Interesting question. Not sure if there was a specific reason behind, or if it was revealed why? :shrug

Guess it was just a random stage name chosen by the modeling agency at the time. 浜崎くるみ (Hamasaki Kurumi) is definitely more promotion friendly compared to 濱崎歩 (Hamasaki Ayumi; birth name). "Kurumi" is the Japanese word for walnut. It it also a given name for women.

she looks so fine!
Thank you!

wow never seen this before :) she looks so cute
bet the company is kicking themselves for letting go of the future money :S

The article is really rare!! Never see much about her early stuff at Columbia Japan. Ayu looks so hip hop! Thanks for sharing.

I wonder why she uses Kurumi too. I dun think it sounded nice. haha.