Cullen Lisa March 25 2002 I have very clear ideas of what I want Time p 2 Archived from the original on December 12 2007 Retrieved January 2 2008 a b c d e Takeuchi Cullen Lisa March 25 2002 Empress of Pop Time p 5 Archived from the original on December 28 2007 Retrieved February 2 2008 a b c d e Takeuchi Cullen Lisa March 25 2002 I have very clear ideas of what I want Time p 1 Archived from the original on February 14 2008 Retrieved February 16 2008 Song Nation in Japanese Avex Trax Archived from the original on January 20 2008 Retrieved January 24 2008 BoA and Hamasaki Ayumi Join Song Nation s South Korean Release Chosunonline com in Japanese Chosun Ilbo Co Archived from the original on December 7 2008 Retrieved December 1 2008 Paid access required to view article a b Takeuchi Cullen Lisa March 25 2002 The Many Faces of Ayu Time p 7 Archived from the original on April 15 2008 Retrieved April 17 2008 Takeuchi Cullen Lisa March 25 2002 The Many Faces of Ayu Time p 4 Archived from the original on April 16 2008 Retrieved April 17 2008 in Chinese Sin Chew Interactive 星洲互動 Ayumi s Legend and Leadership of the Young Sin Chew Daily Malaysia May 21 2002 2nd section Ayumi Hamasaki Stadium Tour 2002 A Famitsu in Japanese Enterbrain February 25 2002 Retrieved October 7 2008 Japanische Pop Diva meets Trance in German Raveline Archived from the original on June 18 2007 Retrieved July 25 2010 Neue Single mit Remixen von Armin van Buuren amp Kyau vs Albert in German Raveline Retrieved July 25 2010 dead link Million Selling Singles of 2002 in Japanese RIAJ Archived from the original on January 17 2008 Retrieved January 28 2008 a b Tsuriya Takako March 1 2007 Honey Trap Cawaii in Japanese Vol 8 no 75 pp 19 21 Takeuchi Cullen Lisa March 25 2002 Empress of Pop Time p 4 Archived from the original on March 22 2008 Retrieved March 31 2008 a b c Ayumi Hamasaki s director s notes on Rainbow Avex Marketing Inc Archived from the original on March 27 2008 Retrieved April 9 2008 Interview With Ayumi Hamasaki Casa Brutus in Japanese Vol 54 September 2004 pp 24 28 浜崎あゆみ Beat Freak Avex in Japanese No 192 January 5 2004 Million Selling Albums of 2003 RIAJ Archived from the original on January 17 2008 Retrieved January 25 2008 Yearly Album Rankings for 2004 in Japanese Oricon Archived from the original on December 14 2008 Retrieved December 1 2008 Ayumi Hamasaki Newly Released Details of Her Singles in Japanese Oricon Archived from the original on March 17 2008 Retrieved April 23 2008 a b c The First Time Stench of Being a Human Oricon Style in Japanese No 49 1275 December 27 2004 pp 17 19 a b Tsuriya Takako January 1 2005 Ayumi Hamasaki Always our Princess Cawaii in Japanese pp 10 15 Million Selling Albums of 2004 in Japanese RIAJ Archived from the original on April 18 2008 Retrieved April 9 2008 Yearly Album Rankings for 2005 in Japanese Oricon Archived from the original on December 15 2008 Retrieved December 1 2008 Igeta Satoru March 23 2005 A Classical Version of Hamasaki Ayumi s My Story Is Released Oricon Style in Japanese Oricon Retrieved November 3 2009 a b in Japanese Fuji Miho 藤井美保 January 5 2006 Ayumi Hamasaki Bold amp Delicious Pride Girlpop Vol 76 no 462 pp 16 18 a b Hayakawa Kanako January 2006 Ayumi Hamasaki Sweet in Japanese pp 18 20 Garcia Cathy A February 7 2006 Ayumi Hamasaki miss understood The Korea Times Ayumi Hamasaki the First Female Artist in Generations to Acquire a Twenty Fifth Number One Single in Japanese Oricon December 6 2005 Archived from the original on February 18 2008 Retrieved February 22 2008 Yearly Album Rankings for 2006 in Japanese Oricon December 21 2006 Archived from the original on April 8 2008 Retrieved March 28 2008 This is according to its sales while in the Top 30 from the fifth week of December 2002 to the fourth week of February 2003 Ranks