Ayumi Hamasaki facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hamasaki Ayumi
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| 浜崎あゆみ | |
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Hamasaki in 2024
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Hamasaki Ayumi (濱﨑 歩)
October 2, 1978 Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan
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Manuel Schwarz
(m. 2011; div. 2012)Tyson Bodkin
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| Children | 2 |
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Ayumi Hamasaki (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 singing, writing her own songs, and exciting live shows. Ayumi Hamasaki is the best-selling solo artist in Japan. She is also seen as a cultural icon from the Heisei era in Japan.
Ayumi was born and grew up in Fukuoka, Japan. She moved to Tokyo in 1993 to become a model 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 songs because her lyrics were insightful and easy to relate to.
After her first album, Ayumi released ten more albums that each sold over a million copies in Japan. Her third album, Duty, sold almost three million copies. Her first collection of songs, A Best, sold more than four million copies. At one point, she was responsible for over 40% of her record label's earnings!
Ayumi Hamasaki has sold over fifty million music units in Japan. She holds many records for her singles, including:
- The most number-one songs by a female artist (38).
- The most number-one songs in a row by a solo artist (25).
- The most songs that sold over a million copies.
From 1999 to 2010, she had at least two songs each year that reached number one on the charts. She was also the first female artist to have ten studio albums reach number one on the Oricon charts since her debut. She was also the first artist to have a number one album for thirteen years in a row. Her remix albums, Super Eurobeat Presents Ayu-ro Mix and Ayu-mi-x II Version Non-Stop Mega Mix, are some of the best-selling remix albums ever worldwide.
Contents
Ayumi's Journey in Music
Early Life and First Steps (1978–1997)
Ayumi Hamasaki grew up in Fukuoka, Japan, with her mother and grandmother. When she was seven, she started modeling to help her family earn money. At fourteen, she moved to Tokyo by herself to continue modeling. In 1995, she released a rap EP (a short album) called Nothing from Nothing.
Later, her mother moved to Tokyo, and Ayumi started attending Horikoshi Gakuen. She also began acting in movies and TV shows. From 1995 to 1996, she co-hosted a show called Hōkago no Ōsama (After-School King).
Ayumi found it hard to fit in at school and eventually dropped out. During this time, she met Max Matsuura, who offered her a record deal after hearing her sing. At first, she said no because she didn't know his company, Avex. But Matsuura kept trying, and Ayumi agreed to take singing lessons in 1996. She often skipped these lessons, so Matsuura offered to send her to New York for special training. She stayed in New York for three months and wrote many letters to Matsuura. He was impressed by her writing and asked her to try writing song lyrics.
Becoming a Star (1998–1999)
Ayumi Hamasaki officially started her music career on April 8, 1998, with her first single, "Poker Face". Almost a year later, she released her first studio album, A Song for ××. It was a huge success, staying at the top of the Oricon charts for five weeks and selling over a million copies. In 1999, she won the Japan Gold Disc Award for "Best New Artist of the Year".
In March 1999, she released Ayu-mi-x, her first remix album. This showed that she was moving beyond just pop-rock music. She started trying out different music styles in her songs, including reggae and house. She had her first number-one song, "Love: Destiny", and her first song to sell over a million copies, "A". Her second studio album, Loveppears (November 1999), also topped the Oricon charts and sold almost 3 million copies. To support Loveppears, she went on her first tour, Ayumi Hamasaki Concert Tour 2000 A.
Big Albums and New Ideas (2000–2002)
From April to June 2000, Ayumi released three songs known as the "despair trilogy": "Vogue", "Far Away", and "Seasons". Her next album, Duty, talked about her feelings of loneliness and responsibility. Fans loved it, and it became her best-selling studio album.
In 2001, she released her first collection album, A Best. To support Duty and A Best, Ayumi went on a tour of Japan's biggest venues.
In 2002, she released her fourth studio album, I Am.... She wrote many of the songs herself under the name "Crea". After the September 11 attacks, Ayumi changed her ideas for the album to focus on themes like faith and world peace. She also changed the album cover to show herself as a "peace muse". She explained that she felt it wasn't the right time for flashy looks and wanted her message to have a big impact. She went on two tours for I Am.... Later that year, she performed at the MTV Asia music awards in Singapore and won "Most Influential Japanese Singer in Asia". She also released her first European song, "Connected", in Germany.
Her next album, Rainbow, came out in December 2002, after she released singles like "Free & Easy", "H", and "Voyage".
