Jump to content

Ayumi Hamasaki

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Clouded~enwiki (talk | contribs) at 12:05, 3 December 2014 (→2007–2008: Compilation releases and Guilty). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Ayumi Hamasaki
浜崎あゆみ
(also 濱崎歩)[1]
Ayumi Hamasaki in Taiwan in March 2007
Ayumi Hamasaki in Taiwan in March 2007
Background information
Also known asAyu, Crea
Born (1978-10-02) October 2, 1978 (age 46)
Fukuoka, Japan
OriginFukuoka, Japan
GenresPop, dance, electronic, rock, classical
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter, performance artist, record producer, lyricist, actress, model, spokesperson, businessperson
Years active1993–1996, 1998–present
Labels
Websitewww.avex.jp/ayu

Template:Contains Japanese text Ayumi Hamasaki (浜崎あゆみ, Hamasaki Ayumi, born October 2, 1978) is a Japanese recording artist, lyricist, model, and actress. Also called "Ayu" by her fans, Hamasaki has been dubbed the "Empress of J-Pop" because of her popularity and widespread influence in Japan and throughout Asia.[2][3] Born and raised in Fukuoka, she moved to Tokyo at fourteen to pursue a career in entertainment. In 1998, under the tutelage of Avex CEO Max Matsuura, she released a string of modestly selling singles that concluded with her 1999 debut album A Song for ××. The album debuted at the top of the Oricon charts and remained there for four weeks, establishing her popularity in Japan.[fn 1]

Hamasaki's constantly changing image and tight control over her artistry has helped her popularity extend across Asia; music and fashion trends she has started have spread regionally to China, Singapore and other countries across Southeast Asia. She has appeared in or lent her songs to many advertisements and television commercials. Though she originally supported the exploitation of her popularity for commercial purposes, she later reconsidered and eventually opposed her status as an Avex "product".[4]

Since her 1998 debut with the single recording "Poker Face",[fn 1] Hamasaki has sold over 53 million records in Japan, ranking her among the best-selling recording artists in the country.[5][6] As a female vocalist, Hamasaki has several domestic record achievements for her singles, such as the most number-one hits by a female artist; the most consecutive number-one hits by a solo artist,[7] and the most million-sellers.[8][fn 2] From 1999 to 2010, Hamasaki had at least one single each year topping the charts.[9] Hamasaki is the first female recording artist to have eight 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.[10][11]

Life and music career

Childhood and early endeavors

Born in 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.[12][13] Hamasaki's mother worked to support the family, so Hamasaki was primarily taken care of by her grandmother.[12] She described herself as a "tomboy" when she was a teenager, and as a “strange kid” who “liked to be alone”.[14]

At age seven, Hamasaki began modeling for local institutions, such as banks, in order 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.[12] 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.[15] 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.[13][16] 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.[17][18] Growing dissatisfied with her job, Hamasaki quit acting and moved in with her mother, who had recently moved to Tokyo.[12]

Hamasaki was initially a good student, earning good grades in junior high school. Eventually, she lost faith in the curriculum, thinking that the subjects taught 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.[12][13]

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.[13] He persisted and succeeded in recruiting her for the Avex label in the following year.[13][19] Hamasaki started vocal training, but skipped most of her classes after finding her instructors to be too rigid and the classes dull.[13] When she confessed this to Matsuura, he sent her to New York to train her vocals under another method. During her foreign sojourn, 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.[13]

1998–1999: Musical beginnings, A Song for xx and 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 ×× (1999), was likewise "unassuming":[20] the tracks, composed by Yasuhiko Hoshino, Akio Togashi (of Da Pump), and Mitsuru Igarashi (of Every Little Thing), were "cautious" pop-rock songs.[13][20] However, Hamasaki's lyrics, introspective observations about her feelings and experiences that focused on loneliness and individualism, resonated with the Japanese public.[21] 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.[15][22][23] For her achievements, she earned a Japan Gold Disc Award for "Best New Artist of the Year".[24]

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.[20] 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").[9][25] Her second studio album, Loveppears (November 1999), not only topped the Oricon charts, it sold nearly 3 million copies.[22] 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.[26] 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, compilation releases, I Am... and 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.[27] 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".[12][28] The musical style was darker as well; in contrast with Loveppears, Duty was a rock-influenced album with only one dance song, "Audience".[12][29] Duty resonated with fans: the "Trilogy" were "hit singles" ("Seasons" was a million-seller), and the album became Hamasaki's best-selling studio album.[30][31] 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.[32] 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.[33]

In light of the September 11 attacks, Hamasaki updated the cover of I Am...(2002) to represent peace. (Note the dove.)

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.[34] 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.[35] 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.[35][36] The single, a duet with Keiko Yamada, was released as part of Avex's non-profit Song Nation project, which raised money for charity.[37][38][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.[36]

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,[36][39] a move interpreted as the beginning of a campaign prompted by a sluggish Japanese market.[40][41] At the ceremony, she received the award for "Most Influential Japanese Singer in Asia".[39] In support of I Am..., Hamasaki held two tours, Ayumi Hamasaki Arena Tour 2002 A and Ayumi Hamasaki Stadium Tour 2002 A.[42][43] 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.[44] Hamasaki continued to release singles (all of them remixes of previously released songs) in Germany on Drizzly until 2005.[45]

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][46] 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.[47] 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.[48][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".[49]

2003–2006: Decline in sales, My Story, (Miss)Understood and Secret

File:Ayumi Hamasaki - Arena Tour 2006.jpg
Hamasaki performing in her (Miss)understood tour

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.[50] 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.[51] Like her previous albums, Memorial Address topped the Oricon chart and sold over a million copies.[52][53] 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.[54]

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.[55] 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.[55][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.[56] She was so pleased with the result that she declared My Story the first album she felt satisfied with.[56] 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][57][58] From January to April 2005, Hamasaki held the nationwide My Story arena tour, her first album-based tour.[55] 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.[59]

Hamasaki performing the song "Part of Me" in her Tour of Secret

(Miss)understood (January 2006), Hamasaki's seventh studio album, showed new musical directions.[60] 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.[60] The result was more musically diverse than the previous album; (Miss)understood included ballads, funk, dance-pop, R&B, and rock songs.[61][62] 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.[63] 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.[64][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.[66]

