wow...let's just wait and see, that's all i can say
thanks for sharing the article

X-Japan and Loudness have never been "big" in america. Big in America would mean that the average person has heard of them, which certainly they haven't. X-Japan hasn't even played a single concert in the US before. As far as I know, they've never had any real significant following in the UK either. By significant I mean beyond the typical anime/visual kei crowd. :)

Also when it comes to Visual Kei bands, they play rock music obviously - most of the time you can't even understand what they are saying to begin with. Pop music is a whole nother ball game - in order for it to work, it would have to be in understandable english. Singing in Japanese might work to get some amount audience in Europe, but even then, I think to go truly mainstream it would probably have to be in English. For America it will be immediately rejected if its not in English. (Unless of course you are just content with Ayu singing at anime conventions.)

Okay. Maybe not "big" but I still think that they had a following in America. Which is something at least. Also Rammstein is a band which I think most people will have heard of, they don't sing in English yet they have a pretty big following too.

Even if Ayu never gets big in America, I think she could make it in Europe just fine.

And I think you're right Jackie, Japan is her birth country, so no doubt it'll be the country she spends most of her time in.

I don't care what she does, where she goes, as long as I one day get to see her perform live!

I think she would have a niche market in the EU but the US....I don't think so.

personally, i hope ayumi just sticks to japan. that goes for other artists as well. i don't think it's worth trying to make it big here, honestly. if utada, who's actually american, couldn't do it two times in a row (even though "this is the one" is pretty mainstream), do you really think ayumi would? maybe she'd have a chance in europe, but i wouldn't even bother with america. but that's just my opinion, lol. she'll be really criticized and hated with all the stereotypical comments from haters or random people (like BoA last year on one of these blogs that i read), and i don't think it's worth it to just come here for that. i personally dislike the music industry here, anyway, haha.

so that's just my 2 cents. :P

Yes, even I heard Rammstein in highschool here in the US. But the thing is, in the US they were treated as a novelty act and disappeared after one single. And once again, they are a heavy metal act - totally different game than pop music.

As for the last part about her spending most of her time in Japan, well honestly that is part of the problem with Japanese acts that try to break into the western market. The reason why Dir En Grey has been at least somewhat successful is that they have spent years trying to build a fanbase in Euro/US. Years of playing clubs and other small venues in order to build an audience from scratch. Most successful J-pop acts it seems are not willing to do that. And who can blame them really? The money for them is in Japan. Typically they release a single/album, it lands with a thud, they head back to Japan and wonder why it didn't work. Whereas visual kei groups really don't have much to lose since there isn't much money for visual kei in Japan these days anyways so they can take the time to really try to build a fan base overseas.

I think Dir En Grey though is pretty much the only one though that you can classify as at least somewhat successful. I don't say totally successful because still very few people have actually heard of them outside of certain more underground kind of circles.

thanks for sharing the article

of course I'd like to see Ayu in concert in Europe.. although I'm sure will return to Japan to see her again very very soon ^_^

the big decision could be about Avex / Ayu are thinking of a World Tour in 2010 with concerts in Japan, China, HK, Taiwan, Singapore, France, Germany, United Kingdom and USA (Hawaii)... hey why not?? :D

or maybe is to become an actress (again) for any kind Batman movie ~~

Hmmm, well SunshineSlayer, I do understand what you're saying but I'm kinda hoping you're wrong. I just think maybe Ayu should come to Europe for a few years, maybe go back to Japan in between them and try and drum up a fanbase, I guess there isn't any harm in trying. Alternatively, she could go and conquer the rest of Asia, I mean there's still a lot of countries there that would eat her up. :)

A US debut is just another flop in the making like Se7en, BoA, and all the others that have tried. Its not really worth the time, effort, and energy. She should just stay in Japan/Asia. She also mentioned something about Japan being home and that she would never leave so I doubt it will ever happen.

