I will read your posts later. Thanks emiko for making this thread. It does sound really interesting.
When you look at Ayumi Hamasaki, do you see Ayu, the human being, or do you see Ayumi Hamasaki the Entertainer? Is there a grey area?
I see Ayu as the role-model I admired my teenage years, but the things she did or she is doing now have no direct impact on me anymore. But, I say with honest that I had more interest in whatever she did for her career than the decisions she made in personal life. But I knew that those decisions would inspire her for songs. I see her as the diva who dares to express her true feelings in a song and put it in an act to entertain us, without releasing 'lied' songs. That's why I am fan of her . In my early teenage years it was about her music plus her glamour and glitter, now it's just the music.
How do you think that affects what you want from what she does? What do you want from her?
I want her to be true to her songs. I like Ayu's honesty and I would like to see that. But some over-the-top performances are too much for me. The focus is no longer Ayu's talent for singing, but her producers talent for giving us a memoriable show. Perhaps she is still true to her lyrics, but not to herself. Also with representing herself: maybe it's Japanese tradition to photoshop models into babydolls, but Ayu is growing up as well. I sometimes think that she or her managers want us to believe that Ayu will be young forever. But she is not. The young Ayu wasn't able to sing the songs she released recently. The matured Ayu is not able to write the songs she released earlier in her career. Her thoughts, morals and believings have changed; and so did her appearance. Ayu seems to like presenting herself in different ways like fierce, cute or classy. Who is Ayu really?
Do you think that being so close to Ayu with social media affects your view of
her?
It's great that Ayu wants to be close(r) with her fans and use social media to do that. But I can remember that she once called us her 'babies' or something? Well, I dislike that sort of things, as if she is looking down on us. But yeah, I think she does that to 'connect' us more with her. And that is good.
How do you feel about the way other people see Ayu?
There is always someone I can identify my thoughts with. I do not care how other people see Ayu, but I do ask people to give specific reasons why and how come when they say nasty stuff about her. With hope I can change their mind of course
Are you a little pig-headed about your opinions?
I try not to be. I have my opinion, but I do not mind when people disagree. And I hope that people don''t mind when I disagree with their opinions. I respect their opinions and I ask the same of them. That's all.