Ayumi Hamasaki

Name: Ayumi Hamasaki

DOB: October 2, 1978

Place of birth: Fukuoka, Japan

Blood type: A

Height: 156cm

Profession: Singer and lyricist

Hobbies: Piano playing, flowers arranging and drawing

Favourite food: Biscuits, cakes, chocolates and kimchee

Favourite actors/actresses: Nicolas Cage, Rie Miyazawa

Favourite movies: The Bodyguard, Betty Blue, and Leaving Las Vegas

Favourite singers: Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Babyface, En Vogue, and Keiko (Globe)

Hot Ayumi Hamasaki is one of Japan most popular pop stars. Nicknamed Ayu, she has been the driving force of Japanese music arena for years, and holds multiple best selling records in Japan. Besides her music, Ayumi is also famous for her fashion sense. She has been the trends-setter for Japanese female youngsters, and Ayu even has her own brand of boutiques and fashion line.

Ayumi Hamasaki was raised by her mother and grandmother in Fukuoka, and had to start working as a model since she was 7. Ayumi didn’t finish her high school but chose to pursue full time modelling in Tokyo when she was 14. Because of her limited height, Ayumi didn’t make it big as a commercial model, and had to star in some low budget movies and TV dramas to make a living. Ayumi was using the pseudonym Kurumi Hamazaki back then.

During her ‘Kurumi’ period, Ayumi spent most of her days window-shopping at Shibuya and dancing at clubs in Roppongi; and somehow given a chance to release her first album, Nothing From Nothing in December 1995. The rap album had no promotion budget and was a total failure; Ayumi was released by her talent agency and back to her ‘normal’ life in Shibuya and Roppongi.

Ayumi Hamasaki was later discovered by Max Matsuura who works for recording company Avex Trax Label, while she was singing karaoke in Velfarre nightclub, which was owned by Avex. Ayumi joined Avex after being offered a contract by Max.

Ayumi Hamasaki then had to undergo vocal training in Tokyo and later New York to be shaped into a pro. It’s also during that period Ayu learnt about lyrics writing, and she still writes most of the lyrics for her song these days. In 1998 Ayumi released her 1st single with Avex, Poker Face that debuted #22 on the ORICON chart. Ayumi’s got her first ORICON Top 10 with her 4th single Depend on you. Ayumi Hamasaki was rising in fame, and it didn’t take her long to finally get the #1 spot on the ORICON charts, with her debut album A Song for XX, released on January 1, 1999.

Since then Ayumi has been enjoying great success as Japan leading pop singer, with countless best selling singles and albums. Some of Ayu’s popular albums include LOVEppears (1999), Duty (2000), I am… (2002), Rainbow (2002), My Story (2004), (miss)understood (2006), and Secret (2006).