I think Ayu has a lot of obstacles to do before she enters the intercontinental markets of the United States and Europe. I mean, think about this - where airline companies have to face obstacles and competition when trying to operate new international service, I think this is similar to that. Ayu has got to be sufficient enough to face competition to similar artists who have experience in that particular region.

But I feel for now, she should stay in Japan for a while until she knows English more efficiently...

And if she would like to attack the international market, maybe the Europeans could be the market to start, unlike other Japanese artists where they usually start off at the United States but with so-so support. She might need serious advertising around the region to let people know that Ayu's really releasing a single or album in that particular region...

By the way, how well did Tegomass do in Sweden? And how about PuffyAmiYumi (known in Japan as PUFFY), Angela Aki, Dir en grey and other Japanese artists doing in the United States?

^ Wasn't Uroboros received well? I know it got to 112 on the billboard, which isn't bad.

Goodness, everyone's so negative about the possibility of her coming to the US. Negative about everything. Picky about everything. ;_;

I'm sure Ayu knows about the attempts made by BoA and Utada, and if she's really debuting in the US, I'm sure she stressed over whether or not it would be a good idea herself. I mean, she wouldn't assume that she'd have great success, so I'm not worried about her feeling disappointed afterwards. In fact, I think it's probably a world tour to go see her fans everywhere around the world, since not just people in Japan idolize her and want to meet her.She'd do it for the fans, maybe?
If she is deciding on writing an English album, she'd write the lyrics and probably have them analyzed for grammar mistakes. I'm sure she knows that she'd have to be PERFECT at English (By the way, BoA probably would've done better, maybe up to how Utada did, if she could speak English perfectly. Anyone see an English BoA interview? It's way to obvious she doesn't speak English fluently). Anyway, I really don't think she'd do an English album, but if she does, I'm still going to support her. (:

Do you really think a person singing in Japanese would be popular to the American mass? ( :dead2 ) Why would she even sing in Japanese to American people? Yeah, I can totally imagine that in American radio.

Well yes, Rihanna does have an accent. However if you listen to her music, how much accent do you hear? None. BoA's accent comes out in both her speaking and singing. That certainly makes a difference to the listener.

Oh and I totally agree. It's crazy to think that the American mass would listen to something that's not in english.......especially in Japanese. I couldn't count how many times I played something in japanese for a friend. They almost always looked at me like WTF and said "Turn that chinese **** off". Americans do not want to hear anything that's not in english besides the occasional spanish song.

if this goes ahead she should make an English version of Who... to sing live in London or Paris

I really don’t see it working THAT well. Ayu has never had her lyrics analysed before, even her vocals on songs like “White Christmas” and “Someday my Prince will come” were dubious at best. It’s Ayu. She’s a perfectionist, if she was ever going to seek help in singing in English, it would have been for songs originally written in that language.

I just look at examples of English in NEXT LEVEL, Energize’s lyrics aren’t exactly ‘fluent’ and I remember many English-speaking Japanese jumped on her incorrect grammar (double plural in “Boys/Girls-tachi”)

We're not trying to be negative (or I don't THINK we're trying to be) but we have to face it that if fluent Utada can't make it, what chance does Ayu have with her Engrish?

I'd still support her having a go, as it gives some of us a better chance to see her live, but I don't think she'll do well in the charts.

I honestly hope this isn't true. I would dread the idea of Ayu trying to break the western market. I'd probably even cry ;_;. The music world in the states, regardless of quality, is so heartless and cold. Sure she may have a fan base here, but the average person may not receive her very well. And this may sound silly, but I don't image that I'd take insults against her very well from the common crowd who don't even know her outside of "some random Asian woman." I'm so comfortable with the "I love Ayu!" "Who?" situation in my life now hahaha.

Not to mention, she's half deaf! Her vocals are NOT top notch live majority of the time. People would tear her apart *dies.* She might do pretty well in Europe. But please Ayu, PLEASE don't come to America >_<;

Sorry if I don't make any sense! Or my feelings are based on generalizations or whatever but the thought of this sends me into irrational thinking and fear LOL.

