Ayumi Hamasaki

**Ayumi Hamasaki** ( _Hamasaki Ayumi_; born October 2, 1978) is a Japanese singer, songwriter, and former actress. She is also called **Ayu** by her fans, and called the "Empress of Pop" because her music is very popular in Japan. She was born and raised in Fukuoka. When she was fourteen, she moved to Tokyo and began her career as an actress in 1993. In 1998, she was signed to the label Avex Trax and released a number of singles that were successful. In 1999, she released her first studio album _A Song for XX_ which was very successful and made her popular in Japan.

Because she changes her appearance and artistry very often, she is popular in other parts of Asia like China, Singapore, and Taiwan. Many of her songs are used in commercials and advertisements. She often appears in some of these.

Before she joined Avex Trax, she released a single and an album both called _Nothing From Nothing_. But these did not become popular. Since she debuted in 1998 with "Poker Face," Hamasaki sold more than 50 records in Japan. This puts her as one of the highest ranking singers in the country. She holds many records as a female singer. These include the most number-one hits and highest sales.

## Personal life

Hamasaki dated Tomoya Nagase (a singer and actor) since her short acting career. They announced they were dating in 2001. Six years later, there were rumors that Hamasaki and Nagase were going to get married. But on July 13, 2007 Hamasaki said that they had broken up. She did not say why, but she said that they will stay as friends.

In 2008, Hamasaki revealed that she had become deaf in her left ear. This was because of tinnitus or Ménière's disease. She said that she had the condition in 2006 and that problems with her ear started in 2000. Hamasaki stated that she wants to continue singing. She said that she would "not give up" on her fans and that "as a professional", she wanted to "deliver the best performance for everyone".
January 1,2011, to marry a fan club site Ayumi Hamasaki 'TeamAyu' reported the fan.

### Studio albums

- 1999: _A Song for XX_
- 1999: _LOVEppears_
- 2000: _Duty_
- 2002: _I Am..._
- 2002: _Rainbow_
- 2004: _My Story_
- 2006: _(miss)understood_
- 2006: _Secret_
- 2008: _Guilty_
- 2009: _Next Level_
- 2010: _Rock 'n' Roll Circus_
- 2010: _Love Songs_
- 2012: _Party Queen_
- 2013: _LOVE again_
- 2014: _Colours_
- 2015: _A One_
- 2016: _Made in Japan_
- 2023: _Remember You_

### EPs

- _Nothing from Nothing_

### Compilations

- 2001: _A Best_
- 2003: _A Ballads_
- 2007: _A Best 2 (White/Black)_
- 2008: _A Complete ~All Singles~_
- 2012: _A Summer Best_
- 2013: _A Classical_
- 2015: _Love Classics_
- 2015: _Winter Diary: A7 Classical_

#### Singles

- _Nothing from Nothing_
- _Poker Face_
- _You_
- _Trust_
- _For My Dear..._
- _Depend on You_
- _WHATEVER_
- _LOVE ~Destiny~_
- _TO BE_
- _Boys & Girls_
- _A_
- _Appears_
- _Kanariya_
- _Fly High_
- _vogue_
- _Far away_
- _SEASONS_
- _SURREAL_
- _AUDIENCE_
- _M_
- _evolution_
- _NEVER EVER_
- _Endless sorrow_
- _UNITE!_
- _Dearest_
- _A Song is Born_ (with Keiko Yamada)
- _Daybreak_
- _Free & Easy_
- _H_
- _Voyage_
- _&_
- _Forgiveness_
- _No Way to Say_
- _Moments_
- _INSPIRE_
- _CAROLS_
- _STEP You/is this LOVE?_
- _fairyland_
- _HEAVEN_
- _Bold & Delicious/Pride_
- _Startin'/Born to Be..._
- _BLUE BIRD_
- _glitter/fated_
- _Talkin' 2 Myself_
- _Together When..._
- _Mirrorcle World_
- _GREEN/Days_
- _Rule/Sparkle_
- _Sunrise/Sunset ~LOVE IS ALL~_
- _You Were.../BALLAD_
- _MOON/blossom_
- _crossroad_
- _L_

## Other websites

- Ayumi Hamasaki Fanclub "TeamAyu"

## Infobox (musical artist)

- **name**: Ayumi Hamasaki
浜崎あゆみ
- **img**: Hamasaki Ayumi.jpg
- **img capt**: Ayumi Hamasaki in Taiwan on March 2007
- **background**: solo_singer
- **birth name**: 浜崎 あゆみ, 浜崎歩 (Hamasaki Ayumi)
- **alias**: Ayu, Crea
- **origin**: Fukuoka, Japan
- **genre**: Pop music, Pop, electronic dance, rock music, rock, classical music, classical, R&B
- **occupation**: Singer, songwriter, record producer, composer, actress, model (person), model, spokesperson
- **years active**: 1993-present
- **label**: Columbia Music Entertainment, Nippon Columbia <small>(1995)</small>
 Avex Trax <small>(1998–present)</small>
Drizzly <small>(2002–2004)</small>
- **url**: [http://www.avexnet.or.jp/ayu/ www.avexnet.or.jp/ayu]