What's with that snotty face one of male anchor make? Seriously, kinda annoying lol

Idk about Namie, but Kuu definitely is. One of her most famous quotes (at least here in the west) is, that no matter the sex, love is love. I remember it even being mentioned on her English wiki.
Also one time she popped up in a gay club partying and even singing one of her songs without being announced or anybody knowing.
She doesn't talk often about it like Ayu does, but it's visible in her work.

Years ago I was quite surprised to find out that Ayu had a notable lgbt audience. When I was getting to know her music it didn't seem to align with the typical taste of lgbt when it came to music. (This was before things like Lady Dynamite PV and Timmy and hbya for example.)
But the themes and messages of Ayu's songs are universal and human so just about anyone can connect to her in their own way. So it's nice to see people connect to her songs and show how Ayu has helped them in life.

Talking with random Japanese gay guys I met they only ever told me Ayu and Koda are considered "gay" icons among the community members.

All the news pictures and videos here are good enough for new memes or reaction gifs.

I vaguely remember reading once Hikki has more of a lesbian than a gay men following. What makes a lot of sense considering she has her own share of songs about following in love with women.

Perhaps, the situation with ayu seems to be the opposite XD Mostly straight girls and gay guys.

the Queen of gays :love she looks amazing

She's so extra and I live for it! What a queen. :luv2

As far as I can understand, the media coverage of her performance seems to be massively positive.

So glad I didn't go then! I didn't get selected for a seat either, but was thinking of going anyway. Was on the fence about it till the last second, but considering it was so hot that day and I knew it was just going to be wall to wall people, I decided against going.

Watched the news stuff and all very positive.

Positive comments about Ayu in the media? That like, never happens... *looks outside to make sure the apocalypse isn't happening*

I'm so proud to be an Ayu fan! But, next year I want an Ayu x Kuu collab with a Britney x Madonna moment :laugh

This is making me nostalgic for Nichome! At the bars they play mostly Western music but around 3 am they blast evolution or Boys & Girls and the bar goes crazy!!!

Love this, make room for the queen!

Wow, that is nice to hear for a change :yes

LOVE HER!!! AMAZING!!! GAY POWER!!!

"Hey, just saw some pictures of Ayumi at that gay event and had no idea she was such a MILF now, back then she was cute but now she's also hot af" - My older brother statement, made me laugh specially with the "MILF" part :laugh

I hate when guys talk like that.:no:rolleyes:laugh

Honestly, that's degrading, stop it. No woman needs your brother's or any man's approval that she's "fuckable".

When guys talk like that it just takes away a woman's humanity and reduces her to a sexual stereotype.

It happens for men as well tho, the ammount of "dilfs" and "daddy" comments on male celebrities like Brad Pitt or Chris Hemsworth, by women and guys is huge, I think it depends on the tone people use it, but yeah I totally get how this could sound offensive for someone, specially the ladies on here, sorry about that, it was definetly not in a offensive way, he as many others I've seen on facebook or twitter commenting the same thing, meant she was looking really stunning and sexy for her age, the "adjective" wasn't the right choice, sorry again for that :think

Anyway, I've seen many sites reporting about Ayu's performance and all of them are very positive, even Arama! did a nice and polite report, felt weird but nice at the same time lol

http://aramajapan.com/news/ayumi-ham...de-2018/88029/

Unfortunately yes, it happens across all genders and sexualities.:(
It's better than insult comments I admit. I know the intent of many of the people saying things like that is not to offend or insult but it's in poor taste to say stuff like that.:shrug

She sounds really on point!! Hoenstly really good publicity for her and I hope her new album promo manages to ride on this. I wont be surprised if theres another "how beautiful you are" kinda song

This!
It seems that if women reduce men to sexual objects it´s ok, but the other way arround it´s a serious crime.

Sry for continue this off topic discussion, but such things drive me crazy xD Maybe I am also too dirty-minded xD

The difference is that men always were in the power position... There's more behind this than just about being attractive or not. Women have to fight everyday to be heard and respected because the society expect them to be just a perfect, beautiful, slim and young piece of meat. That is not the case with men and it never was. So, imo, there's no way you can compare a men being called "daddy" and a women being called "dilf".

By the way, is there any full footage in good quality of her special live? I'm with the STEP you version in my mind the whole week but I just wish I had a mp3 of it lol

Apparently 10,000 people applied for the TRP event :-0

i love everything about this <3
the news segment was really nice :) that drag queen who got emotional was so cute

:O

I think everyone is over reacting to this comment. I highly doubt any offence was meant. I took it as Ayu has matured into a sexy woman. I don’t think that anyone thinks that Ayu needs their approval.

Could anyone blame Evan's brother for thirsthing over Ayumilf Hamasaki? :P

I don't see any problem with his brother lusting over her. It's not like he straight up came to her face and harassed her.

It's the same version as a-nation 2014, I recall.

Whatever the gender is, it is not respectful to talk about a person like that. Can we stop defending sexual objectification?:no

People say far worse stuff about Ayu over here, one of those complaining people presumes the worst about her as a human being based on gossip every other day and it never reaches this same level of drama of someone saying their brother finds Ayu hot.

Everyone has a different opinion of what "sexual objectification" is. It can depend on one's interpretation of the word "MILF". Just like the term "bitch" has come to have many different meanings, interpretations and levels of insult, so has "MILF". Like, we all know Ayu doesn't have kids, so already we know that the term isn't used literally.