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.[67] The subsequent studio album, Secret, was released in November 2006.[68] "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.[69][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.[69][fn 11] The album consisted mostly of rock songs and ballads; to complement these, Hamasaki experimented with new vocal techniques.[68] The album also topped the Oricon weekly charts, making Hamasaki the only artist to have eight consecutive number-one studio albums.[70] Her sales, however, continued to decline: according to both Oricon and the RIAJ, Secret failed to sell a million copies.[64][71]

2007–2008: Compilation releases and Guilty

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 thirty-six years to hold the top two positions on any Oricon album chart.[72] At the end of 2007, the pair became Japan's fifth and seventh best-selling albums of the year respectively.[73] In support of A Best 2 and Secret, Hamasaki held the four-month-long Tour of Secret from March to the end of June. It was her first international tour, and aside from Japan, she performed in Taipei, Shanghai, and Hong Kong.[74] Her foreign fanbase highly anticipated the concerts, and tickets for the Taipei and Hong Kong performances sold out in less than three hours.[75][76]

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.[77] "Glitter/Fated" and the following single "Talkin' 2 Myself" reached the top of their respective charts, continuing Hamasaki's streak of number-one singles.[78] In December, Hamasaki released her first digital-only single, "Together When...", which topped the RIAJ's monthly download chart.[79][80] 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.[28] Most of the songs were dark; the album had a notable rock tinge.[28][29] It contained some upbeat dance tracks and ballads, though the latter also had rock overtones.[81][82] 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 8 consecutive number-one albums.[fn 12][85] Guilty was later released as a digital album in twenty-six countries outside Japan, nineteen 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 step into the global market.[86]

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

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.[9] 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. Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Shanghai were again the foreign stops after the domestic performances.[87] 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 is the 8th best selling album of 2008.[88]

2009-2011: Rise in sales Next Level, Rock n Roll Circus and 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.[89] 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.[90][91] Sonically, Next Level was mainly an electronic dance album.[92] 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.[11] However, the album was only certified double platinum, making it Hamasaki's lowest-selling studio album to that date.[93] On August 12, 2009, Hamasaki released her forty-sixth 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?.[94] The single reached the top of the weekly charts, making it her twenty-first consecutive (thirty-third total) number-one single. "Sunrise/Sunset" is also her forty-fourth single to enter the Top 10, making Hamasaki the artist with the most Top 10 singles ever.[95] 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.[96] The album topped the charts, making Hamasaki the first female solo artist in twenty years to have ten number-one original studio albums.[97] Hamasaki also began expanding her online presence, setting up accounts on MySpace, Ustream, and Twitter.[98][99] 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.[100][101][102]

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.[103] 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.[104] "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.[105] 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.[7] 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 as well, marking the first record she produced for another singer.[106] 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 old record.[107]

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.[108] 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.[109] 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.[110] 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.[111] On April 21, 2011, it was announced that she would perform in a-nation 10th Anniversary for Life Charge & Go![112] On May 4, it was announced that she broke another record – the female artist with the highest DVD sales with 2,313,000.[113]

On August 31, Hamasaki released her second mini album Five, her first since Memorial Address in 2003. This is 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.[114] The album also features 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.[115] Complete Clip Box 1998–2011, consisting all her music videos from her first single, "Poker Face" till her latest mini-album, Five, was released on January 1, 2012.[116] "How Beautiful You Are" will be the theme song for a drama Saigo Kara Nibanme no Koi, and also Hamasaki's second digital single (55th single overall), which is released fully on February 8.[117] Hamasaki describe the song as a mid-tempo ballad and a feeling of gratitude towards someone.[118]

2012-2013: 15th anniversary, Love Again and compilation releases

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.[119][120] On March 21, Hamasaki released her thirteenth studio album, Party Queen. The album peaked at number two on the Oricon charts, becoming her second studio album to do so after 2007's Guilty. 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 de 8th of March, 2013.[121] 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 finally the fifth was the DVD/Blu-ray of her Arena Tour 2012: Hotel Love Songs, released in March.[122]　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.[123] The DVD and Blu-ray versions were released on October 30, 2013.[124] 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.[125] Both songs are heavily influenced by Western dance-pop music.

2014-present: Colours and upcoming sixth EP

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.[126] The song was released digitally on January 27, 2014.[127] 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.[128] From May 30 to July 6, 2014, Hamasaki held her tour Premium Showcase: Feel the love, on which she offered 11 concerts at 3 locations: Nagoya, Osaka and Tokyo.[129]. On this tour Hamasaki abandoned for the first time the traditional format of her previous concerts and presented a uninterrupted, shorter show, on which she also debuted as an aerial acrobat.[130] 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.[131] 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 Hamasaki, as with this achievement she became the second artist in Japan's history —after Yumi Matsutoya— to have 47 of her albums within the Top 10 of the charts.[132] In September 2014, Hamasaki released two recut singles from Colours: "Terminal" and "XOXO" on the PlugAir platform. The single was released under Machine Shop Records for the American release.[133]

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.[134] On November 2, 2014, it was 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.[135] 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.[136] 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.[137][138] 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.[139]

Image and artistry

Time magazine has noted that Hamasaki lacked talents such as the dance moves of Namie Amuro, the "supermodel allure" of Hitomi, and the "vocal pyrotechnics" of Hikaru Utada. Her own fans even considered her high-pitched voice screechy.[41][140] However, her music is sometimes considered one of the major forces in shaping Japan's current music trends; this has been attributed to her constantly changing image as well as her self-penned lyrics,[41] though critics credit clever marketing strategies.[16][41][140] Hamasaki is also noted for the visual aspects of her artistry: she is considered a fashion trendsetter, with her influence extending beyond Japan.[141][142][143] The Guardian says that Hamasaki has "married accessible, mainstream hits with over-the-top costumes and high-concept videos".[144] The widespread influence of her music and her constantly changing image has meant that Hamasaki has often been compared to Madonna.[145][146]