Oricon Use the drop down boxes under Find Past Album Rankings アルバム 過去ランキング検索 Ayumi Hamasaki Arena Tour 2006 in Japanese Avex Marketing Inc Archived from the original on March 13 2006 Retrieved February 20 2008 Ayumi Hamasaki Completely Dominates in Three Major Areas in Japanese Oricon March 13 2006 Archived from the original on February 18 2008 Retrieved February 22 2008 a b c Secret Special Interview in Japanese Avex Trax Archived from the original on October 19 2008 Retrieved October 8 2008 a b c Nabeshima Himiko January 2007 Ayu s 14 Secrets Vivi in Japanese Vol 76 pp 24 29 BoA Independently Achieves the Number Two Rank The Jackson Siblings Enter the Top 10 Chart in Japanese Oricon March 5 2008 Archived from the original on March 11 2008 Retrieved April 22 2008 Ayu Holds the Top Two Ranks A Feat Unaccomplished in 36 Years Sponichi Annex in Japanese Mainichi Shimbun March 6 2007 Archived from the original on March 12 2007 Retrieved January 7 2008 Annual Ranking Special Edition 2007 Annual Album Ranking in Japanese Oricon December 18 2007 Archived from the original on January 24 2008 Retrieved January 24 2008 Amazing Charm Nine Thousand Seats at Hamasaki Ayumi s Taipei Concert Sold out in Less Than Two Hours Nownews in Chinese Chunghwa United Telecom Group February 13 2007 Archived from the original on December 30 2007 Retrieved February 12 2008 Tickets to Hamasaki Ayumi s Show at the Red Hall Sold Out in Three Hours EastDay in Chinese February 9 2007 Archived from the original on March 4 2009 Retrieved February 22 2008 Ayumi Hamasaki s First Kiss in Japanese Oricon Archived from the original on July 22 2008 Retrieved July 22 2008 Chart Ranking for This Week in Japanese Oricon September 25 2007 Archived from the original on March 3 2008 Retrieved February 12 2008 Record Association Monthly Download Charts for December in Japanese RIAJ Archived from the original on January 22 2008 Retrieved January 24 2008 Ayu s New Song Is a Digital Limited Release Nikkan Sports in Japanese Nikkan Sports Newspaper November 20 2007 Archived from the original on December 10 2008 Retrieved December 1 2008 Bang Wei Tin April 2008 Review of Guilty Teenage Magazine Singapore Key Edition Toh Christopher January 24 2008 Review Guilty Today Singapore MediaCorp Press Ayu Gets the Number Two Spot By a Small Difference So Her Record Is 8 Consecutive Albums Sponichi Annex in Japanese Mainichi Shimbun January 8 2008 Archived from the original on January 16 2008 Retrieved December 2 2008 Ayu Reveals That She Has Gone Deaf in Her Left Ear Sponichi Annex in Japanese Mainichi Shimbun January 7 2008 Archived from the original on January 16 2008 Retrieved June 24 2008 a b Connell Ryan January 27 2008 Pushing 30 rivals circling and now deaf in one ear it s tough at the top for Ayu Sunday Mainichi Archived from the original on February 6 2008 Retrieved February 5 2009 Ayu Global Sales of Her Remix Albums Sponichi Annex in Japanese Mainichi Shimbun March 7 2008 Archived from the original on March 10 2008 Retrieved March 12 2008 Ayumi Hamasaki to release best of album to mark 10th anniversary of debut Japan Today July 26 2008 Archived from the original on November 18 2008 Retrieved July 26 2008 Ayu to Sing the International Theme Song of Dragonball Sankei Sports in Japanese Sankei Digital Inc December 10 2008 p 2 Archived from the original on December 12 2008 Retrieved December 10 2008 Ayu s USB album in Japanese Sponichi Annex Archived from the original on February 13 2009 Retrieved February 12 2009 Ayumi Hamasaki official website news and information in Japanese Avex Archived from the original on February 14 2009 Retrieved February 13 2009 Greenberg Adam Next Level Allmusic Retrieved September 2 2010 Gold Certified Works of March 2009 in Japanese RIAJ Archived from the original on May 5 2009 