When I saw this one when i woke up this morning, i was so shock~~~But now i feel warm cuz AYU finally found her love in her life, I really wish them both have good life forever, and i hope the husband can move to JP so AYU can stay on singing, haaaa!!

Mannie said to UN on twitter before that he was learning Japanese I believe. Also Ayu is actually pretty good at English from what I've seen on the album making ofs, and I bet she is still learning English.

Crap.

Excerpts from the Sponichi press release:

関係者によると、出会いは昨年８月下旬。米ロスで行われた、ウエディングソング「Ｖｉｒｇｉｎ　Ｒｏａｄ」 のミュージックビデオの撮影だった。その後、浜崎は１０～１１月にかけての１カ月間を制作のため再度ロスで 過ごし、別のビデオでも共演。夜には自由時間も多くあり、その際に仲を深めたようだ。１２月初旬までには結 婚の意思を固めていたとみられ、中旬には所属するエイベックスの松浦勝人代表取締役ＣＥＯにも 報告した。

　シュワルツは、現地の俳優を対象に行ったビデオ出演者のオーディションで浜崎自身が選んだ。「Ｖｉｒｇｉ ｎ…」のビデオでは結婚式を挙げるカップルを２人が演じており、未来を予言したかのようなストーリー。キア ヌ・リーブス似の端正な顔立ちにヒゲをたくわえた、約１メートル８０のイケメン白人。関係者は「スタッフか らも評判が良かった。日本人が持っている“浜崎あゆみ像”のようなものを持っていないので、浜崎ともフラン クに会話していた」。会話は常に英語という。

　浜崎はファンに向けて「ひとりの人間として、ひとりの女性として、かけがえのない愛に出逢（あ）いました 。Ｖｉｒｇｉｎ　Ｒｏａｄでは旦那役だったマニーが、リアル生活にてリアル旦那になりますのだっっっ！」と 報告。婚姻届の提出は今月中とみられ、日米両方で提出するという。妊娠はしておらず、仕事は続ける。挙式は 未定。浜崎は制作のため年間の３～４カ月をロスで過ごしているが、一緒には住まず、お互いが日米を行き来す る生活となりそうだ。

My Rough Summary:
- Avex says Ayu and Mannie met last August during the "Virgin Road" PV shoot
- Ayu and Mannie used their free time at night to deepen their relationship while in Los Angeles
- Mannie auditioned for Ayu's PVs in a video featuring local LA actors
- Ayu consulted Avex in early December about her intentions to marry Mannie
- Mannie is described as looking like a bearded Keanu Reeves (lol)
- Ayu and Mannie always had conversations in English
- Ayu is NOT pregnant and will continue her career
- No ceremony date has been set as of 1/1/2011
- Ayu will be traveling back and forth between the United States and Japan to live? I'm unsure how to properly translate "浜崎は制作のため年間の３～４カ月をロスで過ごしているが、一緒には住まず、お互いが日米を行き来する生 活となりそうだ"

The link to the full Sponichi article: http://www.sponichi.co.jp/entertainm.../01/01/01.html

^thanks for the article!! :) I think this is so cool lol

lol

;)

Seems like the article says she will spend 3-4 months in LA out of the year. Woot, more chances to see Ayu~ That makes me happy, too. :P

So they really knew each other only since August? And Ayu wasn't even in L.A. all the time. This all still seems to weird for me. I agree with what someone wrote, I almost still suspect it to be some kind of prank, but on the other hand she wouldn't do that. Didn't she always say she would tell people if she found love again? But she didn't even announce they were dating and now bam marriage. Even though I'm slowly getting used to the idea I have to agree with some of the points people brought up, I'm scared for her. (yes, always the pessimist...)

^Nah.. cool_kickin_dude has you beat! :P

I think she might be pregnant. Even if she denies it. Hmm.

The last line says that it seems they will not be living together, they will be leading a life where they go back and forth to america and japan to see eachother.

@HELVENUE~ with how thin ayu is, she wouldn't be able to hide something like that for long. So, really, I don't think that is the case here.

When I first heard this, I was supper happy for them! I also thought that having such a huge star marry a foreigner would also be really good for Japanese society, since I've heard that they sometimes frown upon interracial marriages (though I'm not completely sure?).

