Ayumi Hamasaki facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ayumi Hamasaki
浜崎あゆみ
Hamasaki in Ningbo, China (2024)
Born	Ayumi Hamasaki (濱﨑 歩) (1978-10-02) October 2, 1978 (age 46) Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan
Other names	Ayu Crea
Occupation	Singer songwriter record producer actress model spokesperson entrepreneur
Spouse(s)	Manuel Schwarz ​ ​ (m. 2011; div. 2012)​ Tyson Bodkin ​ ​ (m. 2014; div. 2016)​
Children	2
Musical career
Genres	J-pop pop dance electronic rock
Years active	1993–present
Labels	Nippon Columbia Avex Trax Warner Music (Malaysia) Pt. Indo Semar Sakti (Indonesia)
Signature

Ayumi Hamasaki (浜崎あゆみ, Hamasaki Ayumi, born October 2, 1978) is a famous Japanese singer, songwriter, and producer. People often call her the "Empress of Pop" because she has had a huge impact on music across Asia. She is known for her amazing songs, writing skills, and exciting live shows.

Ayumi Hamasaki is the best-selling solo artist in Japan. She is also seen as a cultural icon of the Heisei era, which was a time of great change in Japan.

Ayumi grew up in Fukuoka, Japan. When she was 14 in 1993, she moved to Tokyo to become a singer and actress. In 1998, she released her first song, "Poker Face", and her first big album, A Song for ××. This album quickly became number one on the Oricon charts and stayed there for five weeks. It sold over a million copies!

People loved her quick rise to fame because of her unique way of writing lyrics. She wrote about feelings and experiences that many people could relate to. Her next ten albums also sold over a million copies in Japan. Her third album, Duty, sold almost three million copies. Her first collection album, A Best, sold more than four million copies. This really showed how important she was in the music world.

After A Best, Ayumi started trying out different music styles and lyrics. She even began adding English words to her songs, starting with the album Rainbow. Her later albums included electronic pop and rock music. Ayumi says she focuses on making music she loves, "whether it is trendy or not". She holds the record for the most albums by a female artist to reach the top ten in Japan.

Ayumi Hamasaki has sold over 50 million records in Japan. She also holds many records for her singles. She has the most number-one hits by a female artist (38). She also has the most number-one hits in a row by a solo artist (25). From 1999 to 2010, she had at least two songs each year that topped the charts. She is the first female artist to have ten studio albums reach number one on the Oricon charts since her debut. She is also the first artist to have a number-one album for 13 years in a row.

Her remix albums, Super Eurobeat Presents Ayu-ro Mix and Ayu-mi-x II Version Non-Stop Mega Mix, are two of the best-selling remix albums worldwide.

Ayumi Hamasaki's Journey to Stardom

Early Life and First Steps in Music (1978–1997)

Ayumi Hamasaki was born in Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture. Her father left when she was three, so her mother and grandmother raised her. Her grandmother often took care of her because her mother worked full-time. Ayumi said she was a "tomboy" and a "strange kid" who liked to be alone when she was young.

When she was seven, Ayumi started modeling for local businesses to help her family earn money. At fourteen, she moved to Tokyo to try modeling with an agency called SOS. But she was told she was too short for modeling. So, she moved to Sun Music, an agency for musicians.

In 1995, Ayumi released a rap EP (a short album) called Nothing from Nothing under the Nippon Columbia label. But the album didn't do well, and she was let go from the label. After this, Ayumi tried acting in small movies and TV shows, but they weren't very popular. She also co-hosted a radio show.

Ayumi wasn't happy with acting, so she stopped and moved in with her mother in Tokyo. She had good grades in junior high school, but she lost interest in her studies. She felt the subjects weren't useful to her. Her grades got worse, and she dropped out of a high school for arts in her first year. Ayumi spent her time shopping in Shibuya and dancing at a club called Velfarre.

At Velfarre, a friend introduced her to Max Matsuura, who would become her future producer. Max heard Ayumi sing karaoke and offered her a music deal. At first, Ayumi said no because she was suspicious. But Max kept trying and convinced her to join the Avex label the next year.

Ayumi started vocal training, but she found the classes boring and the teachers too strict. When she told Max, he sent her to New York to train with a different method. While in New York, Ayumi wrote to Max often. He was impressed by her writing style and suggested she try writing her own song lyrics.