Retrieved May 14 2009 Ayumi Hamasaki to sing first drama theme song in six years Oricon Retrieved July 2 2009 Ayumi Hamasaki Has the Most Top 10 Singles in History with 44 Titles in Japanese Oricon August 18 2009 Retrieved April 3 2010 Eremenko Alexey Rock n Roll Circus Allmusic Retrieved September 2 2010 Hamasaki Ayumi s Tenth Number One Original Album in Japanese Oricon Retrieved April 20 2010 Hamasaki Ayumi One New Web Experiment After Another in Japanese MSN April 13 2010 Archived from the original on April 16 2010 Retrieved April 20 2010 Hamasaki Ayumi Tries an Experiment on the Internet Sina com in Chinese SINA Corporation April 15 2010 Archived from the original on July 20 2011 Retrieved April 20 2010 2010 News Livespire jp Sony Corporation Archived from the original on August 18 2010 Retrieved August 6 2010 Release Information A3D ayumi hamasaki ARENA TOUR 2009 A NEXT LEVEL Livespire jp Sony Corporation Archived from the original on August 18 2010 Screening Information Schedule amp Theater A3D ayumi hamasaki ARENA TOUR 2009 A NEXT LEVEL Livespire jp Sony Corporation Archived from the original on August 18 2010 Retrieved August 6 2010 July 14 Wednesday New Single Moon Blossom and Blossom Moon Ayumi Hamasaki Official Website in Japanese Avex Archived from the original on June 18 2014 Retrieved August 18 2010 Two Week Consecutive Release of 49th 50th Singles Set Ayumi Hamasaki Official Website in Japanese Avex Archived from the original on August 16 2010 Retrieved August 6 2010 Ayu Covers a Male Song for the First Time on Her New Work in Japanese Oricon August 31 2010 Retrieved September 23 2010 in Chinese Hamasaki Assists in Pupil Urata Naoya s Debut in Chinese UDN Group December 10 2010 Archived from the original on December 11 2010 Retrieved December 31 2010 Ayumi Hamasaki the First Person to Have a Number One Album for 13 Consecutive Years Oricon Style in Japanese Oricon December 28 2010 Retrieved February 22 2011 SCHEDULE ayumi hamasaki 浜崎あゆみ official website Avexnet or jp Retrieved December 27 2011 NEWS amp INFORMATION ayumi hamasaki 浜崎あゆみ official website Avexnet or jp Retrieved December 27 2011 浜崎あゆみ 史上初のアルバム4作同時TOP10入り in Japanese Oricon April 27 2011 Archived from the original on April 30 2011 NEWS amp INFORMATION ayumi hamasaki 浜崎あゆみ official website Avexnet or jp Retrieved December 27 2011 NEWS amp INFORMATION ayumi hamasaki 浜崎あゆみ official website Avexnet or jp Retrieved December 27 2011 浜崎あゆみ 音楽DVD総売上で女性アーティスト首位に ニュース ORICON STYLE Oricon co jp May 4 2011 Retrieved December 27 2011 Ayumi Hamasaki to sing theme song for Tales of Xillia Tokyohive com December 30 2010 Retrieved December 30 2012 Recording Industry Association of Japan Recording Industry Association of Japan 2012年1月1日 日 発売DVD Blu ray BOX CLIP BOX 1998 2011 仮 の TeamAyu mu moショップオリジナル特典付き販売決定 Theme Song 最後から二番目の恋 released as a single on 2 8 Ayumi Hamasaki Sings Theme Song for Upcoming Drama Giardina Carolyn November 17 2011 Hugo Tops International 3D Society Awards With Three Trophies The Hollywood Reporter Archived from the original on February 5 2012 Retrieved February 18 2012 Ayumi Hamasaki Wins Award At International 3D Awards Jpopasia com February 10 2012 Retrieved February 18 2012 February 23 Party queen Ayumi Hamasaki A Beginner s Guide www deliriumzer0 com Retrieved December 9 2022 February 23 Party queen Ayumi Hamasaki A Beginner s Guide www deliriumzer0 com Retrieved December 9 2022 浜崎あゆみ 毎月8日 に5ヶ月連続新作発表 in Japanese Oricon Style Retrieved June 15 2014 浜崎あゆみ 5ヶ月連続リリース記念特集 mu mo Shop Retrieved June 15 2014 アルバム連続TOP10歴代1位を獲得した浜崎あゆみ in Japanese Yomerumo News Retrieved June 15 2014 浜崎あゆみ 大好評開催中の15周年記念アリーナツアーが早くもLIVE CD LIVE DVD Blu rayで発売決定 さらに ライヴ会場にてご予約頂くと 当日のLIVE音源 を終演後にダウンロードプレゼント in Japanese Ayumi Hamasaki Official website Retrieved June 15 2014 DJ Hello Kitty and