[Findlay]

The problem is being that the domestic fan base is decreasing despite the fact that ayu's becoming more popular internationally. While Japanese fans are still the majority who constantly support her CD sales, if they lost their interest (being unwilling to purchase her releases etc), then of course ayu's popularity in Japan will drop. This basic principle applies to most other singers as well, in other words, sadly to say, ayu's ruling era is gradually over just as what had happened to the past J-pop queen Namie Amuro before, and that's just a matter of time.