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Ayumi Hamasaki (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.
About
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.
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 the first female singer to have eight studio albums since her debut to top the Oricon and the first artist to have a number-one album for 11 consecutive years since her debut.
Discography
Studio albums
| Release Date
| Album
| Title
| Chart peak positions [Oricon]
| Oricon Sales/RIAJ Certifications
|
| January 1, 1999
|
| A Song for XX
| 1
| 1.5 million/Million
|
| November 10, 1999
|
| LOVEppears
| 1
| 2.5 million/2x Million
|
| September 27, 2000
|
| Duty
| 1
| 2.9 million/3x Million
|
| January 1, 2002
|
| I Am...
| 1
| 2.3 million/3x Million
|
| December 18, 2002
|
| Rainbow
| 1
| 1.9 million/2x Million
|
| December 15, 2004
|
| My Story
| 1
| 1.1 million/Million
|
| January 1, 2006
|
| (Miss)understood
| 1
| 877,500/Million
|
| November 29, 2006
|
| Secret
| 1
| 675,400/3x Platinum
|
| January 1, 2008
|
| Guilty
| 2
| 568,305/3x Platinum
|
| March 25, 2009
|
| Next Level
| 1
| 379,990/2x Platinum
|
| April 14, 2010*
|
| Rock 'n' Roll Circus
| 1
| 293,210/-
|
EPs
| Year
| Album
| Title
| Chart peak positions
| Sales/certifications
|
| December 1, 1995
|
| Nothing from Nothing
| -
| -
|
| December 17, 2003
|
| Memorial Address
| 1
| 1.1 million/Million
|
Compilation albums
| Year
| Album
| Title
| Chart peak positions
| Sales/certifications
|
| March 28, 2001
|
| 'A Best
| 1
| 4.4 million/4x Million
|
| March 12, 2003
|
| A Ballads
| 1
| 1 million/Million
|
| February 28, 2007
|
| A Best 2: Black
| 2
| 702,900/3x Platinum
|
| February 28, 2007
|
| A Best 2: White
| 1
| 721,850/3x Platinum
|
| September 10, 2008
|
| A Complete: All Singles
| 1
| 852,259/3x Platinum
|
Remix albums
| Year
| Album
| Title
| Chart
| Sales/Certification
|
| March 17, 1999
|
| Ayu-mi-x
| 4
| 396,800/ Platinum
|
| February 16, 2000
|
| Super Eurobeat Presents Ayu-ro Mix
| 2
| 650,000/2x Platinum
|
| March 8,2000
|
| Ayu-mi-x II Version Jpn
| 6
| 170,990/Platinum
|
| March 8,2000
|
| Ayu-mi-x II Version US+EU
| 2
| 230,030/Platinum
|
| March 8,2000
|
| Ayu-mi-x II Version Acoustic Orchestra
| 3
| 200,750/Platinum
|
| March 29,2000
|
| Ayu-mi-x II Version Non-Stop Mega Mix
| 6
| 515,410/2x Platinum
|
| February 28,2001
|
| Ayu-mi-x III Non-Stop Mega Mix Version
| 3
| 314,040/Platinum
|
| February 28,2001
|
| Ayu-mi-x III Acoustic Orchestra Version
| 4
| 183,760/Gold
|
| September 27, 2001
|
| Super Eurobeat Presents Ayu-ro Mix 2
| 1
| 435,760/Platinum
|
| September 27,2001
|
| Cyber Trance Presents Ayu Trance
| 3
| 391,720/Platinum
|
| March 20,2002
|
| Ayu-mi-x 4 + Selection Non-Stop Mega Mix Version
| 4
| 152,250/Gold
|
| March 20,2002
|
| Ayu-mi-x 4 + Selection Acoustic Orchestra Version
| 9
| 96,160
|
| September 26, 2002
|
| Cyber trance presents Ayu trance 2
| 3
| 237,800/Platinum
|
| September 25, 2003
|
| RMX Works from Ayu-mi-x 5 Non-Stop Mega Mix
| 18
| 44,050
|
| September 25, 2003
|
| RMX Works from Cyber trance presents Ayu trance 3
| 14
| 56,000
|
| September 25, 2003
|
| Rmx Works from Super Eurobeat Presents Ayu-ro Mix 3
| 13
| 65,102
|
| March 24, 2005
|
| My Story Classical
| 4
| 81,700
|
| March, 2008
|
| Ayu-mi-x 6: Gold
| 6
| 45,800
|
| March, 2008
|
| Ayu-mi-x 6: Silver
| 8
| 42,810
|
Singles
Japanese Singles
| Year
| Title
| Oricon Charts/Sales
| Album
|
| Daily
| Weekly
| Monthly
| Yearly
| Sales
|
| 1995
| Nothing from Nothing
| —
| 200
| —
| —
| 290
| Nothing from Nothing
|
| 1998
| Poker Face
| —
| 20
| —
| —
| 43,150
| A Song for XX
|
| You
| —
| 20
| —
| —
| 78,260
|
| Trust
| —
| 9
| 20
| —
| 181,820
|
| For My Dear
| —
| 9
| —
| —
| 74,440
|
| Depend on You
| —
| 6
| —
| —
| 131,460
|
| 1999
| Whatever
| —
| 5
| —
| —
| 189,610
| LOVEppears
|
| Love ~Destiny~
| 1
| 1
| 7
| 30
| 650,790
|
| To Be
| 2
| 4
| 18
| 67
| 324,500
|
| Boys & Girls
| 1
| 1
| 1
| 11
| 1,037,950
|
| A
| 1
| 1
| 1
| 3
| 1,630,540
|
| Appears
| 1
| 2
| 8
| 81
| 290,550
|
| Kanariya
| 1
| 1
| 6
| 92
| 289,200
|
| 2000
| Fly High
| 1
| 3
| 12
| 89
| 299,540
|
| Vogue
| 1
| 3
| 4
| 23
| 767,660
| Duty
|
| Far Away
| 1
| 2
| 7
| 43
| 510,460
|
| Seasons
| 1
| 1
| 1
| 5
| 1,367,400
|
| Surreal
| 1
| 1
| 3
| 60
| 417,210
|
| Audience
| 1
| 2
| 7
| 93
| 292,950
|
| M
| 1
| 1
| 1
| 2
| 1,319,070
| I Am...