Becoming a Music Star (1998–1999)

Ayumi Hamasaki made her official debut with Avex when she was 19. Her first single, "Poker Face", came out on April 8, 1998. Her first few singles weren't huge hits, but each one did better than the last. This helped her become more known.

Her first album, A Song for ××, was released on January 1, 1999. The songs were mostly "pop-rock" style. But Ayumi's lyrics were special. She wrote about her own feelings and experiences, focusing on loneliness and being an individual. Many Japanese people connected with her words. The album was a big success, topping the Oricon charts for five weeks and selling over a million copies. She even won an award for "Best New Artist of the Year".

With Ayu-mi-x (March 1999), Ayumi started to explore new music styles. This was the first of many remix albums. She began adding different sounds like trance, dance, and orchestra music. Her singles also started to show more variety, including dance songs and ballads. She got her first number-one single ("Love: Destiny") and her first song to sell over a million copies ("A").

Her second album, Loveppears (November 1999), also topped the Oricon charts and sold almost 3 million copies. Ayumi's lyrics changed a bit on this album. While still talking about loneliness, many songs were written from a different point of view. To support Loveppears, she went on her first concert tour.

Big Hits and New Sounds (2000–2002)

From April to June 2000, Ayumi released a series of three singles called the "Trilogy": "Vogue", "Far Away", and "Seasons". The lyrics of these songs were about feeling hopeless. This was because Ayumi felt she hadn't fully expressed herself before.

Her next album, Duty (September 2000), also had songs about loneliness, confusion, and the weight of her responsibilities. The music was darker, with a rock sound. Duty became Ayumi's best-selling studio album. "Seasons" sold over a million copies. At the end of 2000, Ayumi held her first New Year's Eve concert.

In 2001, her record company released her first collection album, A Best. It competed with another popular artist's album, and both sold over 5 million copies! Ayumi went on a tour of Japan's biggest concert venues, including the Tokyo Dome. This showed she was one of Japan's top artists.

In 2002, I Am... was a big step for Ayumi. She started writing all the music for her songs herself, using the name "Crea". The song "M" from 2000 was the first one she composed. This album also showed a change in her lyrics. After the September 11 attacks, Ayumi changed her focus for I Am... to themes like faith and world peace. The song "A Song Is Born", a duet, was directly inspired by these events.

Ayumi also performed her first concert outside Japan at the MTV Asia music awards in Singapore. This was seen as a move to reach more people outside Japan. She won "Most Influential Japanese Singer in Asia". She released her first European single, "Connected", a dance song, in Germany.

Her single "H" became the best-selling single of 2002. For her song "Voyage", a short film called Tsuki ni Shizumu was made instead of a regular music video.

Her next album, Rainbow (December 2002), was the first to use English lyrics. Ayumi felt that by only writing in Japanese, she couldn't share her "message" with other countries. She realized English was a "common global language". The album had many different styles, including rock and trip hop. The lyrics talked about freedom, women's struggles, and sad summers.

Exploring New Sounds (2003–2006)

In 2003, Ayumi released three singles: "&", "Forgiveness", and "No Way to Say". To celebrate her thirtieth single, "Forgiveness", she held a special concert. Her mini-album Memorial Address (December 2003) was her first album released with both a CD and a DVD. This was because she was more interested in how her music videos looked. This album also topped the charts and sold over a million copies.

By the end of her 2003–2004 tour, Ayumi felt unhappy with her record company. She felt they were treating her like a product, not a person. Because of this, and feeling her last two albums were rushed, she started working on My Story (December 2004) early.

For My Story, Ayumi wrote freely and honestly, without a set theme. The album had mostly autobiographical lyrics about her feelings and memories. It also had a strong rock sound, showing her love for rock music. She was so happy with the result that she said My Story was the first album she was truly satisfied with. My Story and its singles all topped the charts. It became her last studio album to sell over a million copies.

In 2006, Ayumi's seventh album, (Miss)understood, showed new musical directions. She wanted to sing songs like the group Sweetbox. So, she got permission to use some of their demo songs and changed them to fit her style. The album had many different types of music, including ballads, funk, dance-pop, R&B, and rock songs. All of its singles reached number one. (Miss)understood also reached number one, but it was her first studio album to sell less than a million copies.

Her next single, "Startin'", set a new record for most number-one singles by a solo female artist. Her album Secret was released in November 2006. The album's theme was "secrets" and it explored strong women, love, and sadness. It mostly had rock songs and ballads. This album also topped the charts, making Ayumi the only artist to have eight number-one studio albums in a row.