Ayumi Hamasaki United at Last Anime News Network December 25 2013 Retrieved January 16 2014 浜崎あゆみ 新曲 Pray がアニメ映画 BUDDHA2 主題歌に決定 in Japanese Excite News Retrieved June 15 2014 新曲 Pray 配信スタート Ayumi Hamasaki Official website in Japanese Retrieved June 15 2014 浜崎あゆみ ドラマ主題歌の新曲 Hello new me iTunesで配信開始 Ameba News in Japanese Archived from the original on May 16 2014 Retrieved June 15 2014 LIVE ayumi hamasaki PREMIUM SHOWCASE Feel the love Ayumi Hamasaki Official website in Japanese Retrieved June 15 2014 ライブレポート 浜崎あゆみ ショーケースライブで魅せる 危険と隣り合わせのフライング 浜崎あゆみ BARKS音楽ニュース Barks Ongaku News in Japanese July 3 2014 Retrieved December 3 2014 Ayumi Hamasaki s New Challenge the Premium Showcase Barks April 17 2014 Retrieved April 23 2014 浜崎あゆみ 松任谷由実と並び歴代1位に アルバムトップ10獲得数 記録で Yahoo Japan News in Japanese Archived from the original on July 15 2014 Retrieved July 14 2014 Hamasaki Ayumi releases her two singles Terminal and XOXO on the PlugAir platform Archived March 4 2016 at the Wayback Machine Barks Japan September 18 2014 Ayumi Hamasaki brings the house down at a nation Singapore MSN Philippines News MSN Archived from the original on October 19 2014 Retrieved October 19 2014 浜崎あゆみ ayumi hamasaki Ayumi Hamasaki official Facebook page Facebook November 2 2014 Retrieved November 3 2014 クリスマス イヴに贈るayuのバラード3部作 12月24日リリース NEW SINGLE Zutto Last minute Walk Ayumi Hamasaki Official website November 6 2014 Retrieved November 7 2014 浜崎あゆみ ソロ史上初のシングル50作TOP10入り in Japanese Oricon December 30 2014 Retrieved January 2 2015 浜崎あゆみ 史上初のシングル50作TOP10入り クラシック アルバム LOVE CLASSICS 詳細も Barks in Japanese December 30 2014 Retrieved January 2 2015 ayumi hamasaki will be a part of a Hikaru Utada cover album Utada Hikaru No Uta 13kumino Ongakukaniyoru 13nokaisyakunitsuite which will be released on December 9th Ayumi Hamasaki official Facebook page Facebook November 10 2010 Retrieved November 14 2014 林檎 陽水 靖幸 ayu ミリヤら宇多田ヒカル楽曲カバー in Japanese Natalie mu November 11 2014 Retrieved November 14 2014 宇多田ヒカルのうた 全貌明らかに 井上陽水 椎名林檎 浜崎あゆみ 吉井和哉ら参加アーティストコメント Barks Ongaku News in Japanese Retrieved December 2 2014 Ayumi Hamasaki to skip Kohaku Uta Gassen for first time in 15 years Japan Today November 28 2014 Retrieved January 14 2015 Ayumi Hamasaki s first Taiwan visit in seven years Surprise appearance at JJ Lin s Taipei Arena concert Barks 浜崎あゆみ史上最長3時間45分 徹底演出で魅せた 真夜中のサーカス Natalie mu in Japanese Retrieved January 2 2016 2015年秋 TA LIMITED LIVE TOUR 開催決定 Ayumi Hamasaki Official Website in Japanese Retrieved January 2 2016 Ayumi Hamasaki will release new song Step by step as digital single Barks Retrieved December 6 2015 Amazon co jp 浜崎あゆみ sixxxxxx CD Blu ray 音楽 Amazon co jp Retrieved January 2 2016 Ayumi Hamasaki x SpeXial Collab Dominates Weekly Charts in Taiwan Hong Kong Singapore and Malaysia MTV 81 Retrieved January 3 2016 ayu TRF EXOら熱演で a nation stadium fes 大団円 Natalie mu Retrieved January 2 2016 globeカバー盤にHYDE 浜崎あゆみ NMB梅田ら追加 曲目判明 Natalie mu Retrieved January 2 2016 浜崎あゆみ冬のクラシック盤 小室哲哉と美人すぎるバイオリニスト参加 Natalie mu Retrieved January 2 2016 Hamasaki Ayumi Ayumi Hamasaki s Official Instagram Instagram Retrieved January 27 2016 Hamasaki Ayumi launches Instagram account for a limited time Tokyo Hive Retrieved January 3 2016 miccie 浜崎あゆみツアーで披露した Diary を配信リリース in Japanese Barks Japan Music Network December 23 2015 Retrieved July 17 2018 Hamasaki Ayumi Heard that today n tmrw will b snowy days so I changed my plans and just started working on my new album at home Instagram Archived from the original on December 26 2021 Retrieved January 27 2016 A ロゴ BEST 15th Anniversary Edition Ayumi Hamasaki official website Retrieved February 22 2016 ayumi hamasaki ARENA TOUR 2016 A ロゴ MADE IN JAPAN 開催大決定 Ayumi Hamasaki official website Retrieved February 21 2016 BIG NEWS AWA にて 6月29日発売のニューアルバム M A DE IN JAPAN が CD発売の1ヶ月半前の5月11日 水 より全曲独占先行配信決定 