However, I'm not sure if I understand the arrangements completely, but my first interpretation was that there would be times when they couldn't see each other? I don't know, I think all the travel and uprooting will be really hard on the beginning of a relationship? Though, who knows, maybe it'll strengthen it? Ayu is a little unorthodox. : )

Selfishly, I hope they don't divorce because it will just reinforce stereotypes about intercultural/racial relationships and how they don't work. Also, I don't want either of them to hurt from it.

Honestly, I wasn't overly surprised when I read it. I gasped a couple times, but I moved on. Maybe I'm not big into sensational reactions? XD (Or maybe I'd already had enough to drink that I was relaxed about everything, lol.)

Wow, that has got to take a lot of effort and commitment for it to work. I hope it wouldn't put a strain on the relationship. Especially now that we know for sure they've only known each other for a few months. It really seems like such an "in the heat" moment to me now, but I still really hope they'll manage to work through it all.

^ THIS!

I'm happy for her. A lot of dedication is needed, especially since this is long distance and they are already engaged. I hope it all works out.

not living together?
hmm then how is that called a marriage?:(
Anyway it's not up to me to judge them or something.. as long as they are happy, i'm fine;)

They are only engaged, we have no idea when they'll actually get married.

I'm really happy for Ayu and Mannie.
Congratulations to both of them! Wish them all the best and lots of happiness together!

is this LOVE?! ♥ ...it Appears...to Be...A curtain Call...For My Dear.
We Wish...our Lady Dynamite...a happy Life...in their Mirrorcle Fairyland ♥

This could be quite interesting - she could rack up a LOT of airline miles into her frequent-flyer program... Maybe Mannie should get one, if he's not part of any...

haha nice!

I doubt it or she would of pulled a Leah Dizon on us! :P

I`m happy for ayu! I hope that they will be happy together.

^^Oh, that might be a possibility..but still.

Wow, traveling back and forth..I hope it won't put a strain in their relationship later.

I think she will remain as Hamasaki..........or even if Mannie took her surmane? :lech Manuel Hamasaki!!!! :luv2:luv2:luv2 That would be sooooooooooo super cute <3

Well she won't be able to hide it for long....within a month she'd be showing.

WHAT THE!!!!!!!!!! that's a real shock!! i m happy that ayu has found the real love of her life!! But i dont Mannie is that hot.. =x

well, wish them both happy forever!

oh wow!
She is getting married!!! 8)

finally she is a real woman now.. congratz Ayu but isnt it too quick to decide to marry him?? eventhough i still prefer Tomoya nagase

LOl what? Marriage doesn't make someone a real woman:rolleyes

I have three problems with your post.
1. Real woman? Really? Shall we?
2. Too quick isn't for anyone of us to judge. I know many ppl who got married fast (for example my aunt and uncle who married after 9 months (engaged much earlier) and they are still the most solid couple even now 30 years later). If it's right, it's right.
3. Tomoya... Oh dear. Like all japanese ppl I talk to are like "The best thing Ayu did was to break up with him! He was so bad for her with all these drugs and such." Also my friend who works at Avex confirmed that Tomoya was very bad for Ayu and also this drug scandal thing. Imo, Mannie looks way more solid then Tomoya. Also confirmed by the ones who met him in L.A.

WOW! That's awesome! I'm so happy for her! thnx for the Great news!
wish them happiness & love~

no

just no

I can not beliete it! I hope it just FAKE INFO! FAKE NEWS! FAKE TA MSG! just HOT ISSUE!
gyaaa~~~~
singing "meoli bootuh balggeut ggaji HOT ISSUE, nae modeun gut hana hana HOT ISSUE
modooda take control, nan hangsang HOT IT HOT IT HOT IT HOT IT I-I-I-I-I-I ISSUE"

btw I've never heard the news about nagase and drugs.. or did I miss it??

if u mean the drugs case that got ayu involved months ago, the person is not nagase..

Kyaaaaaaa~ At last we can hear a news that we always want, AYU'S MARRIED! kyaaaaa~ I'm so happy for her!
Both they would look very beautiful and charming in their wedding dress! Ooooohhhhh I can't believe it!

Aaahh I had a imagination that Ayu would be like a princess in her gown, just like Lady Diana (I know it's kinda rude to compare the living with the already pass away, but no one is beautiful than she is! The grace when she wears it. It was priceless.) does, she would look so beautiful.

