Conversation so far:
When did Utada Hikaru try the international market?
Her first singles compilation album Utada Hikaru Single Collection Vol.
1 was released on March 31, 2004.
Was it popular?
It became the best-selling album of 2004 in Japan.
Was it popular in worldwide or was this still before she went international?
CANNOTANSWER.

Question: Did she leave Japan during this time?
Self-contained rewrite: Did Utada Hikaru leave Japan during 2004-05?