Ayumi Hamasaki official website in Japanese May 11 2016 Retrieved May 15 2016 浜崎あゆみ再生100万回 新アルバム先行配信 Nikkan Sports in Japanese Retrieved May 28 2016 浜崎あゆみ 50作目のアルバムTOP10入り達成 アルバムTOP10獲得作品数記録更新 music jpニュース music jp Archived from the original on May 10 2017 Retrieved December 7 2016 Ayumi Hamasaki Assumes Rightful Role as Queen in new CMs new song We are the QUEENS Arama Japan September 15 2016 Retrieved October 17 2017 ayumi hamasaki 来場者限定 WORDS ダウンロードサイト mu mo Retrieved September 17 2017 Hamasaki Ayumi to hold her longest tour yet consisting of 60 shows tokyohive 6Theory Media LLC February 14 2017 Retrieved February 18 2021 ayumi hamasaki Just the beginning 20 TOUR 2017 Ayumi Hamasaki official website Avex Retrieved October 17 2017 ayumi hamasaki ARENA TOUR 2018 POWER of MUSIC 20th A ロゴ nniversary 開催決定 Ayumi hamasaki ARENA TOUR 2018 POWER of MUSIC 20th A logo nniversary will be held in Japanese Ayumi Hamasaki Official January 22 2018 Retrieved August 26 2019 Ayumi Hamasaki to release new album TROUBLE in August 2018 Arama Japan August 15 2018 Retrieved August 26 2019 浜崎あゆみ自伝的小説 が早くもドラマ化決定 2019 Excite News Japan August 28 2019 Retrieved August 28 2019 LOVEppears appears 20th Anniversary Edition リリース決定 2019 avex September 4 2019 Retrieved September 10 2019 浜崎あゆみ 全国ツアー全36公演中止発表 心がちぎれる想い Sponichi Annex in Japanese Retrieved July 4 2020 浜崎あゆみが新曲 オヒアの木 電撃発売 ドラマ M 最終回の最中に 我が子に贈るメッセージソング Chunichi Shimbun in Japanese Retrieved July 4 2020 Ｍ サプライズＣＭ 浜崎あゆみ２年ぶり新曲配信 Nikkan Sports in Japanese Retrieved July 4 2020 ニューシングル オヒアの木 リリース Ayumi Hamasaki s Official Website in Japanese Avex Retrieved July 4 2020 浜崎あゆみ 初の無観客配信ライブで約5ヶ月ぶりステージ 我が子へ捧げる オヒアの木 初披露 ライブレポ セットリスト Ayumi Hamasaki s first live broadcast without audience for the first time in about 5 months Debuting Ohia no Ki for her child lt Live report Set list gt Modelpress in Japanese July 25 2020 Retrieved July 25 2020 Billboard Japan 浜崎あゆみ 神セトリ 背景スクリーンに花火で大団円 a nation online 2020 ライブレポート 浜崎あゆみ ピンクの海の中でレア曲連発 サイゴノトラブル を終わらせる 写真6枚 音楽ナタリー Natalie in Japanese Retrieved December 14 2022 2020 FNS歌謡祭 第1夜のタイムテーブル 出演者 曲一覧 ハフポスト in Japanese December 2 2020 Retrieved December 21 2022 ayumi hamasaki LIMITED TA Special Xmas LIVE 2020 Maihama Amphitheaterー Tumblr Retrieved December 14 2022 Kyle December 29 2020 Ayumi Hamasaki cancels Countdown Live 2020 2021 concert ARAMA JAPAN Retrieved December 14 2022 ayumi hamasaki on Instagram このステージに立ち パフォーマンスを観て頂く夢は叶わなかったけれど 同じゴールだけをひたすらに目指して ミュージシャンチームが コーラスチームが クワイヤーチームが ダンサーズが そしてたくさんのスタッフが毎日一歩ずつ試行錯誤しながら夢をカタチにしようと挑んできたあの日々は決して無駄なんかじゃなく 想いや経験として胸に刻まれ残って行く 一見こんなにも華やかなのに 神妙な面持ちをしたスタッフの涙と共に取り壊されて行ったステージのように 一生忘れない チーム内で感染が確認された方々が 1日も早く回復される事を祈りながら 自主隔離中の今はただ 静かに 穏やかに これまで 本当に有り難うございました MusicForLife Instagram Retrieved December 14 2022 Kyle February 27 2021 Ayumi Hamasaki reveals visuals and partial tracklist for A BALLADS 2 ARAMA JAPAN Retrieved June 21 2022 浜崎あゆみ デビュー23周年記念シングル 23rd Monster のMusic Videoを公開 Spice JP in Japanese Retrieved June 21 2022 ayumi hamasaki MUSIC for LIFE return エイベックス ポータル avex portal in Japanese Retrieved December 14 2022 浜崎あゆみが豊洲で一夜限りのFC限定イベント 忘れられない夏の思い出を 音楽ナタリー Natalie in Japanese Retrieved December 14 2022 フジテレビ ラフ ミュージック にジャニーズWEST Snow Man INI 乃木坂46 KOH ら出演 音楽ナタリー Natalie in Japanese Retrieved December 21 2022 17LIVE 4th Anniversary meets 浜崎あゆみ シンガー発掘オーディション スタート そして 10月19日には浜崎あゆみ出演のライブ配信も 2021年10月18日 エキサイトニュース in Japanese Retrieved December 21 2022 浜崎あゆみ 独占インタビュー 光が続いていくように アーティストとしての覚悟とは 次世代シンガーへの期待も語る モデルプレス モデルプレス ライフスタイル ファッションエンタメニュース in Japanese Retrieved December 21 2022 FNS歌謡祭2022 冬 タイムテーブル 曲順 全出演者一覧 第1夜 第2夜 新時代レポ Ver 2 0 report newage com in Japanese Retrieved December 21 2022 浜崎あゆみ 聖地 代々木で2年ぶりカウントダウンライブ ファン歓喜 セトリが神すぎた ORICON NEWS Retrieved December 14 2022 浜崎あゆみ シングル Nonfiction をリリース 360度ピンク一色な世界観のMVも公開 THE FIRST TIMES in Japanese Retrieved