OMG WHAT I CAN'T BELIEVE IT!!!! :O

i always thought they just were flirting with each other but this!!!

i think it's a bit strange for me after all...but if it's true i wish that she will be happy with him and that he doesn't hurt Ayu in a way...

on the one hand I am happy for her
on the other hand I absolutely dislike this brat

on the whole, I don't want any Britney Spears story to repeat
I have a feeling it won't last long,anyway
maybe I'm just being too negative

it's really fast, but sometimes that is how love goes. You can be in a super long relationship that results in nothing and then you can know someone for a very short amount of time and know that they are the "one."

I was honestly thinking Ayu may never get married though! I'm happy for them. :)

I think its funny that you call Mannie a 'brat' because you know absolutely nothing about the guy. A few fans from the forum actually got to meet and hang out with him and say he's a very nice and sweet guy. I don't think Ayu would be with him if he were a 'brat'.

People don't know Ayu or Mannie personally so how can they judge them? Geez, total drama queens, some of you!

I am happy for Ayu and Mannie, I hope thye will have a great wedding and they will live a long and happy life together :)

*copy & paste* xD

As long as Ayu is happy with Mannie, I don't see a problem. Let's face it, she's a grown woman, who's got grown women needs and it's only natural for her to share her private time with someone she truly loves and trusts.
I don't think she's naive, so mabye the news just got posted, but who knows how long it's been in the making?

Mannie is good for Ayu, so as long as they're treating each other right and stand behind the marriage-thing, all's good with the world.

I wish both of them all luck the world has to offer, a bright future with each other and most of all: some time off, so they can really enjoy their engagement.

i'm just WOW
like........nothing to say..........

hope, she knows what she does......as usual.

WHAT?! :irked How can it be fake when it was written by ayu herself???? :no Gosh, people! Grow up! <.<

Wow I'm indeed more shocked than happy right now having to see this news on the new year! LOL. But I think they will make a great couple although they know each other for quite a short while. Since Ayu has found her true love I'm happy for her for tat reason. =D

But somehow I jus hope that she'll continue to make music despite her busy marriage life that is to come. Ok, selfish me.. but I will always support her!!

I hope she'll have a nice grand wedding, both traditional and Western. She deserves it!! ^^

I'm still in shock though lol. They have been flirting lots on Twitter, and on hindsight, LOTS of TA blog entries actually hinted at this but were dismissed as just flirty fun. But to actually see her confirm it is just... mind-blowing.

God, she makes me want to believe that fate and love really exists... :heart

wow...this news even made it into yahoo news... it's show ayu popularity in the world as japanese diva

nagase on drugs are you sure?

Wahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh so their relationship was real!!! Wow, initially I was super happy for the both of them, I've been rooting for them all this time >.< But... like everyone else, I'm like... oh my gosh, to get married after knowing each other for a few months is so quick... Ayu's schedule is SO busy... where are they going to live and when are they going to have time to spend with each other? Hahaha. The pessimistic side of me thinks this isn't going to work out in the long run because of their busy schedules.

But in the meantime... I will continue to support them!!!

(And by the way, my parents married after 6 months of knowing each other and they also spoke two different languages. Yet, they were married for nearly 25 years until my dad passed away. So, these things can work out.)

Call me racist, or whatever, but Ayu marrying a European model is HOT.

I'm not sure I believe them about meeting at the pv shoot. o.O

^ It kind of fits all too well together XD Why would Ayu write the lyrics to Virgin Road (which is specifically stated as being a wedding song) and then a few months later she coincidentally announces wedding plans?

I wonder if Ayu wrote Virgin Road because of Mannie... and maybe they did meet before the shooting of the PV.

I'm actually more shocked than happy,
I had the image of a single Ayu, who is a power woman and defeats everyone everywhere and who will remain single her entire life in my head after her relationship with Nagase. XD
I don't mind that they are marrying after such a "short" time since a few days ago my cousin married after knowing her man for 6 months.
If you're sure than go for it ! :heart
Moreover I hope they will stay together forever, as it's always sad to see marriages break up, especially when the people are famous idols like Hikaru Utada or Namie Amuro...
But I am afraid her musical career will be making a loss by her marriage :(

I'm getting Queen Elizabeth I vibes off of this. You know, when she spoke to her nation and said: "I am married. Married to England."
I bet some of you are feeling a bit shocked, because somehow you felt she was married to music and her career.
I feel relieved, that she is thinking enough about herself to actually move forward and do something like this. It's super, better than any break from work she could ever get.