Hamasaki's lyrics and image have gained a following predominantly among the Generation X of Asia, mainly because of the "conflicting or inharmonious beauty" of her fashion and lyrics; Hamasaki's fashions combine Eastern and Western elements, and her songs, unlike those of many of her contemporaries, mostly all have English titles but contained no English lyrics (until Rainbow).[41] Music critic Tetsu Misaki believed that the juxtaposition of her fashionable appearance and her personal lyrics was one of her most important selling points.[147] The popularity of her music extends beyond Japan;[148] she has a "sizable [following] across Asia" and is one of the few Japanese singers whose albums have sold over 10,000 copies in Singapore.[149][150] In 2002, however, Hamasaki's domestic sales began declining due to a sluggish Japanese market and increasing piracy in Japan.[151] As a result, she began moving toward the Asian market in 2002, performing at the 2002 MTV Asia awards in Singapore, at South Korea's "Asia Song Festival", and at a concert in Beijing to celebrate Sino-Japanese relations.[152][153] With her popularity declining (due in part to the rising popularity of other singers like Kumi Koda), she made a foray into the Asian market, starting with her first tour of Asia in 2007.[154]

Musical style

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....[36]

Hamasaki's lyrics, all her own,[fn 5] have resonated among her fans, 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.[155][156] 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."[20][157] 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".[158] 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."[158] 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.[35] 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") more often.[147] As Hamasaki matured, her lyrics began to express more confidence; themes in her later albums included love and the struggles of women.[49][61][69] 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 "Rollin'" (from Next Level), Hamasaki writes, "The age is rolling around/At the speed of heading toward the end/Beyond the border/Disappointment and hope fight with each other".[159] 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", while a story told to her by her friend about a saint named Mary served as the basis for "M"; the September 11 attacks inspired "A Song Is Born".[160][161]

"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.[162]
"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.

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'."[163] 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."[34] However, she started to compose her own melodies after her staff had failed to compose a tune for "M" that appealed to her.[12] Wanting to produce works faithful to her visions, Hamasaki took control of most aspects of her artistry.[35][36] 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.[164] 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;[34][158] 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.[20] 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.[165] 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.[20] 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.[20][49]

Hamasaki's live performances are often lavish productions that use "grand-scale props".[166] 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.[68] 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").[155][167] Additionally, many of the videos contain short storylines, some of which use symbolism to convey their respective messages.[155] 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;[168] the video for "Ourselves" featured masked people destroying "effigies of [Hamasaki's] past" such as photographs and album covers to symbolize destruction and rebirth.[169][170] 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.[171][172][173] 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.[166]

Public image

Hamasaki's influence goes beyond music; she is often considered a fashion icon and trend-setter,[164][174][175] a status attributed to her tight control over her image.[3][176][177][178] Besides her frequent appearances in fashion magazines, such as Vivi, Popteen, and Cawaii!, Hamasaki has often been lauded for her trendy choices in apparels and accessories; Oricon has repeatedly named her the "Most Fashionable Female Artist".[1][140][179] Many aspects of Japan's fashions—including clothing, hair, nails, and accessories—have in some way been influenced by her.[140][180] As with her music, trends Hamasaki started have spread to Asian countries as Taiwan, China, and Singapore.[141][142][143] Among the trends Hamasaki has started is hime-kei (a look inspired by the fashions of 18th century French aristocracy); she has also heavily influenced the kogal subculture.[181][182][183] Hamasaki's constantly changing image is apparent not only in her fashion photo shoots and commercial endorsements but also in her record covers, an element she considers essential in conveying her message.[35] She has portrayed herself as a vine-clad "peace muse" or "Greek goddess" (on her album I Am...), as a "twenty-first-century Joan of Arc" (for her single "Free & Easy"), and as a "funky Lolita".[161][184] Though Hamasaki has portrayed herself in earlier releases as a "girl next door", she has adopted a more sexualized image since the release of Loveppears. The covers for records including Loveppears, I Am..., Rainbow, and Party Queen feature Hamasaki in states of partial nudity, for which she has generated controversy.[185] Hamasaki also garnered criticism after she modeled bra for lingerie manufacturer Wacoal, though most of the criticism alleged that Hamasaki was only trying to "play catch-up" with Kumi Koda, who gained popularity for her overtly sexual image.[186]

Hamasaki has accepted offers by numerous brands to endorse their products. Throughout her career under Avex, she has promoted products that ranged from electronics (Tu-Ka cell phones and Panasonic)[16] to various snack foods.[140] Among the products she has advertised on television are the Honda Crea scooter,[187] Kosé cosmetics,[140] Mister Donut donuts,[188] and Boss coffee.[189] As well as serving as background music for television advertisements, some of Hamasaki's songs have been used as themes for video games, television shows and motion pictures,[fn 14] such as Onimusha: Dawn of Dreams, InuYasha, Shinobi: Heart Under Blade and Tales of Xillia.[190][191][192][193] Although Hamasaki initially supported the exploitation of her popularity for commercial purposes, saying that it was "necessary that [she is] viewed as a product",[34] she eventually opposed Avex's decision to market her as a "product rather than a person".[4]

Other activities

Hamasaki has been described as having a "merchandise empire". She launched her own fashion brand, MTRLG (Material Girl), in 2001; the clothes were sold at MTRLG boutiques and at Mise S*clusive stores.[194] In 2002, Hamasaki created Ayupan, a cartoon version of herself that appeared in a line of merchandise (mainly figurines) and in a 2003 cartoon. For her 2007 tour Tour of Secret, Hamasaki collaborated with Sanrio to create a line of merchandise, "Ayumi Hamasaki x Hello Kitty," that features Ayupan and Hello Kitty together.[195] The merchandise included cell phone straps and Lumix cameras decorated with a picture of Hello Kitty behind Hamasaki's "A" logo;[fn 15] 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.[196] She briefly hosted her own television show, Ayuready? (October 2002), on Fuji Television. The talk show, aired on Saturday nights from 11:30 to midnight, often featured her performing songs with guests, among whom were Goto Maki, Puffy, and Akina Nakamori. To promote the program (and her album Rainbow), Hamasaki opened a restaurant, Rainbow House, on Shōnan Beach; it was occasionally used in episodes of Ayuready?.[194] After less than two years, the last episode aired in March 2004.[197]

