Ayumi Hamasaki (浜崎 あゆみ (also 浜崎歩) , Hamasaki Ayumi?), born October 2, 1978, is a Japanese singer-songwriter and former actress. Also known as "Ayu" to her fans, Hamasaki has been dubbed the "Empress of pop" or "the Empress of J-Pop" due to her popularity and widespread influence in Japan.Born and raised in Fukuoka, she moved to Tokyo at fourteen to pursue a career in entertainment. In 1998, under the tutelage of Avex CEO Max Matsuura, she released a string of modestly selling singles that concluded with her 1999 debut album A Song for XX, which debuted atop the Oricon charts (Japan's primary music charts, similar to the Billboard charts) and stayed there for four weeks in a row, establishing Hamasaki's popularity in Japan.
Since her 1998 debut with the single "Poker Face", she has sold around 50 million records, making her one of Japan's best-selling singers.With the release of her thirty-ninth single, "Startin'/Born to Be...", in 2006, she became Japan's female solo artist with the most number-one singles. In addition, the release of her 2008 single "Mirrorcle World" made her the only Japanese female artist to have a number-one single every year for ten consecutive years. She is also the first Japanese artist to have her first original eight studio albums top the Oricon charts,as well as the Japanese female artist with the most number-one singles, most Top 10 singles, highest singles sales, and most million-seller singles.
1st A Song for XX**
Released: January 1, 1999
RIAJ Certification: Million[1]
Singles: Poker Face, You, Trust, For My Dear..., Depend on You
A Song for XX and its singles sales combine for a total of 1,960,329 CDs sold.
#1 #1 #1 #1 #1 1,451,910
(Japan) 2,000,000
(Japan) 2,500,000
(Asia)
2nd Loveppears
Released: November 10, 1999
RIAJ Certification: 2x Million[2]
Singles: Whatever, Love ~Destiny~, To Be, Boys & Girls, A, Appears, Kanariya, Fly High
Loveppears and its singles sales combine for a total of 7,286,070 CDs sold.
#1 #1 #1 #1 #1 2,562,130
(Japan) 3,000,000
(Japan) 3,500,000
(Asia)
3rd Duty
Released: September 27, 2000
RIAJ Certification: 3x Million[3]
Singles: Vogue, Far Away, Seasons, Surreal, Audience
Duty and its singles sales combine for a total of 6,260,100 CDs sold.
#1 #1 #1 #1 #1 2,904,420
(Japan) 3,500,000
(Japan) 3,750,000
(Asia)
4th I am...**
Released:January 1, 2002 (Official), December 28, 2001 (Legally)
RIAJ Certification: 3x Million[4]
Singles: M, Evolution, Never Ever, Endless Sorrow, Unite!, Dearest, Daybreak
I am... and its singles sales combine for a total of 8,068,002 CDs sold.
#1 #1 #1 #1 #1 2,308,112
(Japan)
3,000,000
(Japan)
4,000,000
(Asia)
5th Rainbow
Released: December 18, 2002
RIAJ Certification: 2x Million[5]
Singles: Free & Easy, H, Voyage
Rainbow and its singles sales combine for a total of 4,038,902 CDs sold.
#1 #1 #1 #1 #1 1,857,870
(Japan) 2,000,000
(Japan) 2,750,000
(Asia)
Mini-Album Memorial Address
Released: December 17, 2003
RIAJ Certification: Million[6]
Singles: &, Forgiveness, No Way to Say
Memorial Address and its singles sales combine for a total of 2,247,134 CDs sold.
#1 #1 #1 #1 #1 1,062,288
(Japan) 1,220,000
(Japan) 1,500,000
(Asia)
6th My Story
Released: December 15, 2004
HITO Chart peak position : #1 (2 weeks~January, 1 week~February)
RIAJ Certification: Million[7]
Singles: Moments, Inspire c/w Game, Carols
My Story and its singles sales combine for a total of 2,073,640 CDs sold.
#1 #1 #1 #1 #1 1,132,444
(Japan) 1,300,000
(Japan) 2,000,000
(Asia)
7th (miss)understood**
Released: January 1, 2006 (Official), December 28, 2005 (Legally)
RIAJ Certification: Million[8]
Singles: Step you/is this Love?, Fairyland c/w Alterna, Heaven, Bold & Delicious/Pride
(miss)understood and its singles sales combine for a total of 1,999,540 CDs sold.
#1 #1 #1 #1 #1 877,433
(Japan) 1,030,000
(Japan) 1,800,000
(Asia)
8th Secret
Released: November 29, 2006
RIAJ Certification: 3x Platinum
Singles: Startin' / Born To Be..., Blue Bird
Secret and its singles sales combine for a total of 1,122,414 CDs sold.