December 9 2022 全曲 One Night Carnival の氣志團トリビュート盤に浜崎あゆみ 倖田來未 WANIMAら11組 BARKS in Japanese Retrieved December 15 2022 浜崎あゆみ ぴあアリーナMMで開催された24周年アニバーサリーライブ完全レポートが到着 THE FIRST TIMES in Japanese Retrieved January 12 2023 Ayumi Hamasaki Releases New Song Summer Again Real Sound Real Sound in Japanese Retrieved July 2 2022 Hamasaki Ayumi ayu 19980408 June 30 2022 TA限定 Summer TA Party 2022 大阪公演開催決定 会場 日程 Zepp Namba OSAKA 8 8 月 18 00 19 00 8 9 火 18 00 19 00 最速先行受付7 8 金 今からのFC入会でも申込み可能 teamayu への入会は t co H1Oh5Yjkpe SummerTAParty サマパアゲイン TA limited Summer TA Party 2022 Osaka performance will be held Venue Schedule Zepp Namba OSAKA 8 8 Mon 18 00 19 00 8 9 Tue 18 00 19 00 Fastest advance reception 7 8 Fri From now You can apply even if you join the FC Join teamayu SummerTAParty Samapaagain Tweet in Japanese Archived from the original on December 14 2022 Retrieved January 15 2023 via Twitter Hamasaki Ayumi ayu 19980408 September 2 2022 お知らせ フジテレビ FNSラフ amp ミュージック2022 歌と笑いの祭典 第2夜 9月11日 日 18 59 23 09 に出演させて頂きます お楽しみに t co AOA5G1IMgw t co 4jnMkmNoXL Information We will be appearing on Fuji TV FNS Rough amp Music 2022 Singing and Laughter Festival on the 2nd night on Sunday September 11th from 18 59 to 23 09 Look forward to it Tweet in Japanese Archived from the original on September 2 2022 Retrieved January 15 2023 via Twitter 浜崎あゆみ 新曲 MASK のMV公開 オリジナルフルアルバムのリリースも発表 THE FIRST TIMES in Japanese Retrieved December 8 2022 TVガイド 司会 相葉雅紀 永島優美で 2022FNS歌謡祭 生放送 満島ひかりと三浦大知の1夜限りのコラボが実現 TVガイドWeb in Japanese Retrieved December 21 2022 Hamasaki Ayumi adds Aichi concert to Asia tour to hold countdown live tokyohive Retrieved December 14 2022 日本テレビ放送網株式会社 出演アーティスト 発表 今年イチバン聴いた歌 年間ミュージックアワード2022 日本テレビ in Japanese Retrieved December 21 2022 日本テレビ放送網株式会社 浜崎あゆみ 発表 今年イチバン聴いた歌 年間ミュージックアワード2022 出演 今年イチバン印象に残った出来事は 日本テレビ in Japanese Retrieved December 29 2022 ayumi hamasaki COUNTDOWN LIVE 2022 2023 A Remember you LIVE ayumi hamasaki 浜崎あゆみ official website ayumi hamasaki COUNTDOWN LIVE 2022 2023 A Remember you LIVE ayumi hamasaki 浜崎あゆみ official website in Japanese Retrieved December 8 2022 Hamasaki Ayumi ayu 19980408 December 23 2022 NEW ALBUM速報 2023年1月25日 水 リリースのアルバムタイトルが Remember you に決定 さらに 3種類のジャケット写真 全収録曲タイトルも一挙公開します そして92Pに及ぶ超豪華写真集の表紙も公開しちゃいます 詳しくはコチラから t co lvmOr00QLT t co 23hh8vrpae NEW ALBUM breaking news The album title to be released on Wednesday January 25 2023 has been decided as Remember you In addition 3 types of jacket photos and all recorded song titles will be released at once And the cover of the 92 page super gorgeous photo book will also be released Click here for details Tweet in Japanese Archived from the original on December 23 2022 Retrieved January 15 2023 via Twitter 浜崎あゆみ 今夜20 00よりYouTubeで生配信トーク 音楽ナタリー in Japanese Retrieved January 25 2023 a b c Ayumi Hamasaki 10th Anniversary Commemoration Different Aspects of Her Charm in Japanese Oricon September 10 2008 Archived from the original on October 4 2008 Retrieved October 17 2008 Yuuki Tai February 28 2007 A Thorough Analysis Her Best of Albums and Approaching Her Charm Oricon Style Oricon Archived from the original on March 2 2007 Retrieved November 3 2009 McClure Steve December 19 2001 2001 A Sound Odyssey The Japan Times The Japan Times Ltd Retrieved November 4 2009 a b c Ayumi Hamasaki s Profile Avex Avex Network Archived from the original on December 17 2005 Retrieved March 23 2008 a b Misaki Tetsu July 20 2002 浜崎あゆみ 共感はどこまで可能か Ayumi Hamasaki How far can empathy go Jポップの日本語 歌詞論 J Pop Japanese Lyricism in Japanese Chiyoda Tokyo Sairyuusha pp 23 40 ISBN 4 88202 752 6 J Point December 22 2000 Volume 75 Ayumi Hamasaki Piano Solo New Piano Sounds Top 25 Volume 7 ISBN 978 4 89638 944 9 Kazuki Okabe Loveppears Beat Freak Online Avex Archived from the original on August 20 2004 Retrieved November 6 2009 松浦勝人 浜崎あゆみの歌を作らなくなった理由を語る 