[tokyoxjapanxfan]

^ I totally agree.

I feel like -now- we're getting back to that Ayu, but for the past few years it's been like...or at least appeared like...she didn't really know who she was, either. On one hand she was living in America and living an "American" life--but on the other hand she had to still be "Japanese" and cater to a fan base that's now on the other side of the world.

I wonder if during her peak, she felt like she could do anything and it would succeed, so she didn't have to think so much about how the outcome would be in terms of reception. She could be herself because that was acceptable.

But now everything she does is turned into a negative, so she feels more intent on keeping up a facade?