SPONICHI article - March 12, 2008

(caps from "Mezamashi TV"'s coverage of the hand-bra story, from hiroshi_ben at AHS)

Ayumi Hamasaki New Hand-Bra Shot

Ayumi Hamasaki has been photographed doing a hand-bra shot.

It is the jacket photo for her 10th Anniversary single, "Mirrorcle World" (to be released April 8th). This will be a turning-point year for Ayu, and this defines the start of it all. The photo was taken in February. It was shot during her trip to Paris to also film the promotional video, under strict rules that no boys were allowed.

In November, 1999, for the simultaneous release of the album "LOVEppears" and single "appears", Ayu's bustline was hidden with her hair, and the photos received alot of attention. Although it has been announced that the CD booklet will contain swimsuit photos and the like, this is the first time Ayu has done a hand-bra photo.

The promotional video includes 5 costume changes, including a daring corset. Also included, a dress weighing 20 kilograms - that's half ayu's total body weight. Running around in the dress was apparently "taxing on the body", but the work was finished.

Also, as an additional track on the single, two songs from ayu's debut year, "YOU" (June 1998) and "Depend on you" (December of that year), have been re-recorded. The CD will be released in two separate versions.

SPONICHI article - March 7, 2008

Ayu Releases Global Remix Album

Singer Ayumi Hamasaki (29) will be releasing her remix album on the 26th. This is her first work since she announced in January that she had lost the hearing in her left ear. Well-known DJs from various countries around the world have been tapped for the creation of remixes for hit songs, including "BLUE BIRD". Starting on the 12th, songs included on the newest album, "GUILTY", will be distributed to 25 different countries. To welcome the 10th Anniversary since Hamasaki's debut, she seems to have begun considering a move into the world market.

Her first since September 2003, this remix album, her 6th, will go on sale as two simultaneous editions, -GOLD- and -SILVER-. This 10th Anniversary is a turning point, seeing Hamasaki working with remixers such as Armand van Helden, who has remixed such American artists as The Rolling Stones and Britney Spears; French DJ Stephen Pompognac, who was DJ for the Academy Awards party; and other popular DJs notable from many countries globally.

The -GOLD- version features uptempo tracks, while -SILVER- includes more ballad styles. While "STEP you" has more of a bang, "HEAVEN" was done in a House style. Taking Hamasaki's ideas and hopes for the project into consideration, after a year of planning, six months were spent on production.

European and North American DJs, especially British and Canadian, are featured prominently on the remixes. While the past 5 works paved a nice road approaching this release, it is possible that preparation for an approach into the European and American market was taken into account. On the 12th, "GUILTY", which was sold on New Year's Day of this year, will be distributed to 25 world countries, tying Hamasaki as one of the Japanese Artists with the largest worldwide distribution. 19 of the 25 countries will be Western Nations.

For the video shoot for her 10th Anniversary single, "Mirrorcle World", Hamasaki went to Paris, where she was surrounded by about 80 fans in front of her hotel, greeting them with handshakes. Although in the west it's usually the Visual Kei rock bands that are popular, local fans who became familiar with Japanese music via the Internet knew Hamasaki well, whose reputation as "Japan's No.1 Artist" had spread.

Although Hamasaki's first Asia Tour, through Taiwan and Shanghai among other places, the West has offered to host Hamasaki performances, and all eyes are now on her possible worldwide future activities.

Thanks to Ayumiko at AHS for the original japanese article.