Philanthropy

In March 2011, Hamasaki donated 30 million yen to relief efforts for the Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami. She also collaborated with fashion magazine ViVi to sell charity T-shirts.[198]

Personal life

Relationships

Hamasaki dated singer-actor Tomoya Nagase since her brief acting career, and they publicly announced their relationship in 2001.[176] Six years later, the media circulated rumors that the couple were about to get married; however, on July 13, 2007 Hamasaki announced that they had broken up. Though Hamasaki did not explain the reason for the split, she stated that they had parted amicably and the two remained friends.[199]

On January 1, 2011, Hamasaki announced her upcoming marriage to Austrian actor and model Manuel Schwarz, whom Hamasaki met in August 2010 on the set of her music video for "Virgin Road".[200] On January 2, her office announced that she and Schwarz had gotten married in the United States the day before.[201] However, on January 16, 2012, Hamasaki announced on her website that she would be divorcing Schwarz. The reason for the divorce was that, initially, Hamasaki wanted to move in with Schwarz in United States but due to the earthquake and tsunami that hit her home country on March, 2011, she began to have a strong desire not to leave Japan.[202][203] However, another report claimed that the real reason of the divorce was that Hamasaki was unaware of Schwarz's releasing of a nude pictorial book, filled with raunchy poses.[204][205]

On November 14, 2012 trying to beat the tabloids with the news, Hamasaki announced on her TeamAyu fanclub blog that she and back-up dancer Maro (Uchiyama Maroka) were in a serious relationship stating "An article about me will be published in a weekly magazine tomorrow. The contents are about Maro-chan and myself. I don't want everyone to hear incorrect rumours about me from other sources, and I don't want to hide anymore, so I will say it clearly. I am in a serious relationship with Maro-chan." Maro then confirmed the news on his own blog the same day.[206] Shortly after their announcement, the story spread quickly through the news, tabloids and gossip.[207]

On December 13, 2013, it was announced on her official TeamAyu site that she had become engaged to an American medical student 10 years her junior, whom she had been with since the Spring of that year, adding "As my partner is an ordinary student, I would be very happy if you could watch over us quietly." [208][209]

On March 3, 2014, the singer announced on her fan club site "Team Ayu" that she is officially married. According to her agency, the couple already finished their marriage procedure in the United States near the end of February. On the 3rd, Hamasaki's mother, as a deputy, submitted the marriage registration to Japan.[210]

Health

In a January 8, 2008 entry on her TeamAyu blog, Hamasaki announced that an inoperable condition, possibly tinnitus or Ménière's disease, had caused complete deafness in her left ear.[5][85] She disclosed that she had been diagnosed with the condition in 2006 and that the problem dated back to 2000.[211] Despite the setback, Hamasaki stated that she wished to continue singing, and that she would "not give up" on her fans and that "as a professional", she wanted to "deliver the best performance for everyone".[211][212]

Discography

Main articles: Ayumi Hamasaki discography and Ayumi Hamasaki videography

Studio albums

Concerts

Main article: List of Ayumi Hamasaki concerts

Concert tours

New Years countdown concerts

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1993 Twins Teacher Momo Tachibana
Battle Spirits Ryûko 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".
2014 Uchu Android Shekharu-san Sonia (singing voice) Japanese voice-dub

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 c 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.[151]
  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;[23] Rainbow sold a little over 1.8 million copies.[65]
  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.[83][84]
  13. ^ For a comprehensive list of Hamasaki's Avex-sanctioned remixes released in Japan, see Hamasaki's discography at mu-mo.net[dead link‍].
  14. ^ For a complete list of the commercial tie-ins of Hamasaki's songs, see her discography.
  15. ^ 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 RINBOW, Best, Ballads, Best 2 -White-, Best 2 -Black-, and Complete. (Dashes are commonly used in Japanese script to enclose subtitles.)

