ORICON article - April 15, 2008

After A Severe Battle, Ayu's 10th Anniversary Single Gets First Place

15 April 2008, 6:00

The conclusion to the dead-heat race for first place on the Daily Charts has unfolded. Ayumi Hamasaki's 10th Anniversary single "Mirrorcle World", with sales of about 146,000 units in its first week and beating "Baka-Character" unit Shuuchishin's self-titled single by a slim margin, has become the first 10th Anniversary single by a female artist to reach the #1 spot. Hamasaki joyfully comments, "I'm thankful to all my fans. I think I'll still be making songs 11 and 12 years from now."

Hamasaki confessed to having lost hearing in her left ear due to an inner ear problem in January, but the first day of her national tour began on Saturday, April 5th. Despite worries of her health condition, Ayu is continuing her life. "Mirrorcle World" has the same release date as her debut single "poker face" (1998), which made its first appearance on the weekly chart on April 21st.

Hamasaki's 10 straight years of Number One singles began with the April 26, 1999 release of "LOVE~Destiny~/LOVE~since1999~." As far as #1 Single records go, Akina Nakamori had 9 straight years of #1s (1982's "SECOND LOVE" until 1990's "Dear Freind"), and Ayu is the winning female artist for this generation. Incidentally, first place overall goes to the male artist B'z who have had #1s for 18 years.

Again, this time, Hamasaki has broken the record of total number of #1 singles for a female artist, which is 30, and this record ties in with the aforementioned number of years with #1 singles, giving Hamasaki two shining achievements.

Having achieved this wonderful accomplishment, Hamasaki comments, "Thank you for giving my 10th Anniversary single the #1 spot! And I'm very glad to hear that this #1 single gives me a 10-year record of continued #1's! These past 10 years have given me many new experiences, so it's been a substantial decade. I am thankful to everyone - everyone in my staff, who have supported me up till now, all of the writers, and to all my fans. I think I'll still be making songs 11 and 12 years from now so please stick around!"

Although the weekly single ranking has attracted so much attention, Hamasaki shows the dignity of a queen.

FEMALE ARTISTS: Consecutive Years With #1 Singles:

1. Ayumi Hamasaki - 10 years (1999-2008)
2. Akina Nakamori - 9 years (1982-1990)
3. Utada Hikaru - 7 years (1999-2005)
4. (tie) Seiko Matsuda - 6 years (1980-1985)
4. (tie) Morning Musume. - 6 years (1998-2003)

source: http://www.oricon.co.jp/news/confidence/53725/full/

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.