切り抜き avex会長 ayu エイベックス 生放送 松浦勝人の切り抜き君 avex July 22 2022 Archived from the original on November 9 2022 Retrieved January 15 2023 via YouTube Shubert Atika Interviewer 2006 TalkAsia TV series Japan CNN Artist profile of Princess China Music Orchestra in Chinese Avex Taiwan Archived from the original on October 9 2008 Retrieved May 2 2008 a b Tsuriya Takako August 2006 Relaxed Smile Cawaii in Japanese pp 15 16 Hamasaki Ayumi s New MV Expresses Her Opposition to Marriage 21cn com in Chinese China Telecom June 4 2002 Archived from the original on November 11 2007 Retrieved August 25 2009 Hamasaki Ayumi s New Album With a Grueling Performance and a Crocodile XinhuaNet in Chinese Xinhua News Agency July 9 2003 Archived from the original on October 11 2003 Retrieved August 25 2009 J pop Guru Hamasaki Ayumi s Subversive Avant Garde Sense of Variety QQ com in Chinese Tencent December 26 2003 Retrieved August 25 2009 The Most Expensive Music Videos of All Time Die Welt in German Axel Springer AG Archived from the original on November 26 2009 Retrieved November 6 2009 Hurley James Ayumi Hamasaki fairyland MSN Archived from the original on May 24 2008 Retrieved January 24 2008 Hurley James The Most Expensive Music Videos Ever Made MSN Archived from the original on August 22 2008 浜崎あゆみは僕ら ロスジェネ 世代の代弁者 沢矢 寅馬 note note ノート in Japanese Retrieved January 12 2023 Viacom s MTV Networks Announces Landmark Content and Advertising Alliance with China s No 1 Search Engine Baidu PR Newswire October 17 2006 Archived from the original on January 11 2009 Retrieved February 5 2009 Discovering Fujita The Star January 9 2006 Archived from the original on January 9 2009 Retrieved February 5 2009 Bremner Brian May 7 2007 Raising Japan s Cool Quotient BusinessWeek Archived from the original on March 4 2009 Retrieved February 5 2009 Takeuchi Cullen Lisa March 25 2002 The Many Faces of Ayu Time p 2 Archived from the original on April 15 2008 Retrieved May 3 2008 Takeuchi Cullen Lisa March 25 2002 The Many Faces of Ayu Time p 3 Archived from the original on April 15 2008 Retrieved May 3 2008 Pan Philip P November 27 2000 Taiwan s Teens Take Style Cues From Tokyo Washington Post Takeuchi Cullen Lisa March 25 2002 Empress of Pop Time p 1 Archived from the original on January 13 2008 Retrieved January 18 2008 Lewis Leo March 18 2003 Pop star bails out troubled bank The Times London Retrieved July 14 2008 Caffrey Rori July 17 2003 Popcetera A nation under a groove Financial Times originally from the Daily Yomiuri Archived from the original on December 8 2008 Retrieved August 5 2008 Nieman Teresa March 25 2010 Why Japanese Pop Matters The Guardian Retrieved August 31 2010 a b c Takeuchi Cullen Lisa March 25 2002 Empress of Pop Time p 2 Archived from the original on December 24 2007 Retrieved January 26 2008 Readers Choose the Most Fashionable Artist in Japanese Oricon April 19 2006 Archived from the original on January 25 2008 Retrieved January 26 2008 Toyama Michiko February 3 2009 Princesses Preen in a Pauper Economy Time Time Inc Archived from the original on March 2 2009 Retrieved March 3 2009 Lloyd Richard Parry January 10 2004 Why Japan Is Struggling to Stay in the Black The Times London News Corporation Retrieved February 3 2009 Anything But Black The Age Melbourne Australia Fairfax Media April 2 2004 Archived from the original on July 9 2009 Retrieved March 3 2009 母 の顔覗かせた浜崎あゆみ 子供服の大量買いSHOT公開 チビ達のあったかい服たくさんゲット E TALENTBANK Yahoo ニュース in Japanese Retrieved January 12 2023 浜崎あゆみ パリス ヒルトンがお手本 Z世代がハマる Y2Kファッション をご存知ですか 松本 英恵 gendai biz 現代ビジネス in Japanese Retrieved January 12 2023 浜崎あゆみ ぴあアリーナMMで開催された24周年アニバーサリーライブ完全レポートが到着 THE FIRST TIMES in Japanese Retrieved January 12 2023 a b Chang Miharu October 3 2003 Ayumi Spells Big Bucks The Electric New Paper Singapore Singapore Press Holdings