[Corvina]

Koda Kumi Italian FC on Facebook summarized the interview by Bar Campanella posted at the last page:

Koda Kumi was interviewd by Takayanagi-san and discussed her debut with the single "TAKE BACK" released in the US under the name KODA. It peaked at #18 on the Billboard dance chart but avex and herself decided to focus on the Oricon Chart, also because she admits her English isn't very good and laughs.
Talking about her difficult early years in the music industry she says she wanted to work hard not just for herself and her fans but also for her company (rhythm nation/avex) which supported her and believed in her during those hard times.
It was thanks to the success of the Final Fantasy X-2 songs Real Emotion and 1000no Kotoba that she achieved initial success.
She remembers that it was Cutie Honey that, despite not topping the Oricon Chart, really launched her and gave her the opportunity to perform at the popular TV program Music Station with a very sexy dress ("I was basically wearing just underwear" she laughs).
It was especially with this song that Kumi introduced the ero-kakkoii image that made her a hot-topic on the internat back then.
The culmination of 5 difficult years was reached with the single Butterfly and the release of the million selling album BEST～first things～ in 2005.
She talks about the golden era of MTV where music videos were extremely popular and she was introducing a new image for a Kansai girl. She was singing, dancing and being sexy/westernized. She cites Christina Aguilera, Britney Spears and Beyonce as influences during that period and that she channeled those models to break the mold in Japan and to be unique.
Talking about the struggle of the first 5 years of her career, she admits that those times were helpful in guiding her and her team into the right direction and strengthened the connection with her fans.
"THE ARTIST" live concert was meant to be a celebration and a gift for her fans that keep following her after all these years.
Kumi says she carefully picked up merch and songs and she hopes to please her fans with good content everytime she performs or releases a CD.
Takayanagi-san says he was impressed by the dedication of her fans and he had to buy all the goods at the merch stand because he didn't want to feel akward without the towel and the light stick.
Kumi says becoming a wife and a mother has made her change a lot from her previous ero-kakkoii style and she is greatful that her fans have accepted her during her career.
She is thrilled to go on tour in all 47 prefectures and promises that as long as fans are craving for Koda Kumi, she will never stop performing.
Takayanagi-san describes Koda Kumi as a big personality and great performer despite her small figure (154cm).
He says that "THE ARTIST" was a great show, full of songs and dances, whose energy was interrupted only by the curfew.
The concert is a proof of Koda Kumi's evolving nature.
Bartender Satoshi Kurosawa describes Kumi's personality with a "Vodka Apple Juice" which embodies strength and tenderness.
It's easy to drink but it leaves a long-lasting flavor, just like a Koda Kumi song.

Translation is not perfect but it sums up the chore of the discussion