|
| 2001
| Evolution
| 1
| 1
| 1
| 7
| 955,250
|
| Never Ever
| 1
| 1
| 2
| 16
| 756,980
|
| Endless Sorrow
| 1
| 1
| 2
| 14
| 768,510
|
| Unite!
| 1
| 1
| 4
| 25
| 571,110
|
| Dearest
| 1
| 1
| 1
| 17
| 750,420
|
| A Song Is Born
| 1
| 1
| 3
| 18
| 441,410
|
| 2002
| Daybreak
| 2
| 2
| 9
| 57
| 197,140
|
| Free & Easy
| 1
| 1
| 2
| 15
| 486,520
| Rainbow
|
| H
| 1
| 1
| 1
| 1
| 1,012,544
|
| Voyage
| 1
| 1
| 1
| 9
| 679,463
|
| 2003
| &
| 1
| 1
| 1
| 6
| 591,481
| Memorial Address
|
| Forgiveness
| 1
| 1
| 2
| 36
| 222,194
|
| No Way to Say
| 1
| 1
| 1
| 29
| 371,171
|
| 2004
| Moments
| 1
| 1
| 1
| 19
| 302,923
| My Story
|
| Inspire
| 1
| 1
| 2
| 16
| 329,145
|
| Carols
| 1
| 1
| 1
| 20
| 309,128
|
| 2005
| Step You/Is This Love?
| 1
| 1
| 1
| 19
| 345,340
| (Miss)understood
|
| Fairyland
| 1
| 1
| 4
| 25
| 316,663
|
| Heaven
| 1
| 1
| 3
| 23
| 327,111
|
| Bold & Delicious / Pride
| 1
| 1
| 7
| 73
| 132,993
|
| 2006
| Startin' / Born To Be...
| 1
| 1
| 2
| 51
| 188,551
| Secret
|
| Blue Bird
| 1
| 1
| 3
| 32
| 258,566
|
| 2007
| Glitter / Fated
| 1
| 1
| 3
| 39
| 166,203
| Guilty
|
| Talkin' 2 Myself
| 1
| 1
| 6
| 78
| 108,347
|
| Together When...
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|
| 2008
| Mirrorcle World
| 1
| 1
| 2
| 33
| 193,016
| A Complete: All Singles
|
| Days / Green
| 1
| 1
| 4
| 26
| 190,891
| Next Level
|
| 2009
| Rule/Sparkle
| 1
| 1
| 4
| 43
| 130,816
|
| Sunrise/Sunset (Love Is All)
| 1
| 1
| 4
| 50
| 110,169
| Rock 'n' Roll Circus
|
| You Were... / Ballad
| 1
| 1
| 2
| —
| 117,973
|
| 2010
| Moon / Blossom
| 1
| 1
| 7
| —
| 87,558
| TBA
|
| Crossroad
| 1
| -
| -
| -
| -
|
| L
| 1
| -
| -
| -
| -
|
Other Singles
| Release Date
| Single Information
|
| April 7, 2003
| Connected (European Debut)
|
| March 8, 2004
| Depend on You
|
| October 18, 2004
| Naturally
|
| April 18, 2005
| Appears
|
| November 17, 2005
| Unite!
|
Trivia
- Her last name means "Seashore peninsula"
- In December of 2004, she released her sixth studio album, "My Story", which was certified platinum, selling over 574,000 copies in the first week, and netting sales of over 1,140,000 copies, making it the second highest selling female album of the 2005 Oricon year
- She is the highest selling solo artist and female artist in Japan and the 4th highest selling all together
- She was influenced to sing when her friend took her to a karaoke club
- Ayumi quoted: "I like to try to view (those) experiences objectively, and put my honest feelings into words. 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"
(Courtesy:TV.com)
Other Artists
Similar Artists
Infuences
Contemporaries
External Links