OMG they mentioned the diamond toilet AGAIN.......

that was just a missunderstanding from ayu's friend blog @_@

can't trust this article

That's worse than Utada did actually. So no, I wouldn't say thats too great considering the amount of time they have spent trying to build a fan base.

@jbrat: I totally agree with those sentiments as well.

LOL This article is so fake. Didnt ayumi say herself that she has no interest in debuting in America? Or was that Namie? Either way, its bad idea if she does. Its gonna flop harder the BoA's album. I don't want her to debut here anyway. She's too good for American music and with a beautiful voice like that, she could use it to debut somewhere else. Like Europe. I really wished Utada and BoA debuted there first instead of America.

As for the marriage, its funny that no one in japan has caught her out with a guy yet somehow the Chinese gets wind that she's getting married. Yea I so believe it. :rolleyes

Rihanna only has an accent when she's talking like in an interview or something.

That kinda sucks. :thud
Well I'm sure what'll be will be. Thanks for the debate. Haha I kinda enjoyed having my arse beat. ;)

I think this is a rumor, afterall isn't it the second time this year?!

I agree with you lisa. You said what I think lol

I think she should stay in japan. I don’t think she really has a chance in America. She will be critizced like the other ones that tried before. She is the empress of Jpop, but I doubt people will care. I think she’ll just waste her time. I would hate to read comments like the ones lisa is talking about.

However, if her decision was to do a world tour, I would be more than happy. Hopefully, her decision would also involve the making of a TA international.

lol. No problem. :)


Watch this big decision turn out to be about buying a cat or something.

^ Yeah or buying that toilet. :P

ROFL :D

I truly hope that this is just another rumor .. not trying to be all negative.. but what would be her difference point there if she really decide to go for it? I mean, in Asia her strength points are her ability to write lyrics, her sense of fashion, the image that has been shaped by Avex and sometimes extravagant lifestyle..

unfortunately, in US those points likely won't work.. lyric? I don't think it'd still be that meaningful in English, sense of fashion? it may be considered to be cool or awesome in Asia, but it'd be considered to be "weird" in US, image? I don't think Avex will use the same effort as they did back then in Japan and extravagant lifestyle? there are many other singers that's crazier..

so it'll be better for her to just stay in Asia.. Asia itself is a very very big piece of cake already, for her and for Avex, she's already lost her hearing and can't afford to lose the other.. just leave the US market for Hikki or BOA for God's sake

May I quote my most favorite Ayu-sentence of all times:
If people will listen, I will go anywhere in the world.

So I've always supported the idea of Ayu going overseas. If she's sincere about it and stays true to herself (rather than trying too hard to appeal to a mainstream public) there's definitely a chance it could work out and she could reach a lot of new fans here, which can't be a bad thing.
And heck, I can't wait for the day my friends no longer call her Suzuki Kawasaki (which was a mistake at first, but has already become a running gag though XD).

but for d apearance look......ayu owns......she's so caucassian.....lol....

Okay, after two seconds of thoughtful planning, I have thought of how Ayu would successfully debut in the US:

Step 1: Make album (Japanese or English).
Step 2: Hire some super-obessed Ayu fans to go break into radio-stations all across the US and play her songs.
Step 3: If Step 2 fails, hire the super-obsessed fans not already in jail to break into TV stations and play her music videos.
Step 4: If Step 3 fails, then her music might at least spread through jails, becoming popular with fellow inmates?

Hmmmm well i think it would be great if Ayu simply did an international tour, i'd be wayyy up for that.
But English album.. not sure, I think we should trust that Ayu will make the best decision for her, she and her team are not stupid, i think thats why she hasn't released in the U.S. before. Seriously though, so what if she tries and fails, its all a learning experience etc etc.

