[article with many factual errors] Japan pop icon: Ayumi Hamasaki

[nmskalmn]

Just sharing in case this wasn't posted yet:

Chinese fans have too long been deprived of Ayumi Hamasaki's company. But this began to be remedied last Saturday when the Japanese pop star fired up the atmosphere for a wild night in Taipei.

The Taipei Concert is the first leg of Ayumi Hamasaki's Asian Tour. Later she'll be appearing in both Hong Kong and Shanghai. But to protect the super star's privacy and safety no further information has been released.

Ayumi Hamasaki has been a hit with Chinese fans since her album "A Song For XX" in the late 90's. At that time her unique musical sensibility and attitude to work took her to the very top of Japan's music scene. The busy schedule meant fans were gorged with songs, photos, and promo material.

Ayumi began her career in the spotlight when she was just 7 years old. Starting as a child model for commercial advertising, she later got parts on TV shows like "Twin Teachers". After graduating from University she moved to Tokyo and joined "Sun Mucis".

In Japan at that time wannabe starlets all had treat the same road -- it involved a lot of posing in bikinis for endless magazine shoots. Ayumi went through this but soon had enough. In September 1995 she released her first hip pop album simply titled Ayumi. It was a storming success, starting a J-RAP craze that swept the nation and set a new chart record with 5 weeks at No.1

In 1998, Ayumi released her first more intimate album "A Song For XX". She wrote all the lyrics herself, reflecting her worries about life and her work. They struck a strongly resonant chord with her young audience. She went on in 1999 to release 7 singles and two further albums. The same year saw her singing on stage for "NHK Red White".

2000 was also AYUMI's year. Nine singles, two albums and thirty-three national concerts. And she never let the heavy load affect the quality of her work, winning prizes for best song and best album.

2001 more than 300 thousand people saw her in concert. And album sales over the two years from 1999 reached 5 billion yen.

In 2002's "MTV Asia Awards" she was awarded the title of "Most Influential Japanese Artist in Asia". And in that years Sino-Japanese friendship celebrations, she represented Japan.

Ayumi is famous for her songs but she is more than just a singer. She's the icon of Japanese pop culture. Her style is always a model for young girls. With her leopard, butterfly and cat looks she started a series of new trends. Her popularity has made her a magnet for the advertising industry.

In 2004 Madame Tussauds immortalized Ayumi in wax in its who's who gallery.

Edward Fuller of Madame Tussauds, Hong Kong, said, "I think she looks fantastic, absolutely fantastic. We spent a good six months making this particular figure. And the attention to the detail for a wax figure is absolutely hundred per cent."

Last year Ayumi released two new albums "Secret" and "A Best 2", the latter following on from 2001's "A Best". So who knows 2007 might just be Ayumi's year.

Where are they getting this info from?

Looks like there's a video version also, but it didn't work for me,

http://www.cctv.com/program/culturee...103614_1.shtml

[Tasked]

whahahaha... Nothing from Nothing is called "ayumi" and topped oricon for 5 weeks? whahahahahahahahahaha... wouldn't it be weird if that album WOULD have been so succesful.. Ayu might never have entered the popscene and be the queen that she is today.

[Sim']

Wow... Yeah, so many errors =/

Edward Fuller of Madame Tussauds, Hong Kong, said, "I think she looks fantastic, absolutely fantastic. We spent a good six months making this particular figure. And the attention to the detail for a wax figure is absolutely hundred per cent."

MOUAHAHAHAHAHAHA XDD
THAT was funny xDDDDDD


Thanks for the translation =)

[Qt Mashi]

lol~ Ayu graduated from University? A best 2 was released last year? :O

atleast they didnt say anything negative about Ayu

AMAZING J-RAP CRAZE THAT AYU SPREAD ACROSS THE NATION.


wikipedia isn't even this bad

What the hell? xD

Hahahaha~

Oh very dear.

[..:Hot:Like:Wow:..]

Woo! yeeaah!! a couple hundred copies.... a massive success, creating a J-RAP craze, lmao. I love that.

Thanks so much for this article, I LOVED it! very entertaing read.

[Raleigh]

er.. university.

[sora2522]

sun mucis? O.o;

wtf with the wax figure? are they BLIND?!

XD like QT Mashi said, at least they didn't say anything bad about her

[*Petit*]

I HOPE this was for april 1st!

[Chibi_Venus]

^

[Corybobory]

hmmmm.... somebody had a deadline to meet!!!

lol OT but this reminded me of something... my boyfriend was interviewed when he was in Singapore attending a football match and the article they printed was just ridiculous. All the info was wrong and the words they quoted him and his dad as saying were so hilarious. Apparently my boyfriend goes to Dallas University (that would be a commute) and has seen over 400 football games and is absolutely obsessed with S-Leage and can talk like a sports caster..... (he lied and told me it was the first football game he has been to!! ??)

[Ayumiko]

lol...so many mistakes...but the one that made me laugh the most is:

Edward Fuller of Madame Tussauds, Hong Kong, said, "I think she looks fantastic, absolutely fantastic. We spent a good six months making this particular figure. And the attention to the detail for a wax figure is absolutely hundred per cent."

yea 100% doesnt look like her...lol

[*Petit*]

Originally Posted by Corybobory

hmmmm.... somebody had a deadline to meet!!!

lol OT but this reminded me of something... my boyfriend was interviewed when he was in Singapore attending a football match and the article they printed was just ridiculous. All the info was wrong and the words they quoted him and his dad as saying were so hilarious. Apparently my boyfriend goes to Dallas University (that would be a commute) and has seen over 400 football games and is absolutely obsessed with S-Leage and can talk like a sports caster..... (he lied and told me it was the first football game he has been to!! ??)

Makes you wonder why they even bother finding people to interview...

[WillofDusk]

Hilarious!!
Haha

[Dustie]

OMG I have this channel! CCTV international! I wish I had been watching it today... I know Culture Express...

But what a load of bullocks? oO" Can't believe they actually said so much false info on international tv... The part about "Ayumi" album was the best... "J-RAP craze" "5 weeks at No. 1"

Originally Posted by .llama

AMAZING J-RAP CRAZE THAT AYU SPREAD ACROSS THE NATION.


wikipedia isn't even this bad

Yeah I thought that was the most outlandish thing they said

[Impracticable]

omg ... the J-RAP CRAZE is the only serious ridiculous thing the said. i mena, thats .. oh my god. The other stuff is a bit crazy, but compared to "AYUMI" ... omg ... its nothing. XD

[truehappiness]

L.O.L.

[ohsixthirty]

Originally Posted by .llama

AMAZING J-RAP CRAZE THAT AYU SPREAD ACROSS THE NATION.


wikipedia isn't even this bad

yeah...that cracked me up. ayumi the j-rap superstar.