Continued Success (2003–2006)
In 2003, Ayumi released three singles: "&", "Forgiveness", and "No Way to Say". She then held a special concert called A Museum. Her next release, the EP Memorial Address, also topped the Oricon chart and sold over a million copies.
Her album My Story and its singles, "Moments", "Inspire", and "Carols", all reached number one. My Story sold over 1.1 million copies, making it her last studio album to sell over a million units according to Oricon. In 2005, she went on the Ayumi Hamasaki Arena Tour 2005 A: My Story.
Her seventh studio album, (Miss)understood, was released in January 2006. She supported it with a three-month tour. Her song "Startin'" became her twenty-sixth number-one single in March 2006. Her album Secret followed in November 2006.
Anniversaries and New Music (2007–2011)
In February 2007, Ayumi released A Best 2 in two versions, White and Black, which took the top two spots on the charts. She then went on the Tour of Secret.
She released several singles before her ninth album, Guilty, which came out in January 2008. In April, she released "Mirrorcle World" to celebrate her tenth anniversary as a singer. She also held her second Asia tour, Asia Tour 2008: 10th Anniversary. In September 2008, she released A Complete: All Singles.
Her next album, Next Level, released in March 2009, also reached number one. This made her the only artist to have a number-one album every year for eleven years in a row since her debut. She continued to release popular singles, with "Sunrise (Love Is All)" becoming a theme song for a Japanese TV show.
Her eleventh studio album, Rock 'n' Roll Circus, came out in April 2010. Ayumi also started using social media more, joining MySpace, Ustream, and Twitter. Her 2009 tour was even shown in 3D in cinemas! She released more singles and her album Love Songs in December 2010.
In 2011, her planned tour was renamed Power of Music and delayed due to the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. Ayumi focused on helping with charity efforts instead.
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In April 2011, she released four remix albums at the same time. This made her the first artist to have four albums in Oricon's top ten at once. She also held the top two spots on the Oricon DVD chart. In August, she released her second mini-album, Five, which was number one for two weeks.
Milestones and Anniversaries (2012–2015)
In March 2012, Ayumi released her thirteenth studio album, Party Queen. In August, she released her sixth collection album, A Summer Best. To celebrate her fifteenth anniversary, she released new music for five months in a row, including albums like Love and Again.
In April 2013, she started her 15th Anniversary Tour: A Best Live. Fans voted for the songs they wanted to hear on this tour.
From May to July 2014, Ayumi held her Premium Showcase: Feel the Love tour. Her fifteenth studio album, Colours, was released in July 2014. This album was special because she recorded it entirely in Los Angeles.
A One, her sixteenth studio album, came out in April 2015. She described it as a return to her older style. She then went on the Arena Tour 2015 A: Cirque de Minuit tour. She also released Sixxxxxx, her sixth EP, and held a special tour just for her fan club members.
Recent Years (2016–Present)
A special 15th-anniversary edition of A Best was released in March 2016. In May 2016, Ayumi began the Arena Tour 2016 A: Made in Japan tour.
Her album Made in Japan was released on the streaming platform AWA in May 2016. In May 2017, she started her Just the Beginning Tour 2017, which had three parts and lasted until February 2018.
The Power of Music: 20th Anniversary tour ran from April to July 2018. Trouble, her seventh EP, was released in August 2018. She then went on the Ayumi Hamasaki Live Tour: Trouble 2018–2019, which was extended into 2019 and 2020.
In February 2020, her Trouble Tour 2020: Saigo no Trouble tour was canceled after two shows because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Ayumi then took part in many online concerts. Two new songs, "Ohia no Ki" and "Dreamed a Dream", were released in July 2020.
In April 2021, Ayumi released the album A Ballads 2 and the single "23rd Monster". She held concerts like Music for Life: Return and Summer Party 2021. She also started the Asia Tour 2021–2022 A: 23rd Monster.
In November 2021, Ayumi fractured her ankle and later had to be hospitalized for anaphylactic shock. She returned to work soon after and had surgery for her ankle. Her Countdown Live 2021–2022 A: 23rd Monster concerts were held in Tokyo.
In April 2022, she held an anniversary concert called Asia Tour: 24th Anniversary Special. She also released new singles "Nonfiction", "Summer Again", and "Mask". Her Countdown Live 2022–2023: Remember You concert marked her twentieth New Year's Eve show.
25th Anniversary and Beyond (2023–Present)
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On January 25, 2023, Ayumi released her eighteenth studio 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 Rhythm Co. Ltd. For her 25th anniversary, she said she wanted to thank the people who supported her. She held her 25th Anniversary Live concert on April 8, 2023. A special campaign also took place at Shibuya109 to celebrate this milestone.