Where do you think they are going to spend the honeymoon?

omg~~~~ this is awesome!

I'm a bit late but congraaaaaats Ayu :heart !

I don't know much about mannie but it seems like he makes her happy, which she deserves after working hard all these years :) I hope they have a great married life ~

Yea, I agree. I have a feeling that it could be a slight fudging of the truth to give themselves some more privacy. Only they know in the end, of course.

and maybe November toO!
it's a song about how she falling in love with Mannie..
n no wonder the album's name entitled "Love songs"

I'm so happy for them! Please, let this be permanent! No heartbreaking divorce!

Ah, I need to read November translations

Hmm~ Maybe Mannie meeting fans in LA was all for this moment, so he wouldn't be that big of a mystery when news of a wedding came out.

My sentiments exactly! I figure if she can make it work, so can I someday ^_^.

In other news, IS SHE REALLY HEADED BACK TO LA WITH MANNIE RIGHT NOW?? =O

I haven't been on AHS for at least over 5 days now. And I can't believe I'm coming back to this news!! xD

I'm so happy for Ayu! It's really hard to believe.. but Ayu is a grown women who knows what she wants in her life. She wouldn't marry Mannie unless she really loves him and knows it's going to work out. I honestly think they fell in love~ :)

I'm very happy for ayu, and hope they're together forevr <333 :heart

The best things Ayu does are rushed...

I never heard any rumour about Tomoya Nagase that involves drugs, so I don't believe it. Mika Noguchi is another story, though.

I thought about what you wrote here, and if it's the possible reason why I felt so skeptical about it, but it's not. If Ayu slows down because she is getting married I'm all for it, my sentiments were always that she works too much and too hard. So it weren't any selfish reasons, at least for me. I'm getting used to the idea and I think they are a cute couple. It came as a shock at first - but I'm slowly coming around. I still think it's too early, but who am I to judge if they BOTH feel it's the right thing to do? He obviously also wants to marry her! So I believe in both of them, and I hope that it will all work out. They live in the here and now, and sometimes just doing it, is just the right thing to do. It would be great if they will get children one day. :luv2

I'm so happy for both Ayu and for Mannie... :) both are such wonderful human beings!!! In a few years I hope babies will come along :)

^thanks for translating and confirming alot of important details! so they did actually meet and talked long before the Virgin Road filming, but met in person for the first time during the filming.

alot of people are questioning her love because it feels rushed, but love knows no bounds. she chose Mannie for the PVs for a reason, she saw something she liked in him and it's gone farther than we thought. :yes there is no reason to doubt Ayu or to dislike Mannie at all. Ayu has trusted us and dedicated everything to her fans for the past 12 years, and now she has chosen to take the next big step in her life because she feels it's right. we need to do nothing else but support her and be happy for her.

^ I was speculating on them talking before the Virgin Road PV filming. :P The article confirmed that Ayu saw his audition video and picked him herself, but I'm guessing that they did talk for a while before meeting in Los Angeles.

So far the only things that have been confirmed are Mannie's audition video, Ayu choosing him herself to act in the PV, both of them meeting in person for the first time during the Virgin Road PV shoot, both of them dating at night while in LA back in November, Ayu talking to Avex in December about getting married, Ayu's not pregnant and will continue working, no wedding date yet, and that both of them will be traveling back and forth to Los Angeles and Tokyo. Everything else in my last post was just my guesses on how all of this happened. ;)

^i see. :) regardless of if they started really talking before the filming or during the filming, love is love! :D

well I was shocked at first, but now I am happy that Ayu found someone whom she wishes to share her life. I so wish Ayu will be happy in the future, and I think it wouldn't be bad for her, she would take a little break too (maybe) and then come back with sth awsome again ^^, other singers made it, so why not wish her the best for this and hope it lasts ^^^

I wish them all the best!