References

  1. ^ a b "Talent Directory: Hamasaki Ayumi". Sponichi Annex (in Japanese). Mainichi Shimbun. Retrieved June 24, 2008.
  2. ^ Takeuchi Cullen, Lisa (March 25, 2002). "Empress of Pop". Time. pp. Splash. Archived from the original on January 2, 2008. Retrieved January 24, 2008. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  3. ^ a b "Talk Asia — Program Descriptions". Turner International Asia Pacific. Retrieved February 19, 2008.
  4. ^ a b Ayumi Hamasaki (interviewee) (2004). Hamasaki Ayumi: The Heartbreak and Decision in Light and Shadow (Television). Japan: NTV.
  5. ^ 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. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  6. ^ 【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.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ "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. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  9. ^ 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. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  10. ^ "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. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  11. ^ 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. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  12. ^ a b c d e f g h Shikano, Atsushi (February 20, 2001). "Interview with Ayumi Hamasaki". Rockin'on japan (in Japanese).
  13. ^ 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.
  14. ^ Tan, Tammi (October 18, 2014). "Ayumi Hamasaki: A strange kid that liked to be alone". Singapore: xinmsn. Retrieved October 20, 2014.
  15. ^ a b True, Chris. "Ayumi Hamasaki". Allmusic. Retrieved April 17, 2008.
  16. ^ a b c Wilce, Matt. "Big in Japan: Ayumi Hamasaki". Metropolis Magazine. Archived from the original on April 15, 2008. Retrieved March 23, 2008.
  17. ^ 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). 2: 33–66. September 1995.
  18. ^ 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). 10: 40–73. April 1996.
  19. ^ Belfiore, Michael. "Ayumi Hamasaki Biography". Musicianguide.com. Retrieved June 5, 2008.
  20. ^ a b c d e f g Walters, Barry (March 5, 2002). "Turning (Japanese) Point". The Village Voice. Retrieved April 19, 2008.
  21. ^ "A Song for XX". Beatfreak (in Japanese). 132. January 1999.
  22. ^ a b "You Can't Top This". Straits Times. Singapore: Singapore Press Holdings. Reuters. November 25, 1999.
  23. ^ a b "Siege Mentality". South China Morning Post. Hong Kong, China: SCMP Group. May 13, 2002. p. 1.
  24. ^ "The 14th Japan Gold Disc Award 1999". RIAJ. Retrieved April 17, 2008.
  25. ^ "Million-Selling Singles of 1999" (in Japanese). RIAJ. Archived from the original on April 17, 2008. Retrieved April 19, 2008. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  26. ^ "Loveppears". Beatfreak (in Japanese). 142. November 1999.
  27. ^ "Review of Ayu's Year 2000 & M". J-Point (in Japanese). 75. December 22, 2000.
  28. ^ a b c Tsuriya, Takako (May 2008). "Ayu 10th Year Career Anniversary". Cawaii (in Japanese): 15, 18.
  29. ^ a b Tsuriya, Takako (November 2007). "Side Face Story". Cawaii (in Japanese).
  30. ^ "Ranking of Ayumi Hamasaki's Albums by Sales" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on August 13, 2010. Retrieved July 24, 2010. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  31. ^ "Million-Selling Singles of 2000" (in Japanese). RIAJ. Archived from the original on April 18, 2008. Retrieved April 19, 2008. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  32. ^ "J-pop Divas Fight It Out". Straits Times. Singapore: Singapore Press Holdings. Reuters. April 20, 2001.
  33. ^ "Rain to Perform at Prestigious Tokyo Dome". Chosun Ilbo. Chosun Ilbo Co. April 19, 2007. Retrieved July 23, 2010.
  34. ^ 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.
  35. ^ 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.
  36. ^ 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.
  37. ^ "Song+Nation" (in Japanese). Avex Trax. Archived from the original on January 20, 2008. Retrieved January 24, 2008. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  38. ^ "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)
  39. ^ 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.
  40. ^ 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.
  41. ^ a b c d e Template:Zh icon Sin Chew Interactive (星洲互動). "Ayumi's Legend and Leadership of the Young". Sin Chew Jit Poh. Malaysia: May 21, 2002. 2nd section.
  42. ^ Template:Zh-tw icon "Ayumi Hamasaki Tour". The Epoch Times. June 19, 2002. Archived from the original on December 7, 2008. Retrieved November 18, 2008. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  43. ^ "Ayumi Hamasaki Stadium Tour 2002 A". Famitsu (in Japanese). Enterbrain. February 25, 2002. Retrieved October 7, 2008.
  44. ^ "Japanische Pop-Diva meets Trance" (in German). Raveline. Retrieved July 25, 2010. [dead link‍]
  45. ^ "Neue Single mit Remixen von Armin van Buuren & Kyau vs Albert" (in German). Raveline. Retrieved July 25, 2010. [dead link‍]
  46. ^ "Million-Selling Singles of 2002" (in Japanese). RIAJ. Archived from the original on January 17, 2008. Retrieved January 28, 2008. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  47. ^ "Ayumi Hamasaki's Long-form Film "Sinking into the Moon": Modeling Exposure". Epoch Times. November 21, 2002. Retrieved November 5, 2009.
  48. ^ Tsuriya, Takako (March 1, 2007). "Honey Trap". Cawaii (in Japanese). 8 (75): 19, 21.
  49. ^ 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. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  50. ^ "Interview With Ayumi Hamasaki". Casa Brutus (in Japanese). 54: 24–28. September 2004.
  51. ^ 浜崎あゆみ. Beat Freak (Avex) (in Japanese) (192). January 5, 2004.
  52. ^ "Million-Selling Albums of 2003". RIAJ. Archived from the original on January 17, 2008. Retrieved January 25, 2008. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  53. ^ "Yearly Album Rankings for 2004" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on December 14, 2008. Retrieved December 1, 2008. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  54. ^ "Ayumi Hamasaki: Newly Released Details of Her Singles" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on March 17, 2008. Retrieved April 23, 2008. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  55. ^ a b c "The First-Time Stench of Being a Human". Oricon Style (in Japanese) (49–1275): 17–19. December 27, 2004.
  56. ^ a b Tsuriya, Takako (January 1, 2005). "Ayumi Hamasaki: Always our Princess". Cawaii (in Japanese): 10–15.
  57. ^ "Million-Selling Albums of 2004" (in Japanese). RIAJ. Archived from the original on April 18, 2008. Retrieved April 9, 2008. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  58. ^ "Yearly Album Rankings for 2005" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on December 15, 2008. Retrieved December 1, 2008. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  59. ^ 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.