On July 8, 2023, Ayumi began her 25th Anniversary Tour, which included shows in all 47 prefectures of Japan for the first time. 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 2023.
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In March 2024, Ayumi released a cover song, "Jidai". In April, "Bye-Bye" was used as a theme song for a TV program. In May, "Aurora" was released as a theme for a game's anniversary.
On September 1, 2024, Ayumi performed at A-Nation 2024. She also started her TA Limited: Thank U Tour in Japan. Her third Asia tour, the I Am Ayu Tour, began in Shanghai in November 2024.
On April 8, 2025, the Asia Tour 2025: I Am Ayu Ep. II tour began in Tokyo. She also released "Mimosa" to celebrate her 27th anniversary. In April 2025, she received the Best Artist award at the Weibo Culture Exchange Night. An NHK special about her aired in June 2025.
Ayumi's Artistic Style
Song Lyrics
Ayumi Hamasaki started writing because she found it hard to express her thoughts out loud. She gets ideas for her songs from her own life and feelings, as well as from the people around her. She believes it's important to be honest 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, people noticed that her lyrics changed as she became more famous. She started using words that showed she was thinking about her influence as a public figure. Her lyrics became a big part of her public image. In surveys, fans often said her writing was their favorite part of her music. Critics have praised her ability to sing about the "pain and happiness of millennial life."
Ayumi often uses English for her song, album, and tour titles. She explained that English titles can bring more ideas to mind than Japanese ones.
Music Style
Ayumi Hamasaki has released almost 300 original songs, covering many different music styles. These include dance, metal, R&B, progressive rock, pop, and classical. She has mentioned artists like Madonna, Babyface, and Led Zeppelin as early influences.
She also likes to have her songs remixed in different styles, such as Eurobeat, house, and trance. She has worked with many musicians and groups, including Above & Beyond and the Lamoureux Orchestra.
Besides writing her own lyrics, Ayumi is very involved in making her music. Even though Max Matsuura is officially the producer, he said that Ayumi does a lot of the work that a producer would do. She started writing her own music in 2000, beginning with her song "M". She said she composed it herself because she couldn't find a melody that matched her ideas.
Music Videos and Stage Shows
Ayumi is often involved in creating her music videos. Her videos have many different themes, sometimes telling short stories or using symbols to share messages. Some of her music videos are among the most expensive ever made, making her the only non-American artist on that list.
She also helps plan and direct her live shows. Her concerts are known for being grand productions with many props, amazing costumes, and choreographed dances. She uses large video screens, fireworks, fake rain, special stage floors, and hanging devices to create exciting performances.
Other Activities
Helping Others
In March 2011, Ayumi donated 30 million yen to help with the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami relief efforts. In 2021, she donated 10 million yen to a Japanese health center and received an award for it. In 2022, after a typhoon hit Shizuoka, she criticized the media for not reporting enough on the disaster. She organized a donation point and visited the area to help survivors.
In May 2018, Ayumi was the main performer at Tokyo Pride. She spoke about supporting the LGBTQ community and encouraged everyone to be proud of who they are.
In 2023, Ayumi adopted two dogs who had health issues and had been abused. She spoke with animal shelters to highlight the need to care for animals in rescue homes and to raise awareness about puppy mills. She said, "Saving an animal's life won't change the world, but you can change that animal's world forever."
TV Show and Products
From 2002 to 2004, Ayumi hosted her own TV show called Ayuready? on Fuji Television. It was a talk and variety show where she often performed songs with guests. To promote her show and album, she even opened a special restaurant called Rainbow House on Shōnan Beach in 2003.
Early in her career, Ayumi promoted many products, from cell phones to snacks and coffee. She even launched her own fashion brand called MTRLG (Material Girl) in 2001. In 2002, she created Ayupan, a cartoon version of herself that appeared on merchandise and in an animation. She has also collaborated with Sanrio to create "Ayumi Hamasaki x Hello Kitty" products.
In August 2019, a novel about Ayumi's early career was released, and it was later made into a TV drama series in 2020. In March 2023, Ayumi became a beauty brand ambassador. In October 2023, she became an ambassador for Gem Castle, a jewelry company.
In December 2024, Ayumi announced a collaboration with the Sailor Moon brand, featuring illustrations by the original creator. She also launched a second design line with Sanrio, "Ayupan x My Melody".
Personal Life
Ayumi Hamasaki had a relationship with her producer, Max Matsuura, from 1998 to 2000. She also dated actor Tomoya Nagase from 2000 to 2007.