More Success and Global Steps (2007–2008)

In 2007, Ayumi released A Best 2, which was two collection albums. They contained songs from her albums I Am... to (Miss)understood. The two versions, White and Black, debuted at the first and second spots on the charts. This made Ayumi the first female artist in 36 years to hold the top two spots on any album chart.

Ayumi held a four-month tour called Tour of Secret. Her fans outside Japan were very excited, and tickets for her shows in Taipei and Hong Kong sold out in less than three hours.

In July 2007, Ayumi released her first single in over a year, "Glitter/Fated". A short film called Distance Love was used as the music video. It was filmed in Hong Kong and starred actor Shawn Yue. This single and the next one, "Talkin' 2 Myself", both reached number one.

In December, she released her first digital-only single, "Together When...". Ayumi's ninth album, Guilty (January 2008), didn't have a specific theme, but she later said the songs seemed to tell a story. Most of the songs were dark and had a rock feel. Guilty reached number two on the charts, which was her first studio album not to reach number one.

Guilty was later released digitally in 26 countries outside Japan. Ayumi also started working with Western DJs for her remix albums. This was seen as her first big step into the global music market.

In April 2008, to celebrate her tenth anniversary with Avex, Ayumi released the single "Mirrorcle World". It topped the charts, making her the only female solo artist to have a number-one single every year for ten years in a row. She also went on her second Asia tour to celebrate her tenth anniversary. In September 2008, she released A Complete: All Singles, a collection album of all her single songs.

Continuing to Break Records (2009–2011)

Ayumi's next two singles, "Days/Green" and "Rule/Sparkle", also reached number one. "Rule" was used as the international theme song for the movie Dragonball Evolution. Her next album, Next Level, was released in March 2009. It was mainly an electronic dance music album. Next Level reached number one, making Ayumi the only artist to have a number-one album every year for eleven years in a row since her debut.

In August 2009, Ayumi released her 46th single, "Sunrise/Sunset (Love Is All)". One of the songs, "Sunrise (Love Is All)", was used as the opening theme for a Japanese TV show. This single became her 21st number-one single in a row. It was also her 44th single to enter the Top 10, making her the artist with the most Top 10 singles ever.

Her eleventh album, Rock 'n' Roll Circus, was released in April 2010. It had some "gothic rock" songs but was mostly "pure and classic J-pop". The album topped the charts, making Ayumi the first female solo artist in twenty years to have ten number-one original studio albums. Ayumi also started using social media more, like MySpace, Ustream, and Twitter.

In July, Ayumi released her 48th single, "Moon/Blossom". This was the first part of a project to celebrate her upcoming 50th single. The next two singles, "Crossroad" and "L", were released within a week of each other. All three singles topped the charts, setting a new record for the most number-one singles in a row by any female artist or solo artist.

In December 2010, Ayumi released her twelfth album, Love Songs. On the same day, she produced a song for another singer for the first time. Love Songs reached number one, becoming her fourth number-one album in a row and her seventeenth overall. It also marked her thirteenth year in a row with a number-one album, breaking her own record.

In February 2011, her tour was rescheduled and renamed Power of Music after the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. Ayumi was deeply affected by the disaster. She worked with a fashion magazine to sell charity shirts, with all profits going to help the victims. In April 2011, Ayumi released four new remix albums at the same time. This made her the first artist to have four albums in Oricon's top 10 and two top positions on the DVD chart.

In August 2011, Ayumi released her second mini-album, Five. This was her first album without any singles released before it. Five topped the charts for two weeks in a row. The main song, "Progress", was used for a video game. This album was certified Gold, meaning it sold a lot of copies.

Anniversaries and New Music (2012–2013)

In 2012, Ayumi received an award for her 3D concert tour.

In March 2012, Ayumi released her thirteenth album, Party Queen, which she recorded in London. The album's title was inspired by British slang for someone who parties hard but is struggling inside. The album reached number two on the charts. It explored themes of sadness, feeling alone, and regret. Ayumi said the album cover had hints of her earlier work, showing she still felt trapped.

In August 2012, Ayumi released her sixth collection album, A Summer Best. It included two new songs. In September 2012, to celebrate her 15th anniversary in music, it was announced that she would release new music for five months in a row. This included two mini-albums, Love and Again, and a classical album. Her 14th album, Love Again, combined songs from the mini-albums and reached number one.