On another note, in the alternative scene, various overseas acts have made a moderate success, such bands as Shonen Knife were played on the radio and performed at touring festivals in the 90's here in Australia.

Also its all about promotion, and working at it! Neither Utada or BoA have promoted themselves enough! They need work and work, release heaps of singles and most importantly music videos (as pop music has become mostly visual medium in the last 10 years) until they finally break though, its ridiculous to think that releasing one single they will make it huge immediately.. rarely any U.S artists even do that.

Anyway in conclusion, whatever Ayu chooses to do, i support it!:love

man, so many people have tried to make it in America...Europe, i can see. I mean, i hope she does well here, i really do, but i'm very skeptical about it...I was psyched when i heard BoA and Utada were going to try it here, but i was so sad when i saw how poorly they've been doing...Although it does make me happy when i see their albums in the stores.

But if Ayu gets the right connections, she'll do amazing, i just know it.

All I can say is that I hope to high heaven that if she does decide to enter the U.S. market, her lyrics don't suddenly become hormonally charged, like Utada's and BoA's. I know it reflects badly on mainstream American taste when people feel like they have to ***** themselves to get popularity but ... sex is so old and it would be even worse in Engrish.

Oh sure?? I'm kinda doubtful abt this..

I hope to see Ayu stay in the Asian market. Going to the West may or may not be succesful. Seeing her studying English wld be good but hope she won't focus all her time there.
Now I'm not sure if I shld be happy or not. hahaz.

I'm getting all confused..

What this article is implying is highly unlikely but still, this is my favorite part of the article.

Well, Utada's venture into this territory is worse than Boa's will ever be but that's another story for another thread. Ayumi appeals to me because she doesn't need to constantly sing about sex and partying. If Ayumi does indeed take the same route, in any language, then its the end of the world as we know it.

At the end of the day, I would love to see Ayumi do her signature style of music and show in Japanese in North America without giving up entirely on her career in Japan. She has devoted fans that love her as she is. I think (hope) she knows that.

:yes

I doubt if ayu will have a success in US.
Well.as we know that hikki and BoA failed right.
But.let's hope for the best.
^^

^BoA and Utada are each in the process of releasing new singles to promote their English albums. BoA seems to have a good chance. She's been working hard and getting decent exposure (Huge SF Pride perf. anyone?). Utada....yeah she's been sleeping. Oh well. anyone one of her songs cept AutomaticII and Poppin' could make a good single. Its not over till the fat lady sings as they say (waiting on misono to sing......jk)

If she goes internationally that would be risky. But we really don't know. Maybe she should learn her English first..:)

Thanks for the article.

I think one point to consider is that, there really isn't any Asian artists in America right now or in the last 10 years, even Asian American. Coco Lee had a semi hit with the Crouching Tiger theme but easily forgotten. Thats really...it!
Like I said, theres no doubt shes got her underground fanbase like all the Asian artists who have *recently* come to America have, like BoA, Utada, WonderGirls (who are getting alot of attention through the Jonas Brothers tour!), etc.

Another point, Ayu could be more succesful is she had better promoters than the godawful ones for Utada and BoA. Wondergirls are making the best of what they can do, they've moved to America, and are touring with the Jonas Brothers as an opening act.

here is Friday's official website by the way: http://friday.kodansha.ne.jp/free/pc/index.cgi?r=569
However, I don't see this story listed on the current edition, at least not anywhere I can find on the cover.

Yeah, speaking of which.. just where did this article come from?

-shifty eyes-

It's a tabloid published by Kodansha?! =(

Honestly I'm getting suspicious now too. I had trusted it on face value but I just checked out Ayu's 2ch thread and don't see this being talked about. If this really was published in Friday magazine they would definitely be talking about it.