On January 1, 2011, Ayumi announced her marriage to Austrian actor and model Manuel Schwarz. They had met while filming her music video "Virgin Road". They divorced in January 2012.
In December 2013, she announced her engagement to a student. They married in March 2014 and divorced in September 2016.
Ayumi revealed in January 2020 that she had given birth to her first child, a son, at the end of 2019. In October 2020, she announced her second pregnancy, and her second child was born in spring 2021.
Hearing Challenges
In January 2008, Ayumi shared on her blog that she had completely lost hearing in her left ear due to an untreatable condition. The symptoms had started around 2000, possibly from performing with an ear infection. She said she still wanted to continue singing and giving her best performances.
In May 2017, Ayumi revealed that she was also starting to lose hearing in her right ear and was experiencing severe dizziness. Despite this, she promised to keep performing, saying, "The stage is where I belong. It's the only place I really, truly exist. I don't know anything else." In 2023, she ended a performance by signing "Don't give up on your dreams" in JSL.
Ayumi'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)
Concert Tours
Ayumi Hamasaki has had many concert tours throughout her career. Here are some of them:
Japan Tours
- Concert Tour 2000 Vol. 1 (2000)
- Concert Tour 2000 Vol. 2 (2000)
- Dome Tour 2001 A (2001)
- Arena Tour 2002 A (2002)
- Stadium Tour 2002 A (2002)
- Arena Tour 2005 A: My Story (2005)
- Arena Tour 2009 A: Next Level (2009)
- Power of Music 2011 A (2011)
- 15th Anniversary Tour: A Best Live (2013)
- Arena Tour 2015 A: Cirque de Minuit – The Final (2015)
- Arena Tour 2016 A: Made In Japan (2016)
- Just the Beginning 20 Tour 2017 (2017–2018)
- Arena Tour 2018: Power of Music 20th Anniversary (2018)
- Trouble Tour 2018–2019 A (2018–2019)
- Asia Tour 2021–2022 A: 23rd Monster (2021–2022)
- 25th Anniversary Live Tour (2023–2024)
Asia Tours
- Asia Tour 2007 A: Tour of Secret (2007)
- Asia Tour 2008: 10th Anniversary (2008)
- Asia Tour 2024–2025: I Am Ayu (2024–2025)
New Year's Eve Concerts
Ayumi Hamasaki often holds special concerts to celebrate New Year's Eve.
- Countdown Live 2000–2001 A
- Countdown Live 2001–2002 A
- Countdown Live 2002–2003 A
- Countdown Live 2004–2005 A
- Countdown Live 2005–2006 A
- Countdown Live 2007–2008 Anniversary
- Countdown Live 2009–2010 A: Future Classics
- Countdown Live 2010–2011 A: Do It Again
- Countdown Live 2011–2012 A: Hotel Love Songs
- Countdown Live 2012–2013 A: Wake Up
- Countdown Live 2013–2014 A
- Countdown Live 2014–2015 A: Cirque de Minuit
- Countdown Live 2015–2016 A: Made In Tokyo
- Countdown Live 2016–2017 A: Just The Beginning 20
- Countdown Live 2018–2019 A: Trouble
- Countdown Live 2019–2020: Promised Land A
- Countdown Live 2021–2022 A: 23rd Monster
- Countdown Live 2022–2023 A: Remember You
- Countdown Live 2023–2024 A: A Complete 25
- Countdown Live 2024–2025 A: I am Ayu
Film and Video Games
Ayumi Hamasaki has also appeared in movies and video games.
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
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| 1993 | Twins Teacher | Momo Tachibana | |
| Battle Spirits Ryūko no Ken | Yuri Sakazaki | Voice role | |
| 1995 | Sumomo mo Momo | Kuriko | |
| Miseinen | Hitomi Tabata | ||
| Ladys Ladys!! Soucho Saigo no Hi | Misaki | ||
| Like Grains of Sand | Kasane Aihara | ||
| 1996 | Gakko II | ||
| 2002 | Tsuki ni Shizumu | Minamo | Hamasaki's song "Voyage" was the theme song for this movie. |
| 2007 | Distance Love | Herself | Short film based on her songs "Glitter" and "Fated". |
Video Games/Software
- Visual Mix Ayumi Hamasaki Dome Tour 2001 (PlayStation 2)
- A-TYPE ayumi hamasaki touch typing software (March 29, 2002, e frontier, Windows)
Awards and Recognition
Ayumi Hamasaki has received many awards throughout her career. You can find a full list of her awards and nominations at List of awards and nominations received by Ayumi Hamasaki.
See also
In Spanish: Ayumi Hamasaki para niños
