60 Facts About Ayumi Hamasaki

Ayumi Hamasaki is a Japanese singer-songwriter and producer.

Ayumi Hamasaki currently holds the record for the most albums to place in the top ten by a female artist in Japan.

Ayumi Hamasaki has sold over 50.708 million units in Japan, and has several domestic record achievements for her singles: the most number-one hits by a female artist ; the most consecutive number-one hits by a solo artist, and the most million-sellers.

From 1999 to 2010, Ayumi Hamasaki had at least two singles each year topping the charts.

Ayumi Hamasaki is the first female recording artist to have ten studio albums since her debut to top the Oricon, and the first artist to have a number-one album for 13 consecutive years since her debut.

At age seven, Ayumi Hamasaki began modeling for local institutions to supplement the family's income.

Ayumi Hamasaki continued this career path by moving to Tokyo alone at fourteen, signing as a model under the SOS talent agency.

Under the name "Ayumi", Hamasaki released a rap EP, Nothing from Nothing, on the Nippon Columbia label in 1995.

From August 1995 to March 1996, Ayumi Hamasaki co-hosted the SoundLink show Hokago no Osama for Nintendo Satellaview with Shigeru Izumiya.

Ayumi Hamasaki struggled to adjust to student life, and described living aimlessly after dropping out in tenth grade.

Matsuura persisted, and Ayumi Hamasaki eventually agreed to take voice lessons in 1996, most of which she would end up skipping due to reminding her of school.

Ayumi Hamasaki stayed in New York for three months, corresponding frequently with Matsuura.

Ayumi Hamasaki made her debut on April 8,1998 with the single "Poker Face".

Ayumi Hamasaki began to experiment with musical style in her singles, releasing remixes which spanned reggae and house.

Later singles became milestones: Ayumi Hamasaki earned her first number-one single and first million-selling single.

In 2001, Ayumi Hamasaki released her first compilation album, A Best.

In support of Duty and A Best, Ayumi Hamasaki held a tour of Japan's domes.

Ayumi Hamasaki changed her idea for the album cover, opting instead to be portrayed as a "peace muse":.

Later that year, Ayumi Hamasaki performed at the MTV Asia music awards ceremony in Singapore, and received the award for "Most Influential Japanese Singer in Asia".

Between April and September 2008, Ayumi Hamasaki held her second tour of Asia: Asia Tour 2008: 10th Anniversary.

Ayumi Hamasaki began expanding her online presence, setting up accounts on MySpace, Ustream, and Twitter.

From May 30 to July 6,2014, Ayumi Hamasaki held her Premium Showcase: Feel the Love tour.

On December 23,2015, Ayumi Hamasaki released Winter Diary: A7 Classical.

In May 2016, Ayumi Hamasaki began the Arena Tour 2016 A: Made in Japan tour.

Later that same month, Ayumi Hamasaki embarked on her Just the Beginning Tour 2017 tour.

On September 6,2017, Ayumi Hamasaki released "Words" as a free download for tour attendees.

Ayumi Hamasaki released the compilation album A Ballads 2, which peaked at number three in the Oricon top ten, and single "23rd Monster" on April 8 2021.

In June 2021, Ayumi Hamasaki held Music for Life: Return, which used some of the concept and setlist initially planned for the cancelled Countdown Live 2020 - 2021: Music For Life concert.

Ayumi Hamasaki held an anniversary concert titled Asia Tour: 24th Anniversary Special on April 6,2022, and toured July through August for Summer TA Party 2022.

On July 8, Ayumi Hamasaki began her 25th Anniversary Tour, announcing three different acts that ran until March 2024.

In March 2024, Ayumi Hamasaki released a cover of Miyuki Nakajima's "Jidai" as the theme song for Banpaku no Taiyo.

On September 1, Ayumi Hamasaki performed on the main stage at A-Nation 2024.

Misaki believed that Ayumi Hamasaki's meteoric rise to fame had impacted her perspective, signalled by her using the words bokura and tsutaeru more often; it gave the impression that she was thinking more on her influence as a public figure.

Ayumi Hamasaki's lyrics went on to define her public image; in two surveys conducted by Oricon, respondents voted Ayumi Hamasaki's writing as their favorite aspect of her artistry.

Steve McClure of The Japan Times noted that Ayumi Hamasaki quickly developed a reputation as a "thoughtful, introspective lyricist"; Barry Walters of The Village Voice went further, complimenting her ability to sing of "the pain and happiness of millennial life".

Ayumi Hamasaki has cited Madonna, Babyface, En Vogue, Led Zeppelin, and Deep Purple among her early influences, and has openly appreciated the works of Seiko Matsuda, Michelle Branch, Yumi Matsutoya, Rie Miyazawa, Utada Hikaru, Joan Osborne, Miyuki Nakajima, and Keiko Yamada.

Ayumi Hamasaki began commissioning remixes of her songs early in her career, and this practice influenced the diversity of her music.

Ayumi Hamasaki began to pen her own compositions in 2000, beginning with her single "M".

Ayumi Hamasaki's final published composition was "Will", the b-side track to the 2005 single "Heaven".

Ayumi Hamasaki is often involved in the artistic direction of her music videos.

Ayumi Hamasaki is 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.

Ayumi Hamasaki has used large video screens, fireworks, simulated rain drops, trick stage floors, and suspended devices.

Ayumi Hamasaki's career has become the subject of academic study, and is considered to have had a profound impact on how the Japanese music industry manages and promotes female artists.

Ayumi Hamasaki has become "Hamasaki Industries", a media in her own right.

In March 2011, Ayumi Hamasaki donated 30 million yen to relief efforts for the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami.

In May 2018, Ayumi Hamasaki was the headliner for Tokyo Pride, held in Yoyogi Park.

In 2023, Ayumi Hamasaki adopted two dogs who had severe medical issues and a background of abuse.

In 2002, Ayumi Hamasaki created Ayupan, a cartoon version of herself that appeared in a line of merchandise, and in a 2003 animation.

On social media, Ayumi Hamasaki stated that the book "combined both fact and fiction" and had become its own story.

In March 2023, Ayumi Hamasaki became a beauty brand ambassador for Rhythm Co.

In December 2024, Ayumi Hamasaki announced an official collaboration with the Sailor Moon brand.

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

Ayumi Hamasaki began dating actor Tomoya Nagase in 2000, with their relationship ending in 2007.

On January 1,2011, Ayumi Hamasaki announced her engagement to Austrian actor and model Manuel Schwarz, whom she had met on the set of "Virgin Road".

On January 16,2012, Ayumi Hamasaki announced her divorce through her fan club website, Team Ayu.

On January 1,2020, Ayumi Hamasaki revealed that she had given birth to her first child "at the end of last year".

On October 2,2020, Ayumi Hamasaki announced her second pregnancy through the Team Ayu website, and in May 2021 confirmed that she had given birth to her second child "sometime in spring".

In January 2008, Ayumi Hamasaki announced on her blog that an inoperable condition, possibly tinnitus or Meniere's disease, had caused complete deafness in her left ear.

Ayumi Hamasaki stated in the blog post that she wished to continue singing, and that as a professional, she wanted to "continue delivering the best performance I can".

On May 20,2017, Ayumi Hamasaki revealed that she had began losing hearing in her right ear, experiencing severe bouts of dizziness and nausea.