In April 2013, Ayumi began her 15th Anniversary Tour: A Best Live. Fans voted for the songs they wanted her to perform. This tour was later released as her first live album. In December 2013, Ayumi released "Feel the Love/Merry-go-round", her first physical single in three years. These songs were influenced by Western dance-pop music.

International Collaborations and Milestones (2014–2015)

In January 2014, a new song called "Pray" was chosen as the theme song for an anime film. Another new song, "Hello New Me", became the theme song for a TV drama.

From May to July 2014, Ayumi held her Premium Showcase: Feel the Love tour. For the first time, she changed the traditional concert format and performed a shorter, uninterrupted show. She even debuted as an aerial acrobat on this tour!

Ayumi's fifteenth album, Colours, was released in July 2014. It featured famous international producers. Colours reached number five on the charts. This made her the second artist in Japan's history to have 47 albums in the Top 10.

In September 2014, Ayumi released two songs from Colours digitally. In October 2014, she performed in Singapore for the second time. In November 2014, she announced a "winter ballad trilogy" single. This single, "Zutto.../Last Minute/Walk", was released in December and reached number five. With this, Ayumi became the first solo artist in Japan to have 50 singles in the Top 10.

In December 2014, Ayumi decided not to attend the New Year's show Kōhaku Uta Gassen for the first time in 15 years. She wanted to focus on expanding her influence across Asia.

In February 2015, Ayumi made a surprise appearance at a concert in Taipei, Taiwan. She sang a duet and announced that a Singaporean singer would produce a song for her next album. A One was released in April 2015, including the new songs.

From April to July 2015, Ayumi went on her Arena Tour 2015 A: Cirque de Minuit tour in Japan. This was her longest concert to date, with 34 songs and lasting almost four hours. She later announced another tour just for her fan club members.

In April 2015, a new song called "Step by Step" became the theme song for a TV drama. It was released digitally in July and was the main song for her mini-album Sixxxxxx, released in August 2015. This album had six new songs, including a collaboration with a Taiwanese boyband. "Sayonara" became number one on digital download charts in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Malaysia. Ayumi also performed at a big music festival in August.

In December 2015, Ayumi released a winter-themed album called Winter Diary: A7 Classical. It had classical versions of songs from her previous albums and one new song. She promoted the album by starting an Instagram account.

Recent Years and 20th Anniversary (2016–Present)

A special 15th anniversary edition of A Best was released in March 2016. In May 2016, Ayumi started her Arena Tour 2016 A: Made in Japan tour.

Her album Made in Japan was released on streaming platforms in May and physically in June 2016. In May 2017, Ayumi began her Just the Beginning Tour 2017. She released "Words" as a free download for tour attendees.

Ayumi went on the Power of Music: 20th Anniversary tour from April to July 2018. Trouble, her seventh EP, was released in August 2018. A 20th anniversary edition of Loveppears was released in November 2019. In December, Ayumi held her yearly New Year's Eve concert.

In February 2020, Ayumi started her Trouble Tour 2020, but it was canceled after two dates due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In response, she held many online concerts. Two new singles, "Ohia no Ki" and "Dreamed a Dream", were also released in 2020.

In April 2021, Ayumi released the album A Ballads 2, which included remastered songs and a new cover. She also released the digital single "23rd Monster" on her 23rd anniversary. This song talks about public pressure and taking control of one's life.

In June 2021, Ayumi held an online concert. She also announced a new tour called Asia Tour 2021-2022 A: 23rd Monster. In August, she performed "23rd Monster" on a TV show. In October, she was a guest judge on a show, helping new artists. At the end of the year, her New Year's Eve concerts were held in person and streamed online.

In 2022, the digital single "Nonfiction" was released in April. Its lyrics speak out against false news. It was first revealed at her 24th Anniversary Special concert. After the concert, Ayumi said she hoped everyone who has been on her journey would think, "I'm glad I had this person in my life."

"Summer Again" was released in July, with its music video filmed on Ishigaki Island. In July and August, she held seven Summer TA Party 2022 concerts. Her third digital single of 2022, "Mask", was released in November. Ayumi performed at the FNS Music Festival in December. Her final show for the Asia Tour 2021-2022 A: 23rd Monster took place in December 2022.

Her New Year's Eve concert, Countdown Live 2022–2023: Remember You, was held in December 2022.

25th Anniversary (2023)

In January 2023, Ayumi released her eighteenth album: Remember You. This album helped her become the female artist with the most albums to reach the top ten on the Oricon charts.

