japanese vs western views on ayu

[PoetGirl]

I wanted to have thread like this for a longer time, but since it's my first time making a thread I wasn't sure is this worth creating it, but my curiosity is killing me.

To all of you who have been in touch with japanese people what they told you about ayu? And how their thoughts differ from western fans you met?

Im always suprised how there are very rarely nice words about her. Every japanese person I met said that is known fact ayu is very egoist woman, that she dies for fashion, that she only cares 'bout her nice pretty expensive dresses, how she was very lazy for school, how everything with books or studying is so hard for her, how is awful of her for dropping out of school just for pure lazyness, how she started to care about her image only when she got famous, when she realized people actually take her as a rolemodel or else she would stay this lazy woman who just goes shopping. Then they start how she married Mannie and they live separated just cause she's so egoist and uses him when she needs it and how she doesnt want him to meet her without make up and her possible weak sides. I was like... if she's that horrible why is she selling that well? their answer is that: 'she has really good songs'

My only touch with western fans is this forum and this forum is filled with 'ayu is such a great person'. So... its very different view. Im wondering what's your opinion about this and why is that?

[love in music]

I was like... if she's that horrible why is she selling that well? their answer is that: 'she has really good songs'

lol, it's not like you have to be a good person to sell well anyway. but anyway, ayu IS a good person and makes amazing music, so that is why most of us who love her will buy her music and support her.

well, Japanese haters & western haters are very similar. Japanese fans & western fans are very similar as well. the haters hate her for her voice, music, looks, being a diva (which she hardly is, they should educate themselves). I've seen hateful comments from western & Japanese fans regarding these things. it's also sort of a popular opinion among most ayu fans & haters alike that ayu's old music/voice is better (though I strongly disagree with this, unless by old you mean 2005-2006).

Japanese fans seem to love her for her looks, lyrics, music, personality, and the same goes for western fans.

so basically I don't think the opinions are that different, of course unless you compare the Japanese haters vs western fans like you did.

[ownsarai]

I seriously doubt Mannie has only seen her with make up on, lol That would be really weird. I mean they spent a week together in Maldives, and I'm sure they slept in the same room...so did Ayu wear make up and never take it off the whole trip? xD
I don't know why a lot of Japanese people have this perception of Ayu that she's egotistical and such. She has never really come off that way in any interview I've seen. I have seen her get upset about that photo shoot where the photographers weren't set up yet and she was on a schedule so she got pretty pissed off. But hey, when you have other places you need to be, it's only natural you would be upset. And that was also in her peak era.
Ayu is a very smart woman and knows how to take care of herself in her business life and personal life.

[panda♥]

Originally Posted by ownsarai

I have seen her get upset about that photo shoot where the photographers weren't set up yet and she was on a schedule so she got pretty pissed off. But hey, when you have other places you need to be, it's only natural you would be upset. And that was also in her peak era.

when was this?

[kinix]

Originally Posted by ownsarai

I have seen her get upset about that photo shoot where the photographers weren't set up yet and she was on a schedule so she got pretty pissed off. But hey, when you have other places you need to be, it's only natural you would be upset. And that was also in her peak era.
Ayu is a very smart woman and knows how to take care of herself in her business life and personal life.

Professionalism >.< she looks so cool in the video~~
If not the other side that's waiting for her would come up with rumours that she's playing big shot lol

[PoetGirl]

No, I meant if she has that negative image (that's negative imo) why would she be popular you know? but anyway...

People I talked to were not her haters, they were people who listen to her ocasionally or often. They were her fans! They had her posters, her cds, goes to her concerts, those people are not haters if you ask me! So even they support her they are very critical or 'real' with her.

[love in music]

Originally Posted by PoetGirl

No, I meant if she has that negative image (that's negative imo) why would she be popular you know? but anyway...

People I talked to were not her haters, they were people who listen to her ocasionally or often. They were her fans! They had her posters, her cds, goes to her concerts, those people are not haters if you ask me! So even they support her they are very critical or 'real' with her.

yeah, it's weird to me how people who talk such trash like that could be fans, but I guess they just love her music a lot. personally, if I ever thought most of the things you said they said about ayu were true, I would not be able to be her fan, no matter how amazing her music is.

[ownsarai]

@PoetGirl~ Well, I guess it's like you said...because she has good music. And of course everyone is entitled to their opinion on Ayu, but, honestly if she were a horrible person, liking her music wouldn't be enough for me to her fan. She would have to have a great, friendly personality as well, which she does. Ayu is a caring person, always worrying about her friends and fans. This is why I don't understand why people say she's egotistical.
@panda♥~ I think it was in that interview 'Ayumi Hamasaki Light & Shadow' or something like that. Now I need to look for it.
http://www.megavideo.com/?d=N4QR86HQ
^It starts around the 10 minute mark.

[panda♥]

Originally Posted by ownsarai

@panda♥~ I think it was in that interview 'Ayumi Hamasaki Light & Shadow' or something like that. Now I need to look for it.
http://www.megavideo.com/?d=N4QR86HQ
^It starts around the 10 minute mark.

honestly, i would be pissed too if they made me and my staff wait like that because they weren't set up yet. she had every right to be upset.

[PoetGirl]

I see her diva attitude sometimes but I like this. I like her image of a strong woman. Thats why I created this thread, wanted to see your opinions about this.