Although its a tabloid, usually Friday is fairly accurate about the things it publishes. Now, though its hard to say whether Friday actually said this or not, or if it was completely made up.

ayu.no keeps lowering its approval rating, yo. -sigh-

No. :( I never would have expected that to be my knee-jerk reaction, but I guess some selfish part of me doesn't want to share her with mainstream America. I guess I actually really like adoring her from afar. I would never want Ayu to get involved in...well, essentially in the American music industry. There isn't a lot to like in its structure, and what happens to people involved in it. :(
I'm surprised that I'm saying this, though, because I would love to see Ayu live, and plan to one day. I just want to have to fly to Asia to do it. I guess it is really selfish of me, but considering that just about everyone I know (at least, my friends who aren't from Asian countries) has never heard of Ayumi Hamasaki, I want to keep her to myself, my own sort of "secret" love. :P

EDIT: Also, Ayu singing all in English = no.
EDIT 2: It's looking like this is fake, so until there's an official proclamation, I'm going to cover my ears and say, "LALALALALALA!" chock it up to tabloid fantasy.

Yeah I wouldn't think Kodansha would publish something about Ayu without all the facts! And since there's no trace of this on Friday either, it must be fake! I sure hope to God it is!

I still think there is a chance this is true, especially given Ayu's recent blog post. But we need clarification if this actually came from Friday or from a Chinese magazine that supposedly interviewed someone at Friday.

What does AMF stand for? (the place this was supposedly gotten from)

Well if it is fake the only proof we have is the AHS members report of what Stan and Max Matsuura hinted (hinted being the key word) at and Ayu's blog.

I think it stands for Ayumifans.net [the Chinese Ayu forum]..

FYI, that proof came from the same person here who posted this article.. Maxker..

^Didn't even know that! Then yeah that should be taken with a grain of salt.

whoa thx for posting ^^
this is interesting !
i hope she can speak english well ~ not 'engrish' :D

Even if this is fake, you should remembered what she said to CNN.

"If people will listen, I will go anywhere in the world."

I always remember that, but I don't think it'll be any time soon.. maybe her 15th/20th anni.?

20th!? She'd be about 40 then. D;

Yeah... IF Ayu is going to tour or even just create some kind of presence outside of Asia, it's gotta be now, or in the next couple of years, otherwise the timing won't work out. :P

Also, this is Ayu we're talking about. In her TA post, she said to believe in her whatever she does. So I'll do that. I think that Ayu understands the kind of image she has, and what she can and cannot do if she is to expand her market beyond Asia. Now, one of the first things she probably already understands is that she can't do the same thing that BoA and Utada has done-- namely changing their image to try and suit mainstream American taste. This would pretty much destroy Ayu's image in Japan which made her successful for so many years in the first place. Ayu's known to be honest and reflecting. Look at what happened when the Sparkle lyrics were first released and how that was received in Japan (and even on this forum)? Do you really think that a hormonally charged US album in English would work well for Ayu? Her loyal fans who fell in love with Ayu for her signature music style probably won't fall in love with a BoA/Utada-esque debut in America. I think Ayu understands this herself. There's no doubt that Avex and Max Matsuura will consider all this information because they just have to think about all this before they do anything.

So yeah, I don't think there's any need to be afraid that Ayu will try to be someone else in order to gain popularity in the US. Also, the comparison to J-rock visual-kei bands is rather weak because as people have already pointed out, VK bands don't have much money in all this even in Japan anyway. That's why they branch out. Ayu is pretty much the complete opposite. She has all the money in Japan. If she is to branch out, it's to meet her fans outside of Asia, purely because she has the desire to do so and not because she wants the money. :P For these reasons I think it's likely that she will be herself.

Also, good viral marketing on the internet by Avex would be great. I know Avex has a crazy marketing force. If they manage to do what they did during A BEST, but in an evolved way to suit this even more digital era, then hey, you'll never know what can happen then.

As far as this goes though, it'd be nice if Ayu can as a result hold a few extravagant lives outside of Asia. I'd love to see that happen.