  60. ^ a b Template:Ja icon Fuji, Miho (藤井美保) (January 5, 2006). "Ayumi Hamasaki: Bold & Delicious/Pride". Girlpop. 76 (462): 16–18.
  61. ^ a b Hayakawa, Kanako (January 2006). "Ayumi Hamasaki". Sweet (in Japanese): 18–20.
  62. ^ Garcia, Cathy A (February 7, 2006). "Ayumi Hamasaki '(miss)understood'". The Korea Times.
  63. ^ "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. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  64. ^ a b "Yearly Album Rankings for 2006" (in Japanese). Oricon. December 21, 2006. Archived from the original on April 8, 2008. Retrieved March 28, 2008. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  65. ^ 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")
  66. ^ "Ayumi Hamasaki Arena Tour 2006" (in Japanese). Avex Marketing Inc. Archived from the original on March 13, 2006. Retrieved February 20, 2008.
  67. ^ "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. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  68. ^ a b c "Secret Special Interview" (in Japanese). Avex Trax. Archived from the original on October 19, 2008. Retrieved October 8, 2008. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  69. ^ a b c Nabeshima, Himiko (January 2007). "Ayu's 14 Secrets". Vivi (in Japanese). 76: 24–29.
  70. ^ "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. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  71. ^ "Gold-Certified Records of November 2006" (in Japanese). RIAJ. Archived from the original on February 1, 2008. Retrieved January 26, 2008. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  72. ^ "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.
  73. ^ "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. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  74. ^ Template:Zh-tw icon "Ayumi Hamasaki Visits The Night Market". The Epoch Times. March 22, 2007. Archived from the original on December 7, 2008. Retrieved November 17, 2008. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  75. ^ "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.
  76. ^ "Tickets to Hamasaki Ayumi's Show at the Red Hall Sold Out in Three Hours". EastDay (in Chinese). Eastday. February 9, 2007. Retrieved February 22, 2008.
  77. ^ "Ayumi Hamasaki's First Kiss!" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on July 22, 2008. Retrieved July 22, 2008. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  78. ^ "Chart Ranking for This Week！" (in Japanese). Oricon. September 25, 2007. Archived from the original on March 3, 2008. Retrieved February 12, 2008. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  79. ^ "Record Association Monthly Download Charts for December" (in Japanese). RIAJ. Archived from the original on January 22, 2008. Retrieved January 24, 2008. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  80. ^ "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. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  81. ^ Bang, Wei-Tin (April 2008). "Review of Guilty". Teenage Magazine. Singapore: Key Edition.
  82. ^ Toh, Christopher (January 24, 2008). "Review — Guilty". Today. Singapore: MediaCorp Press.
  83. ^ "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.
  84. ^ "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.)
  85. ^ 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.
  86. ^ "Ayu: Global Sales of Her Remix Albums". Sponichi Annex (in Japanese). Mainichi Shimbun. March 7, 2008. Retrieved March 12, 2008.
  87. ^ "Ayumi Hamasaki finishes 10th anniversary tour". Japan Today. June 30, 2008. Retrieved October 8, 2008. [dead link‍]
  88. ^ "Ayumi Hamasaki to release best-of album to mark 10th anniversary of debut". Japan Today. July 26, 2008. Retrieved July 26, 2008. [dead link‍]
  89. ^ "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 9, 2008. Retrieved December 10, 2008.
  90. ^ "Ayu's USB album" (in Japanese). Sponichi Annex. Archived from the original on February 12, 2009. Retrieved February 12, 2009.
  91. ^ "Ayumi Hamasaki official website news and information" (in Japanese). Avex. Archived from the original on February 14, 2009. Retrieved February 13, 2009. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  92. ^ Greenberg, Adam. "Next Level". All Media Guide (Rovi Corporation). Retrieved September 2, 2010.
  93. ^ "Gold-Certified Works of March 2009" (in Japanese). RIAJ. Archived from the original on May 5, 2009. Retrieved May 14, 2009. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  94. ^ "Ayumi Hamasaki, to sing first drama theme song in six years". Oricon. Retrieved July 2, 2009.
  95. ^ "Ayumi Hamasaki Has the Most Top 10 Singles in History, with 44 Titles" (in Japanese). Oricon. August 18, 2009. Retrieved April 3, 2010.
  96. ^ Eremenko, Alexey. "Rock'n'Roll Circus". All Media Guide (Rovi Corporation). Retrieved September 2, 2010.
  97. ^ "Hamasaki Ayumi's Tenth Number-One Original Album" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved April 20, 2010.
  98. ^ "Hamasaki Ayumi, One New Web Experiment After Another" (in Japanese). MSN. April 13, 2010. Archived from the original on April 20, 2010. Retrieved April 20, 2010.
  99. ^ "Hamasaki Ayumi Tries an Experiment on the Internet". Sina.com (in Chinese). SINA Corporation. April 15, 2010. Retrieved April 20, 2010.
  100. ^ "2010 News". Livespire.jp. Sony Corporation. Archived from the original on August 18, 2010. Retrieved August 6, 2010. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  101. ^ "Release Information: A3D ayumi hamasaki ARENA TOUR 2009 A ～NEXT LEVEL～". Livespire.jp. Sony Corporation.
  102. ^ "Screening Information Schedule & 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. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  103. ^ "July 14 (Wednesday) New Single 'Moon/Blossom' [and] 'Blossom/Moon'". Ayumi Hamasaki Official Website (in Japanese). Avex. Retrieved August 18, 2010.
  104. ^ "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. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  105. ^ "Ayu Covers a Male Song for the First Time on Her New Work" (in Japanese). Oricon. August 31, 2010. Retrieved September 23, 2010.
  106. ^ Template:Zh-tw icon "Hamasaki [Assists] in Pupil Urata Naoya's Debut" (in Chinese). UDN Group. December 10, 2010. Retrieved December 31, 2010.[dead link‍]
  107. ^ "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.
  108. ^ "SCHEDULE – ayumi hamasaki(浜崎あゆみ) official website". Avexnet.or.jp. Retrieved December 27, 2011.
  109. ^ "NEWS&INFORMATION – ayumi hamasaki(浜崎あゆみ) official website". Avexnet.or.jp. Retrieved December 27, 2011.
  110. ^ [1][dead link‍]
  111. ^ "NEWS&INFORMATION – ayumi hamasaki(浜崎あゆみ) official website". Avexnet.or.jp. Retrieved December 27, 2011.