I was reading one of the CDL threads and was like "what the...?" when I noticed people mentioning her getting married, so I came over here and....wow! I go away for the weekend and come back to such awesome news!

I'm so happy for her! :heart:heart I wish them both a long, happy life together! :D:D:D

I still can't really believe it. Though I think it's based on the fact that I thought of Ayu as a sort of woman that wouldn't get married, have a kid through artificial insemination (or adopt) when she was 35-ish, and then just sing until she died at around 85. =P

I had the same vision of ayu xDDDD

But well, this is.. weird. Not bad nor good. Simply weird.

I can't assimilate this so easily. She had a serious relationship for 7 years with Nagase, and there weren't nothing about getting married.. and now, after a few months with Mannie.. a wedding.

For the love of god, 2 days ago I didn't believe that they could be together.. I thought they were simply friends. Good friends.-
And yesterday I discovered that not only they are together, but they're gonna be wife and husband!!

I'm still shocking, but also happy! I fell in love the first time I saw Mannie, in Virgin Road PV xDD

(In fact, I remember that when I saw that final scene of them hugging each other once the shooting ended, I got excited too much thinking "wow, this guy looks so good with ayu!" xD)

But well, ayu have found in Mannie a true love (if not, she wouldn't be getting married), and we have to respect it. And, of course, show her our support =)

PD: I love what she said on twitter:

I still have only one wing.Its never gonna change till i die.RT @Ayu_Emi: @ayu_19980408 you found your second wing and your last angel dear

To me, it means that she won't change even after getting married. She still will be our ayu, the same that have fun like a children and loves the Balenciaga's bags and Chanel's sunglasses xD

it's really surprising for me!

i do think it's a bit rushed, but i feel happy for Ayu!

even though Ayu probably gave us hints, i looked right through it~

Ayumi Hamasaki Schwartz...

No I did not say that I knew or that I'm sure of that. I just told that that's the general story I hear when japanese ppl talk about Nagase. That and "thank god they broke up, he was really bad for her!" Now, naturally neither me or them nor you know the real story. But I just told what I get to hear veeery often. Also then I have been told that Mannie is a very nice person and he feels more like it too. But naturally, I really don't know. (And just to add, no I am not talking about the Avex drug scandal thingy that happend 1-2 years ago so.)

Oh wow. it did.

Omg!!! I knew it!!! Go Ayu!!! I am so excited for her!!! :luv2

Honestly, just the fact that she was so openly flirting with him on twitter was a HUGE hint. Japanese rarely express their private feelings publicly like that, especially not high profile celebrities. So when she did, I thought it was a strong possibility she must be totally head over heals in love with him.

the whole situation remind me of the movie "Notting Hill" Ayu's like Julia Robert there and I think in this relationship Ayu's is the one that made the move first unlike her previous relationship wih Nagase.

I remember she said sumwhere that on the start of her relationship w/ nagase, when she took 1 step backward Nagase will take 10 steps towards her.. she's more like the passive side.. now maybe she's found the one it's different

Yahoo? Really? I need to go straight to the homepage and check it out! :O

hahaha i kinda think that Mannie is a very quite person by seeing the making off vids.. so Ayu made the first move? XDD

I was wondering about this whole speculation of getting married. I thought, if this was real, wouldn't Ayu post officially on TA rather than twitter. So I guess this makes it real.

I don't want to say I'm happy for her and her soon to be Groom... because I need to let this sink in. It seems a little too fast, I think I'm worried because it is so soon.. I guess I'm shocked.

Maybe this is part of her plan for world domination? haha.

...I still don't know if they're in LA or not. Anybody know?

Haha. Somehow, I think Ayu is the one who proposed Mannie? haha. I dont know.. I'm just saying :P

Wow, just WOW. This news did come as a surprise (marriage after a brief period of romance??) . But Ayu's a big girl and she's happy with him. So I'll wish for her happiness and all the best for 2011!!

Oh yes, world domination sounds good~

Wow, they are getting married pretty quick...

happy for her, but i think it's too soon, they're rushing into it, but if that's what makes her happy so be it ^^ :)

I AM HYPERVENTILATING. it's like winning the lottery. she is freaking getting married. never saw it coming. I AM SOOOOO HAPPY FOR HER. no sarcasm seriously. i can't wait for more news of her marriage XD