In your opinion, the statement was insulting. In my opinion, people are being too sensitive and have victim mentalities.

@Andrenekoi: You're my fucking hero right now.

I'm one of those who complain about people getting out of topic, and since I'm the responsible of this discussion I want to hit myself so bad right now. It didn't meant any harm but I apologise to those who felt offended, I don't support sexual objectification, it was just a way to say she looks damn good for her age, maybe not the right term but I already said sorry, now can we go back to the main topic of this thread before we all get banned? lol I feel like a terrible human being now, sorry everyone :(

^ I don't think you needed to apologize but, it's already done.

Pop artists have been selling sex since forever... Everyone just needs to tone down their whiteknighting

This.
People read Ayu left and right on the daily but suddenly y'all are oversensitive to sexism and objectification? These people need to check themselves.

I'm happy t see that Ayu has received positive coverage for this. You can tell that she really cares about LGBT and it isn't simple pandering but genuine emotion since a lot of her close friends are LGBT.

Shoot, I just wanted to add something, but I will just suck it up then in order to respect the forum rules.

Anyway, I totally agree with you @Luniverse, nobody could say it better. Ayu totally deserves the postive coverage on the Tokyo Rainbow Pride performance. It looked energetic, genuine and the setlist are all positive songs (well chosen. Ayu!) Surely, Ayu does this mainly to show support to the LGBT culture, her motives are anything but selfish, but I hope the Japanese public will view her differently after this. In a positive way, of course!

Oh, man, it would be nice if she got some more positive coverage for her coming album release from this. I would love to see that reflecting in some more positive coverage in the future.

late to the party but, is there a translation of what ayu said at the special live?

Not sure if someone posted it but BuzzFeed Japan uploaded a video with some shorts clips from Ayu's performance!

https://twitter.com/BuzzFeedJapan/st...69215625502722

^ General translation of what she said. I know parts have been translated by other people:

Lots of people in the audience she is friends with; lots of acquaintances too. Before her debut, at her lowest point, she went to Ni-Chome (tokyo's gay district) for the first time. The bars, people, etc., felt like a home to her. Felt taken care of and cared about by the bar "mothers" (term for the bar owners of that area). So since then, any time she has something to celebrate, she has gone back to ni-chome. Because of those times in Ni-Chome, she is who she is today.

She said she watched the Pride Parade from her car alone and that seeing everyone so happy, she cried.

Then she gets political, and I really appreciate it because it is still such a taboo subject, particularly in Japan and very few people speak up about it. She says along the lines of, of course, Japan is still very, very conservative. Because of that, in many different ways, anyone that is considered a minority in Japan is considered to be in the wrong just because of the fact that they are the minority opinion (sidenote from me: the downside of Japanese collectivism.) That part of Japanese thinking is not something easily wiped away. But just because it's the majority and because of the majority that means it's right; I definitely think that's wrong.

Go Ayu. :)

^Thanks.

Ayu is wonderful. ♥

^^ thank u so much!!

Other people in other countries also show that attitude, or rather "the minority won't dictate the majority what to do," and usually they are people who are against minority groups, so I don't think that has much to do with "Japanese collectivism." I'd attribute it more to a seemingly common lack of sympathy and empathy. Because the majority only hates the minority until they themselves become the minority.

On a side note, I came across her speech on youtube and was really moved by it.

I managed to get a ticket and see her from the inside. I was close enough to see her makeup. Was not expecting the entrance she made, which was extra, and I am loving everyone's reactions to it :) Also, yes, the dust was insane. I wore my TRP towel over my face like it was Burning Man.

I started crying during her speech when she talked about going to Ni-chome to find herself at a time when she was lost, and as she drew strength from the bar mothers there, I realized I was listening to her music in the U.S. as a teenager struggling with my sexuality and drawing strength from her lyrics. It was then that I realized that I was receiving strength from the LGBT community in Japan at a time when I felt lost, through Ayu, and it was as if a circle I that never imagined could exist had become complete in that moment.

Needless to say, I cried the rest of the way through her set. She looked at me bawling my eyes out during BLUE BIRD and quickly glanced away with this look on her face like, "Nope, nope, nope, not gonna cry again!" and Timmy gave me a look, like, "I feel you, boo." I was for sure ugly crying. Even during Boys & Girls. Total. Mess. I loved it.

^ That's a nice story. :)

The difference I would say in Japan is that it doesn't necessarily have to do with them being simply "against minority groups" for lack of sympathy or empathy; rather it is literally what the cornerstone of Japanese culture is, ie. the old japanese proverb of don't be the nail that sticks out; conformity and social harmony take precedence over individualism and expression, etc.

^I'm just VERY wary of any of any of such generalisations. I have heard enough about how Japan and the Japanese are supposed to be. Society wants you to conform to norms, or what's seen as a norm, anyway, no matter the country or proverbs. Things could change if not for the all the Nippon Kaigi members in the cabinet, an association the Japanese prime minister himself belongs to. According to wikipedia "Nippon Kaigi fights against feminism, LGBT rights, and the 1999 Gender Equality Law," and that's basically all one needs to know.

^ I agree with you. But Ayu's speech did specifically refer to Japan and not world society in general; I was just repeating what she said.
Indeed that is what the norm is in Japan. People like Ayu who openly speak against it are kind of considered "bad" Japanese by a lot of people, but also have many who admire her for it.