  112. ^ "NEWS&INFORMATION – ayumi hamasaki(浜崎あゆみ) official website". Avexnet.or.jp. Retrieved December 27, 2011.
  113. ^ 2011年05月04日 04時00分. "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. Retrieved December 27, 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  114. ^ "Ayumi Hamasaki to sing theme song for "Tales of Xillia"!". Tokyohive.com. December 30, 2010. Retrieved December 30, 2012.
  115. ^ "Recording Industry Association of Japan". Recording Industry Association of Japan.
  116. ^ "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".
  117. ^ "Theme Song 「最後から二番目の恋」released as a single on 2/8!".
  118. ^ "Ayumi Hamasaki Sings Theme Song for Upcoming Drama".
  119. ^ Giardina, Carolyn (November 17, 2011). "'Hugo' Tops International 3D Society Awards With Three Trophies". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 18, 2012.
  120. ^ "Ayumi Hamasaki Wins Award At International 3D Awards". Jpopasia.com. February 10, 2012. Retrieved February 18, 2012.
  121. ^ 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. {{cite web}}: |archive-date= requires |archive-url= (help)
  122. ^ "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.
  123. ^ "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. {{cite web}}: |archive-date= requires |archive-url= (help)
  124. ^ "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. {{cite web}}: |archive-date= requires |archive-url= (help)
  125. ^ "DJ Hello Kitty and Ayumi Hamasaki United at Last!". Anime News Network. December 25, 2013. Retrieved January 16, 2014.
  126. ^ "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. {{cite web}}: |archive-date= requires |archive-url= (help)
  127. ^ "新曲「Pray」配信スタート!!". Ayumi Hamasaki Official website (in Japanese). Retrieved June 15, 2014. {{cite web}}: |archive-date= requires |archive-url= (help)
  128. ^ "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). Retrieved June 15, 2014. {{cite web}}: |archive-date= requires |archive-url= (help)
  129. ^ "LIVE - "ayumi hamasaki PREMIUM SHOWCASE ～Feel the love～"". Ayumi Hamasaki Official website (in Japanese). Retrieved June 15, 2014.
  130. ^ "【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.
  131. ^ "Ayumi Hamasaki's New Challenge, the "Premium Showcase"". Barks. April 17, 2014. Retrieved April 23, 2014.
  132. ^ 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). Retrieved July 14, 2014. {{cite web}}: |archive-date= requires |archive-url= (help)
  133. ^ Hamasaki Ayumi releases her two singles "Terminal" and "XOXO" on the PlugAir platform. Barks Japan September 18, 2014.
  134. ^ "Ayumi Hamasaki brings the house down at a-nation Singapore". MSN Philippines News. MSN. Retrieved October 19, 2014. {{cite web}}: |archive-date= requires |archive-url= (help)
  135. ^ "(no title)". Ayumi Hamasaki official Facebook page. Facebook. November 2, 2014. Retrieved November 3, 2014. {{cite web}}: Cite uses generic title (help)
  136. ^ "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.
  137. ^ "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.
  138. ^ "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.
  139. ^ "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. {{cite web}}: |archive-date= requires |archive-url= (help)
  140. ^ a b c d e f Takeuchi Cullen, Lisa (March 25, 2002). "Empress of Pop". Time. p. 2. Archived from the original on December 24, 2007. Retrieved January 26, 2008.
  141. ^ a b 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.
  142. ^ a b 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.
  143. ^ a b Pan, Philip P. (November 27, 2000). "Taiwan's Teens Take Style Cues From Tokyo". Washington Post.
  144. ^ Nieman, Teresa (March 25, 2010). "Why Japanese Pop Matters". The Guardian. Retrieved August 31, 2010.
  145. ^ Hickey, David (June 22, 2006). "The D.I.Y. Route to Rock Stardom". The Japan Times. Retrieved February 5, 2009.
  146. ^ "Takeuchi Cullen, Lisa (March 25, 2002). "The Many Faces of Ayu". Time. p. 6. Archived from the original on December 15, 2007. Retrieved February 2, 2008.
  147. ^ a b Misaki, Tetsu (July 20, 2002). "浜崎あゆみ～共感はどこまで可能か". Jポップの日本語―歌詞論 (in Japanese). Chiyoda, Tokyo: Sairyuusha. pp. 23–40. ISBN 4-88202-752-6. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |trans_chapter= ignored (|trans-chapter= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  148. ^ "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. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  149. ^ "Discovering Fujita". The Star. January 9, 2006. Archived from the original on January 9, 2009. Retrieved February 5, 2009. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  150. ^ Bremner, Brian (May 7, 2007). "Raising Japan's Cool Quotient". BusinessWeek. Archived from the original on March 4, 2009. Retrieved February 5, 2009. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  151. ^ a b Takeuchi Cullen, Lisa (March 25, 2002). "Empress of Pop". Time. p. 4. Archived from the original on March 22, 2008. Retrieved March 31, 2008.
  152. ^ "Asian Stars to Shine in Seoul". Yonhap. November 26, 2004. Retrieved August 5, 2008.[dead link‍] (Registration needed to view article)
  153. ^ Kanda, Sachie (October 10, 2002). "Japan, China celebrate 30 years with gala concert". Japan Today. Archived from the original on August 5, 2008. Retrieved August 5, 2008.
  154. ^ Kang, James (June 12, 2007). "She goes all out to charm Hong Kong". The New Paper. Singapore Press Holdings. Archived from the original on June 16, 2007. Retrieved February 4, 2009.
  155. ^ 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. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  156. ^ Yuuki, Tai (February 28, 2007). "A Thorough Analysis! Her Best-of Albums and Approaching Her Charm!". Oricon Style. Oricon. Retrieved November 3, 2009.
  157. ^ McClure, Steve (December 19, 2001). "2001 – A Sound Odyssey". The Japan Times. The Japan Times Ltd. Retrieved November 4, 2009.
  158. ^ a b c "Ayumi Hamasaki's Profile (Avex)". Avex Network. Archived from the original on December 17, 2005. Retrieved March 23, 2008.
  159. ^ Fuji, Miho. "Ayumi Hamasaki 『NEXT LEVEL』". Tokyo Headline. Retrieved September 2, 2010.[dead link‍]
  160. ^ J-Point. December 22, 2000. Volume 75.
  161. ^ a b "Ayumi Hamasaki Most Recently Models as Joan of Arc". The Epoch Times (in Chinese). April 19, 2002. Archived from the original on March 6, 2009. Retrieved January 26, 2009. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  162. ^ Ayumi Hamasaki — Piano Solo — New Piano Sounds Top 25. Volume 7. ISBN 978-4-89638-944-9
  163. ^ Kazuki, Okabe. "Loveppears". Beat Freak Online. Avex. Archived from the original on August 20, 2004. Retrieved November 6, 2009.
  164. ^ a b Shubert, Atika (Interviewer) (2006). TalkAsia (TV-series). Japan: CNN.
  165. ^ "Artist profile of Princess China Music Orchestra" (in Chinese). Avex Taiwan. Retrieved May 2, 2008. [dead link‍]
