A question to people living in Japan
 

So, fellow members living in Japan =)

Considering some things, like the amount of tour dates she gets, she performing one more day for CDL recently, she taking part on non-Avex festivais seeming to be a big deal (and even headlining the most recent one, and holding 70% of an audience that wasn't 100% made of fans in the first place), etc, it just feels like Ayu actually is regarded as a top performer in Japan, even if people watch her for the sake of bashing her and even if she never were a top dvd seller.

Is this true? How do japanese public sees Ayu as a performer?

Japanese people love the past and everything that is iconic and even if you hate her now, you can't deny what she did in the past. Also, I find that Japanese people dissociate really really easily.
Its kinda weird. Think of the song, Evolution and how everyone goes crazy for it. Even if the person hates her now, they still love the song. It's not about the artist its about the song.
I think this is why she also plays certain songs live all the time. If they don't like her, then they will diffidently like the songs she did when she held the country hostage all those years ago, lol.

I have a friend in Japan, and her cousin is a fan of Ayu. My friend, Natsumi, shared that Ayu was very big in Japan around the early 2000s, but not so much currently due to other idol groups, artists, and kpop groups. Natsumi told me that she's don't know much about Ayu but know a few of her songs like M and Voyage. I think just like America, Japanese people who are living in Japan like variety of music. Some like Indies, some like Pop, some like Idols... It's all depends on individual's taste.

Thank you for the replies, but I don't think I made myself clear on what I'm asking:

How do Japanese people view Ayu as a live performer? It's something like Madonna, that isn't spamming huge hits on the USA for over a decade now but still broke a record for the most watched Super Bowl halftime show because people expect her live appearences to be good or memorable or just because her name is strong enough to make them curious, or is she someone performing to hardcore fans only?

Like... If there was a huge worldwide viewed event, like the Olimpic Games or World Cup and Ayu was picked up to perform on it would Japanese people think "nice, that may be interesting" or "Eeeew! Kill that bitch, she will embarass us!"?

Oh, I was actually wondering that as well. She may not be as big as she once were, but in terms of live performances she still seems huge, she's still invited to be the last performer and is still able to gather a great audience. So I also would like to know how is she seen as a performer by the general Japanese public :yes

I don't live in Japan, but I have a lot of friends there, japanese and exchange students. From my experience, it seems like they think that Ayumi is still strong, and she is still famous. Not hardcore fans only. But like any other artists, the quality of her songs are kinda.. decreasing? I mean, compare Duty to Love Again... The Japanese seem proud of her, even though they don't necessarily listen to her music anymore. I'm pretty sure they wouldn't be embarrassed if she was to perform at an international event, but I think they'd go, "But we have so many other great and inspiring artists, why choose her?"

But all in all, Ayu is an icon for japanese pop music.

I could always ask the girls the same question and post their answer? I can ask both a fan and a non fan