In March 2023, Ayumi became a brand ambassador for a beauty company. When asked about her 25th anniversary, she said she couldn't have done it alone. She wanted to thank the people who supported her. She held her 25th Anniversary Live concert in April.

In July 2023, Ayumi began her 25th Anniversary Tour. This tour included locations in all 47 prefectures of Japan for the first time. Ayumi said she wanted to "see all of Team Ayu" for her anniversary. Her New Year's concert, Countdown Live 2023-2024: A Complete 25, took place in December.

Recent Activities (2024–Present)

In March 2024, Ayumi released a cover song as the theme for a TV show. In April, "Bye-Bye" was used as a theme for a children's music program. In May, "Aurora" was released as the theme for a game's anniversary.

In September 2024, Ayumi performed at the main stage of A-Nation 2024, a big music festival. She also started her TA Limited: Thank U Tour, holding seven concerts.

Ayumi's third Asia tour, Asia Tour 2024 A: I am Ayu, began in Shanghai in November. The tour includes her annual Countdown Live concerts in Tokyo.

Ayumi Hamasaki's Creative Process

How She Writes Lyrics

Ayumi Hamasaki found it hard to say her thoughts out loud, so she started writing as a way to express herself. She gets ideas from her own life and feelings, and from the lives of people around her. She believes being honest is very important in her lyrics. She once said, "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".

Early in her career, her lyrics changed as she became more famous. She started using words like "we" more often, showing she was thinking about her influence as a public figure. Ayumi's awareness of her fame shaped her albums I Am... and Rainbow. Later, with My Story, she returned to a more personal style. She wanted to create something "unmistakably human" rather than just giving people hope.

Ayumi's lyrics helped define her public image. In surveys, fans often said her writing was their favorite part of her music. One writer noted that Ayumi quickly became known as a "thoughtful, introspective lyricist". Another praised her ability to sing about "the pain and happiness of millennial life".

A special thing about Ayumi's songs is that she often uses English for her song, album, and tour titles. She explained that English titles can bring more ideas to the reader than Japanese ones.

Her Musical Style

Besides writing her own lyrics, Ayumi also helps with other parts of making her music, like the artistic direction. Even though Max Matsuura is officially the producer, he said, "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'."

At first, Ayumi let her staff compose the music. She said, "I'm not a professional; I lack even basic knowledge about writing music." But she started composing her own melodies when her staff couldn't create a tune she liked for the song "M". She wanted her music to match her vision, so she took control of many parts of her artistry.

After I Am..., she composed less. By the time of Secret, she wasn't listed as a composer on her studio albums anymore. She also started letting her staff handle tasks she used to do herself.

Ayumi says she is influenced by artists like Madonna, Babyface, En Vogue, Led Zeppelin, and Deep Purple. She also admires Michelle Branch and Joan Osborne. These different influences have led to the variety in her own music. She started commissioning remixes of her songs early on, which also added to the diversity. These remixes cover many electronic dance music styles, like Eurobeat, house, and trance, as well as acoustic styles. She has worked with both Western and Japanese musicians.

Ayumi has released over a hundred original songs, covering many musical styles. These include dance, metal, R&B, progressive rock, pop, and classical. She uses different instruments and techniques, like piano, orchestra, gospel choirs, guitars, traditional Japanese strings, and sound effects.

Music Videos and Live Shows

Ayumi is often involved in creating her music videos. The videos have different themes, and many tell short stories. Some use symbols to share their messages. Several of her music videos are among the most expensive ever made. This makes Ayumi the only non-American artist on that list.

Ayumi also helps produce and direct her live concerts. Her shows are often grand and use many props, amazing costumes, and planned dances. She has used large video screens, fireworks, fake rain, special stage floors, and hanging devices to make her performances exciting.

Other Activities and Interests

Helping Others (Philanthropy)

In March 2011, Ayumi donated 30 million yen to help with relief efforts after the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. In 2021, she donated 10 million yen to a Japanese health center and received an award for it.

During the 2022 typhoon in Shizuoka, Ayumi spoke out against the media for not reporting enough on the disaster. She organized a donation point and visited Shizuoka to talk to survivors and help coordinate resources.

In May 2018, Ayumi was the main performer for Tokyo Pride. She spoke about her friends and the need to stand up for change. She told the audience, "If there are moments in the future when you feel small and want to give up, please remember this day—I hope that you will always be proud of who you are, and keep going. I will always be walking alongside you."

