Who's Ayumi Amazaki..... ?
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Ayumi Hamasaki Born October 2, 1978, is an award-winning Japanese popular music (J-Pop) singer. Commonly known as "Ayu", Hamasaki is one of Japan's most popular and influential pop singers and has been dubbed the "empress of J-Pop” and professional models. Born and raised in Fukuoka, she moved to Tokyo to pursue her career in entertainment. Since her 1988 debut with her first single, poker face, she has sold more than 45 million records in Japan alone, with the releases of her eight full-length studio albums, one mini-album, four compilation albums, 42 singles, and numerous non-studio albums, making her the top-selling solo and female artist and the fourth top-selling Japanese artist in history. With the release of her 40th single, Blue Bird, Hamasaki's single sales have exceeded 20 million, making her the first solo and female singer to reach that milestone.
With the release of her 39th single, Startin'/Born to be..., in 2006, Hamasaki became the female solo artist with most number-one hits. With the release of her 2007 single, Talkin' 2 Myself, Hamasaki has 29 number-one singles (30 when a song is born with Keiko is included) and 39 singles in the Top 10 of the Japanese Oricon charts. Also, with the release of Talkin' 2 Myself, Hamasaki has 17 consecutive number-one singles (starting with Free & Easy). Hamasaki is also the first Japanese artist to have her first original eight studio albums top the Oricon charts.
Biography
Hamasaki grew up in the Fukuoka Prefecture, raised by her mother and grandmother in a single-parent household, as her father had left the family when Hamasaki was five. Starting at age seven, Hamasaki modeled locally to earn money for the family.
The 1995 promotional video Swimsuit Special, produced by Hamasaki's talent agency
The 1995 promotional video Swimsuit Special, produced by Hamasaki's talent agency
At age 14, Hamasaki occasionally went from Fukuoka to Tokyo for short periods to take on modeling and acting jobs, using the pseudonym Kurumi Hamazaki when she acted in low-budget dramas like Miseinen and b-movies like Like Grains of Sand. However, Hamasaki did not find much success with her talent agency, and after graduating from junior high school, she decided to go to senior high school in Tokyo.
Hamasaki was dropped by her talent agency and decided to drop out of high school at 15, around which time her mother moved to Tokyo to start a new job. Hamasaki then went on to move into her mother's apartment
Fashion
Hamasaki has been considered the fashion leader amongst Japanese females, especially amongst Japanese high-school girls, ever since reaching superstar status. Regularly appearing in leading Japanese fashion magazines such as ViVi, Cawaii and Popteen, she became a trend-setter. Her influence in Japanese fashion has seen her win an unprecedented three consecutive "Nail Queen" awards and five "Best Jeanist" awards, and was inducted into the respective Halls of Fame for her achievements. Japan's cosmetics giant, Kose, has also used Hamasaki in many endorsements for Visee cosmetics pieces such as mascara and lipstick.
In Oricon's 2006 spring and summer polls, she was named the most fashionable female artist. She has appeared on the cover of Vogue twice, once modeling for an entire spread featuring Bulgari, and the other for popular designers Dolce & Gabbana. She was recently featured in a spread for Dior jewelry and luxury items. Hamasaki is also often seen with designer goods from major fashion houses from all over the world such as Louis Vuitton, Alexander McQueen, Juicy Couture, and Christian Louboutin.
J-POP Singer Ayumi Hamasaki
