ayumi hamasaki 25th Anniversary LIVE - 8th April 2023

[SKYia]

Originally Posted by URANUS

I hope she's not going to retire. She's only 44 years old. Even Madonna is still working. Western artists never retire. They take long breaks and they release an album when they feel like it.

Some American artists still tour when they are 70.

I don't think it's a matter of age in Japan, AFAIR when Namie retired there was this talk about her being not a public person anymore thanks to the retirement. Something between the line of more privacy and paparazzi not being allowed to post pics of you(?). Maybe Ayu also wants that now that her kids are growing up and she will want to enjoy time with them.

But in all honesty I don't think it's about retirement, she loves performing way too much.