In 2023, Ayumi adopted two dogs who had serious health problems and had been abused. She spoke with animal shelter representatives about the importance of caring for animals in rescue homes for a long time. She also encouraged people to be aware of puppy mills and how adoption can change an animal's life. She said, "Saving an animal's life won't change the world, but you can change that animal's world forever".

Ayuready? TV Show

From October 2002 to March 2004, Ayumi hosted her own TV talk and variety show called Ayuready? on Fuji Television. The show aired on Saturday nights and often featured her performing songs with guest stars. Famous guests included Goto Maki and Puffy. To promote the show and her album Rainbow, Ayumi even opened a special restaurant called Rainbow House for a short time in 2003.

Products and Endorsements

Early in her career, Ayumi promoted many products, from cell phones and electronics to snacks and coffee. She once said it was "necessary that [she is] viewed as a product". However, she later disagreed with her company's decision to market her as a "product rather than a person" starting in 2004. After this, she took a break from advertising products.

In 2001, Ayumi launched her own fashion brand called MTRLG (Material Girl). In 2002, she created Ayupan, a cartoon version of herself that appeared on merchandise like figurines and in an animation. For her 2007 tour, Ayumi worked with Sanrio to create "Ayumi Hamasaki x Hello Kitty" merchandise. These included cell phone straps and cameras with Hello Kitty and Ayumi's "A" logo.

In August 2019, a novel was released about Ayumi's early career. The book included a message from her. Ayumi said on social media that the book "combined both fact and fiction" and became its own story. A TV show based on the novel aired from April to July 2020.

In March 2023, Ayumi became a beauty brand ambassador. The product packaging featured her "A" logo, and her song "MASK" was used for the advertisements. In October 2023, Ayumi was announced as an ambassador for a jewelry company, and her song "Dearest" was used in their campaign.

In December 2024, Ayumi announced a special collaboration with the Sailor Moon brand. Merchandise featured an illustration of Ayumi and the character Usagi. On the same day, she also launched her second design line with Sanrio, featuring Ayupan and My Melody.

Ayumi Hamasaki's Personal Life

Ayumi Hamasaki had a romantic relationship with her producer, Max Matsuura, from 1998 to 2000.

She dated actor Tomoya Nagase from 2000 to 2007. They had known each other since working on a TV show in 1997.

On January 1, 2011, Ayumi announced her engagement to Austrian actor and model Manuel Schwarz. They had met while filming her music video for "Virgin Road". They married in the United States. On January 16, 2012, Ayumi announced their divorce.

On December 13, 2013, Ayumi announced her engagement again. She said her partner was a student and asked for privacy. On March 3, 2014, she announced her second marriage. The couple divorced in September 2016.

On January 1, 2020, Ayumi shared that she had given birth to her first child at the end of 2019. On October 2, 2020, she announced her second pregnancy. In May 2021, she confirmed she had given birth to her second child in the spring.

Hearing Loss

In January 2008, Ayumi announced on her blog that she had completely lost hearing in her left ear. This was due to a condition that could not be fixed, possibly tinnitus or Ménière's disease. She said the symptoms started around 2000, likely from performing with an ear infection. Ayumi stated that she wanted to keep singing and give her best performances as a professional.

On May 20, 2017, Ayumi shared that she had also started losing hearing in her right ear. She experienced severe dizziness and nausea. Despite this, she promised to keep performing, writing: "The stage is where I belong. It's the only place I really, truly exist. I don't know anything else."

Ayumi Hamasaki's Music Albums

• 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)

Ayumi Hamasaki's Concert Tours

Ayumi Hamasaki's Acting Roles

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	Ayumi's song "Voyage" was the theme song for this movie.
2007	Distance Love	Herself	Short film based on her songs "Glitter" and "Fated".

Video Games and Software Featuring Ayumi Hamasaki

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

Awards Won by Ayumi Hamasaki

Images for kids

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  Hamasaki in Ningbo, China (2024)

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  Ayumi Hamasaki's signature

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  Hamasaki in Taiwan, 2007

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

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

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

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  Ayumi Hamasaki in Taipei 2015

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  Hamasaki's "A" logo

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  A performance of "Mirrorcle World" (2008)

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  Shibuya109 during Hamasaki's 25th Anniversary Campaign, April 2023

See also

In Spanish: Ayumi Hamasaki para niños

• List of awards received by Ayumi Hamasaki
• List of best-selling music artists
• List of best-selling music artists in Japan
• List of J-pop artists