Ayumi
Hamasaki was born October 2, 1978, is a Japanese singer-songwriter and
former actress. Also called Ayu by her fans, Hamasaki has been
dubbed the "Empress of Pop" due to her popularity and widespread
influence in Japan. 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 XX. The album debuted atop the Oricon
charts and stayed there for four weeks, establishing her popularity in Japan.
Because of her constantly changing image and tight control over her artistry,
Hamasaki's popularity extends across Asia; music and fashion trends she has
started have spread to countries such as China, Singapore, and Taiwan. 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".
Since her 1998 debut with the single "Poker Face",Hamasaki has sold over 50 million records in Japan, ranking her among the best-selling singers in the country.As a female singer, Hamasaki holds several domestic records for her singles, such as the most number-one hits, the highest sales, and the most million-sellers.From 1999 to 2009, Hamasaki had at least one single each year top the charts.Hamasaki is also the first female singer to have eight studio albums since her debut to top the Oricon.
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