[lividlillies]

Ownsarai, thank-you for that link! I'm gonna watch it now! :>

Out of the few Japanese people I've talked to, I've found people that know of her, but no one who likes her or buys her CDS. They're always shocked when they find out that I do! I think the biggest complaint is "I don't like her voice", or "I like English music better". I think the people who I talked to were too reserved to voice any real complaints because I knew I liked her so much, or maybe they just didn't feel strongly about it?

I wonder if Ayu is kind of... an embarrassing hobby there? She's been popular for so long, maybe people buy her things in secret or only in small fan groups? XD; I don't know, it just reminds me of the stigma attached to liking Avril Lavigne or something.

[Aozora]

I hardly call that being strict or pissed off in that video :p. She was clearly angry but with valid reasoning and I think she handled it a lot more maturely than a lot of famous singers in Western countries would.

I don't think that there are opinions dependent on whether one is Japanese or Western. Obviously if you ask anyone at this forum you're most likely to get a positive reply because... this is an Ayumi Hamasaki forum xD. If you just asked random Japanese people though there are no guarantees that they are fans and they may have overheard rumors from tabloids or the news. The same thing happens with celebrities in Western countries all the time.

[Sandy]

Originally Posted by Aozora

I hardly call that being strict or pissed off in that video :p. She was clearly angry but with valid reasoning and I think she handled it a lot more maturely than a lot of famous singers in Western countries would.

I agree. She barely Linday Lohaned.
And that was a tough time for her! She didn't even wanna make the A BEST CD and she might have taken her anger on things 'round her. Avex made her go through all that, at least partially.


Luja: What makes her a diva? Well I wouldn't use that word on her, but then again I've never met a diva in my real life, only in movies. So I guess my definition on that word is a bit different than some.

But for me this whole Ayu's fashion-thing is all blaaah. Fashion in my books is nothing but telling rich and skinny people what to ware. I'm sorry if I'm hurting anyone with these comments, not my intension.

She also wears a lot of fur or those with animalprints. (I don't know what the right name is, but I mean this):

Spoiler:

http://www.google.fi/imgres?imgurl=h...w=1366&bih=656

But these does not make her a diva it's just things I don't like about her.
I admire her so much I don't care about the fashion-thing she's got going on. She is a person first, an artist then. How many celebrities are like that nowadays? And how many labels are letting their artists be like that?

[ayuuk]

Originally Posted by Sandy

I admire her so much I don't care about the fashion-thing she's got going on. She is a person first, an artist then. How many celebrities are like that nowadays? And how many labels are letting their artists be like that?

Love what you said "she is a person first, an artist then." I used to not like her (way back into her A song for xx and LOVEppears era), but after I saw her CDL 2006~07 and its footage, I completely fell in love with her as a person. There are very few artists who give me such strong feelings.

Originally Posted by jbrat2219

Ugh, I totally agree! It's so silly that some people refuse to give music a chance sometimes just because of a language barrier.

Agree! Even though my Japanese is very basic, I can still feel the emotions in her music. It's a pity that some people refuse to listen to certain music based on language reasons.

[ownsarai]

^Oh definitely. I know some Western artists probably would have thrown a huge fit or possibly even left. Ayu did have very good reason to be angry. I would feel the same way. Because not only were they making Ayu wait, but everyone on her staff as well.

[Kazeyomi]

If I were a casual listener, I would bothered a bit by Ayu's diva attidute sometimes though. But as her fan since 2002, I know she's just a diva outside. Inside she's lovely and nice. Actually we never know how she is for real, but I don't think she's a cruel liar whom write meaningful lyrics, sweet TA entries & tweets just for trolling her fans . Call me naive, but I trust her.

However, I had few experiences about that with japanese people.
I met just one Ayu fan like me, the other japanese people I have talked to said she's gorgeous and talented but they don't buy her CDs.
As for western views, sometimes I had fights with a friend of mine. A huge kpop boybands and Hikki fan. She said Ayu is superficial because she looks cute on covers, and she will be never like Hikki. Who's the best because she looks natural.
Ehm.. oook.
For other japanese music fans, it depends.
I met crazy visual-kei fangirls who hate her because she sang with GACKT O_O or people who loves/likes her music.

I don't think we can have the same thoughts between japanese and western people imo

[thatstacey]

When I was first introduced to Ayu, the exact thing my friend said to me was "she's like Britney Spears; she has good songs, but she's kind of a brat." I think the "diva" image has been integral to her career almost since the beginning (this was the TO BE single). It helps to distinguish her from other artists, but it also runs contrary to the popular image of what a Japanese woman ~should be, hence the backlash. It's one of the reasons I love her, though.

[PoetGirl]

I dont ask anyone about ayu, its that they ask me am I ayu fan if they see her on my cellphone or such.

[TeamAyu2004]

I knew about this interview, but never watched it till now. Very good stuff and I also agree I dont think she acted that bady when they made her wait along with the rest of her staff..

[Kanzaki]

People only see the smooth, perfect and of Ayu because that what she chooses to show to people not close to her. And some people constantly search for negativity in those they either envy or those who are famous. So they call her vain and egoist etc. These days it's so hard to find people who genuinly search for the good in others- especially super stars.