#1 #1 #1 #1 #1 675,297
(Japan) 900,000
(Japan) 2,000,000
(Asia)
9th Guilty***
Released: January 01, 2008 (Official), December 25, 2007 (Legally)
RIAJ Certification: 3x Platinum
Singles: glitter / fated, Talkin' 2 Myself, Together When..., (Digital Single)
GUILTY and its singles sales combine for a total of 845,119 CDs sold.
#1 #1 #1 #1 #1 568,288
(Japan) 760,000
(Japan) 1,800,000
(Asia
Since her 1998 debut with the single "Poker Face", she has sold around 50 million records, making her one of Japan's best-selling singers.With the release of her thirty-ninth single, "Startin'/Born to Be...", in 2006, she became Japan's female solo artist with the most number-one singles. In addition, the release of her 2008 single "Mirrorcle World" made her the only Japanese female artist to have a number-one single every year for ten consecutive years. She is also the first Japanese artist to have her first original eight studio albums top the Oricon charts,as well as the Japanese female artist with the most number-one singles, most Top 10 singles, highest singles sales, and most million-seller singles.
1st A Song for XX**
Released: January 1, 1999
RIAJ Certification: Million[1]
Singles: Poker Face, You, Trust, For My Dear..., Depend on You
A Song for XX and its singles sales combine for a total of 1,960,329 CDs sold.
#1 #1 #1 #1 #1 1,451,910
(Japan) 2,000,000
(Japan) 2,500,000
(Asia)
2nd Loveppears
Released: November 10, 1999
RIAJ Certification: 2x Million[2]
Singles: Whatever, Love ~Destiny~, To Be, Boys & Girls, A, Appears, Kanariya, Fly High
Loveppears and its singles sales combine for a total of 7,286,070 CDs sold.
#1 #1 #1 #1 #1 2,562,130
(Japan) 3,000,000
(Japan) 3,500,000
(Asia)
3rd Duty
Released: September 27, 2000
RIAJ Certification: 3x Million[3]
Singles: Vogue, Far Away, Seasons, Surreal, Audience
Duty and its singles sales combine for a total of 6,260,100 CDs sold.
#1 #1 #1 #1 #1 2,904,420
(Japan) 3,500,000
(Japan) 3,750,000
(Asia)
4th I am...**
Released:January 1, 2002 (Official), December 28, 2001 (Legally)
RIAJ Certification: 3x Million[4]
Singles: M, Evolution, Never Ever, Endless Sorrow, Unite!, Dearest, Daybreak
I am... and its singles sales combine for a total of 8,068,002 CDs sold.
#1 #1 #1 #1 #1 2,308,112
(Japan)
3,000,000
(Japan)
4,000,000
(Asia)
5th Rainbow
Released: December 18, 2002
RIAJ Certification: 2x Million[5]
Singles: Free & Easy, H, Voyage
Rainbow and its singles sales combine for a total of 4,038,902 CDs sold.
#1 #1 #1 #1 #1 1,857,870
(Japan) 2,000,000
(Japan) 2,750,000
(Asia)
Mini-Album Memorial Address
Released: December 17, 2003
RIAJ Certification: Million[6]
Singles: &, Forgiveness, No Way to Say
Memorial Address and its singles sales combine for a total of 2,247,134 CDs sold.
#1 #1 #1 #1 #1 1,062,288
(Japan) 1,220,000
(Japan) 1,500,000
(Asia)
6th My Story
Released: December 15, 2004
HITO Chart peak position : #1 (2 weeks~January, 1 week~February)
RIAJ Certification: Million[7]
Singles: Moments, Inspire c/w Game, Carols
My Story and its singles sales combine for a total of 2,073,640 CDs sold.
#1 #1 #1 #1 #1 1,132,444
(Japan) 1,300,000
(Japan) 2,000,000
(Asia)
7th (miss)understood**
Released: January 1, 2006 (Official), December 28, 2005 (Legally)
RIAJ Certification: Million[8]
Singles: Step you/is this Love?, Fairyland c/w Alterna, Heaven, Bold & Delicious/Pride
(miss)understood and its singles sales combine for a total of 1,999,540 CDs sold.
#1 #1 #1 #1 #1 877,433
(Japan) 1,030,000
(Japan) 1,800,000
(Asia)
8th Secret
Released: November 29, 2006
RIAJ Certification: 3x Platinum
Singles: Startin' / Born To Be..., Blue Bird
Secret and its singles sales combine for a total of 1,122,414 CDs sold.
#1 #1 #1 #1 #1 675,297
(Japan) 900,000
(Japan) 2,000,000
(Asia)
9th Guilty***
Released: January 01, 2008 (Official), December 25, 2007 (Legally)
RIAJ Certification: 3x Platinum
Singles: glitter / fated, Talkin' 2 Myself, Together When..., (Digital Single)
GUILTY and its singles sales combine for a total of 845,119 CDs sold.
#1 #1 #1 #1 #1 568,288
(Japan) 760,000
(Japan) 1,800,000
(Asia