To be honest, I don't think it's just to do with bad sales in Japan any more, I think for both Kuu and Ayu, their sales are declining because, as much as I don't wish to say it, people are not as interested in them now as they used to be? Not that they don't love them but, I think Kuu and Ayu have always kept their old style and have become more like national treasures now, like Madonna and Christina aguilera (only comparing based on fame and sales). I say this because despite the declining sales for Kuu and Ayu, Namie isnt declining at all, and she's been around longer than both (1995). If you look at her sales, she's selling more each year with albums, and tends to fluctuate between selling the same or selling more with her singles. Namie is still very much in fashion, I think. Her recent single has done very well.
I think if Kuu were to look at the most recent of who and what is in fashion, and based her sexy style around that, she would be of more interest. I mean, when Namie came back in 1998, between 200 to 2004, her sales declined heavily, but when she re-invented herself in 2005 with 'PLAY' as the hip-hop queen, her sales have gone up ever since, never to the peak of 1999 and below, but since 2000, Namie's album sales have been climbing with each release. But I don't think Kuu will changer her image much. She does what she wants, what she feels she wants to do to grow as an artist, and as a singer. I think Kuu needs a new snap, and I think Kenji is kinda the muse that has begun to give it to her, but I think as long as she follows what goals she has, I think shell find a new one. It would be awesome to see Kuu kinda re-design herself for her comeback.
I do sometimes feel that kuu styles herself quite older now sometimes, even though she's only 30. I adore how she is styled in Lay Down, she should keep a younger look like that! And sometimes I think she tends to go too modern electro-poppy like with Okay and Lay Down, which tends to be my least favourite fast tracks. I love electro-pop, especially in KPOP, I just don't feel like Kuu picks the right songs for her, sometimes? I do think when Kuu does good old R'n'B, Jrock, Dance like Driving, Taboo and ESCALATE, and Jpop that is really her forte.
I would die if she did another cover album, put instead it's like a rock or r'n'b album instead of ballad. D: AND YAY FOR DRIVING HITS 4!!