I actually don't really mind these pictures despite the dead expressions. However, she still does not look like herself. I was actually looking at these pics when my boyfriend came in and he asked "Who is that?" "Ayumi." "What? That doesn't look like her at all!"

I was always one of the first to defend Ayu when people would compare pictures of her childhood to now and say she had surgery. But this year, I do notice a change. Its not a huge change, but I think its there. I've speculated that maybe she had something done to her face and/or body during the time between Kohaku and Next Level. (you didn't hear or see her very much then) It's possible it could even have been in 2008 though as Octolina said. It's still spec of course, but a lot of people seem to be noticing it.

Uhm.
I like this photoshoots, she looks almost natural, the make up & clothes are good..

too bad for the facial expression D: is the same in all the pics LOL

In terms of look and outfit, I think the last one looks the best.

Sorry Ayu, but the eyes just look WAY too weird...

Between NEXT LEVEL and Kouhaku was when she was recovering from her broken fingers though... she went to relax in Hawaii IIRC at the time and did some magazine photoshoot then [you don't see her right arm/hand in any of the photos..]~ Which is why I guess that she wasn't doing much at the time. It's taken 7 months for that thing to completely heal. Oi.

http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/8006/ayu213.jpghttp://img27.imageshack.us/img27/5127/ayu054.jpg
Ayuuuuu~

l..o...l

what happened. dont even look like ayu

Right, but during those few months, it seems she had plenty of time to get something done if in fact that's what she did. Also if I remember right in 2008 before her tour started her schedule was pretty bare as was a chunk of her summer before A-Nation. Whether she did it or not, it does seem that she has had the time to these last two years.

And btw, her nose looks noticeably smaller and pointier in the picture on the left I think. :)

In 2008, it seemed like they were busy with concert planning/rehearsals for that span of time before AT08 (as usual?), and as for a-nation '08 and her appearing at only those two final dates.. I have what she was doing before then:
And I think before that, she was doing touring? Up until late June?
And isn't the recovery time sort of long for nosejobs/facial work?

http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/6860/todays6382.jpg

Oh, Ayu~

she reminds me of Emmy Rossum in those pics LOL >>;

Actually these days its not. Depending on how much you do, only a couple of weeks. Early 2008 and 2009 there was certainly the time available to do something if she did. Tour planning isn't going to sideline you from being able to do anything else. :)

Rhinoplasty (nose job) recovery requires patience. The nose and face are initially swollen, sore, and bruised. Some bleeding is common. Although these side effects are not usually bothersome after the first week or two, some minor residual swelling may persist for several months, and the final results of surgery may not be visible for up to a year.

Well, the initial planning for the stages and costumes doesn't exactly last that long, I'd imagine.. it's the dancing/singing/moving around that's probably what consumes the most time, which is what I think would hinder the recovery process when it comes to stuff like that, haha.

I made some adjustments to her face! I think it looks nicer~. :)

^ haha she looks adorable in that pic xD
i prefer this than the original shot :P

http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/7829/hairandetc.png

I think the hair has a bit to do with it.. hm. But she doesn't really look like she usually does in that bea's up shoot either, haha. I realized how hard it was to find a somewhat recent non-Kazuyoshi shoot from straight on.. omg.

^Yeah if I saw those pictures without knowing who it was, I would think they were completely different people. Even her jaw line looks totally different there.

I imagine the most direct involvement she would have in the concert process that might have any effect on her nose would only be a couple of weeks before the first show.

Bottom line, if she really did want to get some kind of work done, she had a good few months. There was time. :) All I know is (and as others have been reiterating), recently she doesn't really look like how she used to and it seems like more than just an aging process.

Well, she almost always has a good few months during any given year of.. 'downtime' which we don't really know what she does, but I don't think she'd be getting her nose done, haha. I imagine Ayu would be most against doing something like that to one's self, you know?

^ That's what I always thought too and why I always defended her when it came to plastic surgery rumors before. But as I said, now I really do think she looks at least a bit different.

oh gosh, all these comments ive been reading TT__TT
yes ayu looks emotionless here, hopefully a better photoshoot to come ^^

I think it's Ayu's new bangs that makes her look so different...
*i'll have my hair cut soon and the new bangs just like Ayu, so i guess I'll be looked different as well..*
her bangs are kind of weird though..wahaha..

along this time, i guess that what has always made her looked different because of her changing hairstyles + haircolors + make up
there are some old photoshoots which don't look like her too.. haha~
maybe she used light/natural make up in these magazine shoots, that's why some of us kind of not used to see the Natural Ayu..because we often see Ayu with full make up on?

anyway talking about plastic surgery.. i don't believe it either..because after seeing all the pics where she didn't wear make up at all (if i'm not wrong it's from CDL06-07 backstage off shot) with the old old old pics of her.. she doesn't look different at all..
i used to think she ever had plastic surgery though.. but after saw those backstage off shot pics.. i was very surprised to see the 15 years old Ayu there..her eyes are not as big as we've always seen..

Anywho, we can't make sure whether Ayu ever did surgery before because none of the pics we can see right..who knows it's been PS-ed.. or the wonder of the make up could make Ayu looks different.. etc etc...

right now, i choose to believe she's not... until she reveals that she does, (which she won't reveal since she ever stated once that she never did surgery before? i forgot where i heard/read about it)

This photo shoot reminds me of brown sugar. I like brown sugar ( :heart ).

Except for the faces!! Or better put, 'face', singular.

we've stepped into a time machine that's taken us back to 1999... and then turned into plastic. on the other hand, i admire her for trying out new looks and experimenting.