  166. ^ a b Tsuriya, Takako (August 2006). "Relaxed Smile". Cawaii (in Japanese): 15–16.
  167. ^ Takako Tsuriya (March 1, 2007). "Honey Trap". S Cawaii (in Japanese). 8 (32): 19–21.
  168. ^ "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.
  169. ^ "Hamasaki Ayumi's New Album, With a Grueling Performance and a Crocodile". XinhuaNet (in Chinese). Xinhua News Agency. July 9, 2003. Retrieved August 25, 2009.
  170. ^ "J-pop Guru Hamasaki Ayumi's Subversive, Avant-Garde Sense of Variety". QQ.com (in Chinese). Tencent. December 26, 2003. Retrieved August 25, 2009.
  171. ^ "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. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  172. ^ Hurley, James. "Ayumi Hamasaki – "fairyland"". MSN. Archived from the original on March 24, 2008. Retrieved January 24, 2008. {{cite web}}: |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; May 24, 2008 suggested (help)
  173. ^ Hurley, James. "The Most Expensive Music Videos Ever Made". MSN. Archived from the original on August 22, 2008.
  174. ^ Betros, Chris (April 3, 2005). "Japan's wacky world of celebrities". Japan Today. Archived from the original on October 22, 2008. Retrieved December 7, 2009.
  175. ^ "What's Cool in Japan — Ayumi Hamasaki". Web Japan. Archived from the original on April 23, 2008. Retrieved April 22, 2008. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  176. ^ a b Takeuchi Cullen, Lisa (March 25, 2002). "Empress of Pop". Time. p. 1. Archived from the original on January 13, 2008. Retrieved January 18, 2008. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  177. ^ Lewis, Leo (March 18, 2003). "Pop star bails out troubled bank". The Times. London. Retrieved July 14, 2008.
  178. ^ Caffrey, Rori (July 17, 2003). "Popcetera? / A-nation under a groove". Financial Times (originally from the Daily Yomiuri). Retrieved August 5, 2008. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)[dead link‍]
  179. ^ "Readers Choose the Most Fashionable Artist！" (in Japanese). Oricon. April 19, 2006. Archived from the original on January 25, 2008. Retrieved January 26, 2008. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  180. ^ Magnier, Mark (August 25, 2000). "Tokyo Robe". Los Angeles Times.
  181. ^ 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. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  182. ^ Lloyd, Richard Parry (January 10, 2004). "Why Japan Is Struggling to Stay in the Black". The Times. London: News Corporation. Retrieved February 3, 2009.
  183. ^ "Anything But Black". The Age. Melbourne: Fairfax Media. April 2, 2004. Archived from the original on July 23, 2010. Retrieved March 3, 2009.
  184. ^ Loh, Noelle (January 3, 2008). "Second Chances". AsiaOne. Singapore Press Holdings. Retrieved January 29, 2009.[dead link‍]
  185. ^ Chang, Miharu (February 25, 2003). "Keep Away Unless You've Got a Stuffy Nose!". The New Paper. Singapore Press Holdings.
  186. ^ Chua, Charlene (January 24, 2009). "Ayumi bumps it up". The New Paper. Singapore Press Holdings. Archived from the original on January 29, 2009. Retrieved January 24, 2009. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  187. ^ "A" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on December 1, 2008. Retrieved November 17, 2008. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  188. ^ Lytle, J. Mark (May 2003). "Ayumi Inc". Wired (Issue 11.05).
  189. ^ "Boss CM" (in Japanese). Suntory Limited. Retrieved February 23, 2008.
  190. ^ Gantayat, Anoop. "Big Star Talent for Onimusha". IGN. Archived from the original on January 3, 2008. Retrieved February 12, 2008. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  191. ^ "Dearest" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on December 7, 2008. Retrieved November 17, 2008. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  192. ^ "Heaven" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on December 7, 2008. Retrieved November 17, 2008. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  193. ^ Spencer . July 4, 2011 . 10:41 pm (July 4, 2011). "Ayumi Hamasaki Album Includes Tales Of Xilla Costume Code For Milla". Siliconera. Retrieved December 27, 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  194. ^ 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.
  195. ^ "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. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  196. ^ "Ayumi Hamasaki Collaboration is a Dream!". Barks.jp (in Japanese). ITmedia. Retrieved July 23, 2008.
  197. ^ "Ayu ready?" (in Japanese). Fuji TV. Archived from the original on April 4, 2008. Retrieved January 24, 2008.
  198. ^ "Ayumi Hamasaki donates 35 million yen to relief efforts in Japan". Asia Pacific Arts. March 22, 2011.
  199. ^ "Ayumi Hamasaki and Tokio's Tomoya Nagase break up". Japan News Review. July 14, 2007. Archived from the original on January 21, 2008. Retrieved January 24, 2008. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  200. ^ "Ayumi Hamasaki's Marriage Announcement". Sponichi Annex. December 31, 2010. Retrieved December 31, 2010. [dead link‍]
  201. ^ "Pop music idol Hamasaki gets married in U.S." The Japan Times. January 3, 2011. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  202. ^ "Japan's 'Empress of Pop' Ayumi Hamasaki to divorce Austrian actor husband". January 18, 2012. Retrieved January 18, 2012.
  203. ^ "Japan's pop queen to divorce Austrian hubby". January 17, 2012. Retrieved January 17, 2012.
  204. ^ "Ayumi Hamasaki's divorce reason slammed". January 19, 2012. Retrieved January 19, 2012.
  205. ^ "Ayumi Hamasaki rumored to divorce hubby for his racy photoshoot". January 19, 2012. Retrieved January 19, 2012.
  206. ^ maro-allokの投稿 (November 14, 2012). "ご報告｜内山麿我オフィシャルブログ「世の中 「愛 」de オールオッケー」Powered by Ameba". Ameblo.jp. Retrieved December 30, 2012.
  207. ^ "あゆ バックダンサーとの熱愛認める「真剣にお付き合い」 （デイリースポーツ） - Yahoo!ニュース". Headlines.yahoo.co.jp. Retrieved December 30, 2012.[dead link‍]
  208. ^ "浜崎あゆみ米国人医学生と婚約". Nikkan Sports. December 13, 2013. Retrieved December 16, 2013.
  209. ^ "Ayumi Hamasaki engaged to UCLA medical student 10 years her junior". Japan Today. December 13, 2013. Retrieved December 16, 2013.
  210. ^ "Hamasaki Ayumi is now officially married". Tokyohive. March 3, 2014. Retrieved March 3, 2014.
  211. ^ a b "Singer Ayumi Hamasaki says she has lost hearing in her left ear". Japan Today. January 8, 2008. Retrieved January 8, 2008. (Archived version)
  212. ^ "Japan's pop princess 'Ayu' goes half deaf". AFP. January 6, 2008. Archived from the original on February 18, 2008. Retrieved February 2, 2008. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)

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.
Wikiquote has quotations related to Ayumi Hamasaki.

Template:Persondata

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Ayumi_Hamasaki&oldid=636449911"