Eeh, this is probably good news right? if it's true of course.

"Ayu is slowly falling out of the entertainment industry"? Is that really true? She may not have as many fans, but her concerts, autographs, releases are still worth something right?

Anyways, she should NOT focus on outside of Asia. She doesn't belong there.

Thing is...I dont want her to make English songs just to get into the market....She should still do Japanese songs...(which has ALREADY gotten her fans from the WORLD)...She can make more promotions there but I hope she would still retain her roots and stuff....

<3 her :P

This isn't from FRIDAY :no It's a newspaper from China saying that FRIDAY was thinking of these theories. He said/she said stuff :no China/Taiwan tend to print a lot of trash about stars in their newspapers, so I wouldn't believe this article. The things about the apartment/diamond toilet (an old TA post had it!) seem plausible though.

mmmh..too beautiful to be true...

Then what was it?
I don't like to be Ayu's fan and not know what caused her ear to cease functioning. Enlighten me.

if its true,it will be very surprising...but i don't hope she'll do so...i still prefer she stay in ASIA only...

It was probably tinnitis, but she carried on working, even when the doctor told her not to. So in part it was her touring that caused the deafness.

This sounds like bull to me. The whole "secret boyfriend" stuff just disproves the rest of the article. I wonder what her "big decision" is but.

And she is branching out into Asia, yet this tour she's done more dates in Japan than ever and not a single date outside of Japan.

Well, we can only speculate until Ayu decides to give us a definite answer. :)

I hope she does well if she does trie go out of asia but I thought rule was a flop in drangonball Z movie, not the song but everything they did with it like taking it out of the US trailer and blah, but I can't imagin her singing english but she probably test with a song/tour or something like that before she fully trie and make her move from asia but this is just rumor at the moment so we just have to waid and see :P I think it will good to see ayu on my tv without putting her on :)

Even if this is true, I hope she'll keep writing her lyrics, I also hope she'll be working with the same composers and that her lyrics won't turn into mediocre garbage. In other words I am hoping she'll be doing everything the opposite of what Utada and BoA did. But I guess it's better to wait for a credible source :)

The moment I saw that the article was from China I couldn't be bothered to read the rest of it :P

FRIDAY is a Japanese magazine :)

It was likely something she was pre-disposed to that was made worse by live shows. Tinnitus is something that is usually caused by either sudden loud noises or persistent loud noise, so yes, in that regard concerts/rehearsals are primarily to blame. It could also be Mineirs disease, but either way, constantly working in loud environments doesn't help matters.

^ Thanks for clearing it up for everyone.

I never suggested that Tinnitus/Miniers had no implication in Ayu's ear going deaf, but to hint that the on stage performances are not at all blameworthy, that's just cruel.

i think ayu has a chance to success...
if she still true to herself, i mean she still being a pop, rock and techno singer...not losing focus for becoming RnB or Hip Hop that i think is a mainstream of US song nowadays...
and i want her to still using a meaningful lyrics not just a random dirty and all about sex lyrics...
avex need to put a HUGE PROMOTION too and make sure that we can see her face everywhere...magz, tv, billboard, screen, etc... A REALLY HUGE PROMOTION... i think she has a chance...
its rare to hear someone sings rocks like she do now...and mix of techno and rock, its rare...its kinda ayu thing...
i think she really different and fresh for US...
although i must admit that it will be hard way...but its not that impossible
conclusion : its all about promotion, do it or not... ITS REALLY NEED TO BE AS HUGE AS IT CAN BE!!!

I hope she will NEVER switch to Europe or USA and NEVER release an English album.
That would be her BIGGEST mistake in whole carrier. But she's a wise WOMEN and I'm 99% sure that she will never do something like this.

EDIT: But focusing more on Asia - China would be wise IMO. Her sales in Asia are still great. Japan need to appreciate her more.