Archived from the original on October 3 2003 Retrieved February 5 2009 Ayu ready in Japanese Fuji TV Archived from the original on April 23 2008 Retrieved January 24 2008 Ayumi Hamasaki x Hello Kitty Collaboration The Dream Is Realized in Japanese Oricon March 9 2007 Archived from the original on December 7 2008 Retrieved November 17 2008 Ayumi Hamasaki Collaboration is a Dream Barks jp in Japanese ITmedia Retrieved July 23 2008 Ayumi Hamasaki donates 35 million yen to relief efforts in Japan Asia Pacific Arts March 22 2011 Archived from the original on February 9 2014 Retrieved March 29 2011 Nakai Masahiro Katori Shingo Hamasaki Ayumi amp Nishijima Takahiro receive Medal of Honor with Dark Blue Ribbon tokyohive Retrieved July 3 2022 浜崎あゆみ 台風被害が激しい静岡への支援呼びかけ トラックで現地へ向かう意向 日本人どうし力を合わせて ねとらぼ in Japanese Retrieved December 8 2022 A in Japanese Oricon Archived from the original on December 1 2008 Retrieved November 17 2008 Lytle J Mark May 2003 Ayumi Inc Wired Vol 11 no 5 Boss CM in Japanese Suntory Limited Retrieved February 23 2008 Ayumi Hamasaki interviewee 2004 Hamasaki Ayumi The Heartbreak and Decision in Light and Shadow Television Japan NTV Hamasaki Ayumi Nagase Tomoya Split Japan Zone Retrieved June 30 2020 長瀬智也と浜崎あゆみの交際期間は また 本当の破局理由がヤバすぎた 芸能プレス in Japanese August 20 2022 Retrieved January 12 2023 長瀬智也と浜崎あゆみに根強い もし二人が結婚していたら の声 異例尽くしだった熱愛 2020年12月20日 エキサイトニュース in Japanese Retrieved January 12 2023 Ayumi Hamasaki s Marriage Announcement Sponichi Annex December 31 2010 Archived from the original on January 4 2011 Retrieved December 31 2010 Pop music idol Hamasaki gets married in U S The Japan Times January 3 2011 Retrieved January 3 2011 Japan s Empress of Pop Ayumi Hamasaki to divorce Austrian actor husband January 18 2012 Archived from the original on January 18 2012 Retrieved January 18 2012 Japan s pop queen to divorce Austrian hubby January 17 2012 Retrieved January 17 2012 浜崎あゆみ米国人医学生と婚約 Nikkan Sports December 13 2013 Retrieved December 16 2013 Ayumi Hamasaki engaged to UCLA medical student 10 years her junior Japan Today December 13 2013 Retrieved December 16 2013 Hamasaki Ayumi is now officially married Tokyohive March 3 2014 Retrieved March 3 2014 TeamAyu September 11 2016 2016 09 11 13 21 JST ayu 伝えたいこと TeamAyu TeamAyu Retrieved October 11 2016 JpopAsia Ayumi Hamasaki Finalizes 2nd Divorce JpopAsia Retrieved October 11 2016 Ayumi Hamasaki Confesses to Dating Avex CEO Max Matsuura Arama Japan August 2 2019 Retrieved June 30 2020 Ayumi Hamasaki Becomes a Mother ARAMA JAPAN January 1 2020 浜崎あゆみ 第２子妊娠報告 大家族になるのが楽しみです Yahoo News Japan in Japanese Retrieved October 22 2020 a b Singer Ayumi Hamasaki says she has lost hearing in her left ear Japan Today January 8 2008 Archived from the original on June 22 2008 Retrieved January 8 2008 Archived version a b Bengero Jepoy May 21 2017 Ayumi Hamasaki is Going Completely Deaf JpopNews Retrieved May 21 2017 Japan s pop princess Ayu goes half deaf AFP January 6 2008 Archived from the original on February 18 2008 Retrieved February 2 2008 ソニー 360度映像制作サービス FourthVIEW を開始 A TYPE ayumi hamasaki touch typing software Further reading EditAyu Press Crew あゆ報道班 2005 Secrets of Ayumi Hamasaki 浜崎あゆみの秘密 Data House データハウス ISBN 978 4 88718 851 8 富坂 剛 2005 Ayumi Hamasaki Pure Stories 浜崎あゆみ Pure Stories R s Publishing アールズ出版 ISBN 978 4 901226 99 8 本郷陽二 2003 Ayumi Hamasaki Stories 今輝く歌姫たち 浜崎あゆみ物語 Chobun 汐文社 ISBN 978 4 8113 7623 3 External links EditAyumi Hamasaki at Wikipedia s sister projects Media from Commons Quotations from Wikiquote Data from Wikidata Media related to Ayumi Hamasaki at Wikimedia Commons Official website in Japanese Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ayumi Hamasaki amp oldid 1141575571, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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