When I was in high school there was a foreign exchange student from Japan in my Japanese class. So, of course, I just had to go talk to her about Ayu because I never get the chance to talk with people in person about her (for obvious reasons). I started by asking her if she was a fan of Ayu and she had no idea who I was talking about! lol. I started listing songs and she didn't know any of them except dearest. So, little naive me was quickly taught that not every Japanese person is going to know who Ayumi Hamasaki is! It was surely a lesson :)

I am amazed at how many people who are into anime and/or Japanese culture (or even J-pop) aren't aware of her. It's like, have you not moved on from the "I only listen to anime opening themes and groups like Morning Musume and AKB" ? And I'm not saying they need to "move on" or that their tastes are invalid, but it's like, there's so much more to J-pop than that.

I just feel like "wow, if you think love J-pop now, you have no idea how much BETTER it can get!"

I know some people who lived in Japan during Ayu's peak and post her peak when she was still pretty big....

The boy (who lived his whole life in Japan until his family came back to Brazil) wasn't a fan of her and loved Hikki... But he knew pretty much every Ayu big hit.

The girl, who lived some years in Japan during 2004~2006 loved Mika Nakashima (who was big at the time) and had disdain for Ayu, like she was some sort of talentless has been.

I notice a lot of people between 15~20, who where very young on the last time Madonna hit it big (either Music in 2000 or Hung Up in 2005) are aware she exists, but mostly as that icon (that they don't really know what acomplished) or as that crazy old lady thirsty for being famous. I also met a 17 years old girl who loves pop culture, knows who Britney Spears is and wasn't aware she was known as a dancer. I guess it's the same with Ayu.

I maybe just died

a long time i don't get anything about her. recently, I heard someone said that "she gives free tickets for lives cos nobody goes, at least not in big cities". That was just a rumor, right?

I've been in Japan since september now and the 90% of the time I say I'm a Hamasaki Ayumi's fan (yeah, for some weird reason if I spell her name as ayumi hamasaki they don't understand...) the reaction is "Ah, wow. How do you know her? She is a really old singer. I liked her M/Surreal/Season (those three are the 3 most popular)".

I love to see their reaction when I inform them that she is actually still releasing singles and albums. They are like a mixed of shocked and they are not sure if they can trust my word or not. Sure, it's funny but still sad that she is basically non-existent now.

Amazingly, just last week I was hanging out with friends and I met a japanese girl that is a fan even now and she is going to this year Arena Tour in Osaka too. But she was the first one I met in 8 monthes.

Yeah, it's really hard to come across Ayu fans among general public. I feel better when I see that people that come to her concerts are of so many different ages, young people, old people, even kids. A couple that was sitting to the left from me on 12/04 was in their 50s for example.

Ok. I get it and it is hurting me now :headache

actually i have noticed that a lot of Japanese are more into western artists than into their own j-pop acts. At least the ones that i've gotten to know. Most of whom have been in USA at one or other point in their lives. There's maybe only a couple of people that i know/knew of that actually were into music of j-pop/rock or at least knew the artists. I do however have a my age japanese friend who's a huge fan of Ayu. Like REALLY HUGE. So we both are always excited to chat about her!lol

Last week I got to know a korean-japanese friend, (25 yo) and when I said I like Ayu, he was, like: Of course i know her, she is very famous in japan! Also some young chinese girl knows her, they saying, they don't know her songs well, but she pretty much a legend so everyone knows about her status in china, as the most famous asian singer.

no no no,please no! I was so sad with Love classics... it was bad... but if it was like A Classic... then yes.

A ONE is on US iTunes!

^ YAAASSSSSSSSS

I potentially recruited a new fan y'all! THE POWER OF A ONE IS REAL! Hahaha.

I was playing it along with some other ayu classics while driving home with someone and they seemed very interested in ayu! They love the emotion in her voice :yes

^
YES YES YES!!! Wrangle in those new Ayu fans :)

Ayu will sleigh a new gener A tion.

Yaaas Ayu sleigh!
A ONE, it's power!
Warning remains unbothered tho

lool

I actually read a number of people in twitter who recently joined TA because of A ONE or smth. They're new to Ayu. One i can remember is a hikki fan who got interested to Movin' on without you cover and explored Ayu's discography.

^ It's cool, yes for new fans!

can anyone with the TA edition scan the lyric page with tell all?