Yeah, well I think that mostly a deafness like Ayu's is slightly self inflincted, I'm sure her doctor made her well aware in 2000 that if she didn't cancel the Dome Tour that her ear wouldn't heal. I remember her stopping during the rehersals and complaining about a noise in her ear. It was actually kind of painful to watch...but yeah I think there was possibly a few steps Ayu could have taken, and didn't.

I prefer her to stay in Asia. just 2singles, an album, a tour each year and i will be satisfy ^^

If Ayu tours the US i will try to be at every show:)

Actually...

I wont belive anything until things are official cuz there are so many rumours out there. And I will never belive in something a chinese paper writes about (according to earlier failed storys)...

So for me, I will just wait and see. :)

I think that the doctors only talked about her leg and the risks that she was taking by performing with a sprained[?] leg..

But that's all I recall about the doctors in DT01. I don't believe they ever stated why her ear started to freak out during ct2000 and DT01. Watch the documentary that NTV did for further proof. (in ct2000, I remember that they thought it was a bad ear infection and canceled some shows in the 2nd leg)..

Info from the ROCKIN' ON JAPAN article from masa [AMAZING MASAAAA]:
And Meniere's is what I was hinting at. So many other artists do tours all the time, so why is it that Ayu is the one who loses hearing in ONE ear? You know what I'm getting at, right? The concerts had a small part in it, sure.. but the sole reason as to why she lost her hearing loss? I don't think so.

Sometimes diseases just strike people without any reason... there doesn't need to be a proper explanation for everything that happens to Ayu. It's just really unfortunate that for someone who has such burning passion for music and singing like Ayu would have something like this in the first place.

And such is life.

Don't do it. PLEASE don't do it.

I agree! But if she decides to do a world tour, I wouldn't object. Just as long as there's no English songs or Western debut! >:O

Hmm, I was going to say that there might be some truth to this if it appeared in Friday, but it doesn't seem like it really is.

I'm not sure what I would think if Ayumi was to try to break out in the US...

In the documentary, they don't state specifically what the doctors diagnose it as, but they do say that the doctors warned her that if she continues touring the damage it would cause to her ear would be irreparable.

Also, it is possible to lose hearing in one ear and not the other without it being disease related. I've experienced this myself when I was front row at a rock concert in a tiny venue - I had significant hearing loss/tinnitus for almost a week and one ear was way worse than the other. Or my step father who is a marine corps vet who lost hearing in only one of his ears due to the constant sound of bombs/gun fire - the other ear is totally fine. Its also quite common for people to get ear infections in the same ear over and over again, which I assume is probably how Ayu's left ear was growing up, making that ear far more susceptible to hearing damage than the other one.

I think the main question to ponder is, had she not become a singer, would she still have her hearing? I think the answer is probably yes.

Anyways, this is waaay off topic. :)

Perhaps. But then we wouldn't have been brought together and she wouldn't have had the happiness that she's gotten as a singer.

And yeah, when I was looking stuff up I realized that this was totally off topic and should probably be in another thread.. hm.. whatever. This should be moved to Ayu Chat anyway.

Honestly, I'm not too pessimistic about Ayu entering the US market. She has a very distinctive look and style so she's got a fighting chance. The thing about Hikki's style is that it's very similar to what's already available in the US while SM made the big mistake of auto-tuning out Boa on her album and I also think they mishandled her image.

If Ayu enters the US market, it will be on her own terms, not anyone else's. She will have almost full artistic control so I trust her decision.

That will be way to late. Why would Americans want to hear a 40 year old Japanese woman sing? If its her intention she might as well come now that she's still (considerably) young.

But please don't come ( :dead2 ).

Hell, I don't care about other Americans!

I want 40 year old Ayu to perform in my backyard/neighborhood park~ Sucks for people who don't wanna hear her, but I don't care. Haha.

Ok, so you're backing her for coming just to perform her Japanese music right? I'd like that too, but what I was referring to is her coming here to make original English language music ( :P ).