Original article from here.

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Tweeting with Fans in English, Hamasaki Ayumi’s “English Capability” Level
25 January 2012. 19:24

Since her divorce, singer Hamasaki Ayumi has been updating Twitter in English about her mental state and well-being. Hamasaki has been tweeting in English frequently in recent times, and when she was interviewed by CNN a few years ago, she also answered some questions in English.

As her ex-husband is an Austrian, English would have been their main language of communication, but just how good is Hamasaki’s English?

“She makes some grammatical errors, but understanding her is not a problem”
Hamasaki has always been actively tweeting. Before the divorce announcement, she tweeted 8 times on 14 Jan and 12 times on 13 Jan, and included some English phrases. On 23 Jan, she wrote the following tweet in English, “Never regret anything coz at one time it was exactly what u wanted”, together with a picture of herself running towards the sea.

Hamasaki’s style of English is unique. Since Twitter only allows messages of 140 characters to be posted, she often uses abbreviated words. For example, “for” becomes “4”, “because” becomes “coz”, and “by the way” becomes “btw”.

International translators who analyzed Hamasaki’s English tweets concluded that “she makes some grammatical errors, but understanding her is not a problem”. Her frequent use of abbreviations shows that she is familiar with English in the written form.

How about her speaking ability? Video sharing site “YouTube” contains clips of Hamasaki Ayumi interacting with overseas fans as she signed autographs for them. In a video from Jan 2010, Hamasaki was signing an autograph along a street in London. Peering at the CD in her hand, she asked, “There’s a “Paris” written here, whose is this?”. In another instance, she replied “Funny” to a fan’s comment. She appears to enjoy conversing in English.

In July 2008, a video shows Hamasaki in Hong Kong. Alighting from her car at the hotel entrance, she immediately walked towards the fans to sign autographs. When a pen given to her seems to have run out of ink, she was heard commenting, “It doesn’t work”. When a man asked if she had anything to say to her Hong Kong fans, she jokingly replied in English, “Yes, I’m really tired”, with a smile.

Too Much Tongue-Rolling when Pronouncing “R”
In 2006, Hamasaki attended the interview session for CNN’s “Talk Asia”. Though she conducted most of it in Japanese, she did answer some questions in English.

At the start, when asked about the reason behind her then-newest album “Secret”‘s title, she explained in English, “Everyone has a secret, right? Me too, and probably you too. But when you tell it to others, it’s not a secret anymore, so I can’t tell you”. In the end, she added, “I hope this album will stay in everyone’s hearts”.

Although it was a long interview, what is of interest is Hamasaki’s body language when she speaks in Japanese and English. When she answered questions in Japanese, she leaned back in the chair in a comfortable position, thinking as she spoke. When speaking in English, she leaned forward, overusing her body and hands to express herself. The inflection of her voice and her facial expressions also differed greatly from when she was speaking in Japanese.

The translator mentioned earlier looked through Hamasaki’s interview and concluded that she was “excited and tense”. He criticized her overeagerness at answering questions in English, which went against her normally calm and composed nature. He also commented that “Japanese people easily fall into the trap of speaking like awkward Americanized people”. In addition, she had the tendency to roll her “R”‘s more than is necessary. If this is carried too far, it becomes hard for the listener to understand what is being said. There were also times when the content of her answers did not match the interview question, implying that she “needed to hone her listening skills”.

Nonetheless, the translator emphasized that, “as a musician, she set a good pace to the conversation. Having a good pace is more important than pronunciation when trying to get through to the listener”. 5 years after that CNN interview, there is a high possibility that Hamasaki’s English conversation skills have improved greatly.

Original article from here.

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“No Splitting of Fortune” Covenant? The Failure of Hamasaki Ayumi’s “Divorce Promotion”
23 January 2012.

Singer Hamasaki Ayumi, who married Austrian-born actor Manuel Schwarz on New Year’s Day last year, has expectedly announced a “lightning divorce”. According to ayu, the reason for divorce was that their initial plans to migrate to the US were disrupted by the Eastern Japan Earthquake Disaster in March. Witnessing the destruction, a strong “reluctance to leave Japan” grew within ayu, and she started to drift apart from her husband, who lives in Los Angeles. She explained that “before we knew it, the emotional distance had grown too large”.

In other words, the two were in a “long-distance marriage”, with no semblance of a domestic married life together.

“With a drive-thru wedding ceremony in Las Vegas, she did not even register the marriage in Japan. As such, her marital status is not “divorced” but “single”. It seems that she had always anticipated a divorce, as covenants stating that “the fortune will not be split in case of a divorce” and “no reparation is to be paid” were allegedly signed even before the wedding ceremony.” (Entertainment Authority)

Thinking back to New Year’s Eve last year, one day before the marriage announcement on New Year’s Day, ayu performed on NHK’s “Kouhaku Utagassen” dressed in a pure white wedding gown. This well-preparedness incited rumors within the entertainment circle that this was all just “promotion for the new song”.

As ayu has not had a hit song in years, rumors about the recent divorce being a publicity stunt are also going about. ayu has always been good at self-promotion. In the past, when she was dating TOKIO’s Tomoya Nagase, there was a piece of news about them “returning from a holiday, holding hands”. At that time, the one who tipped off the press about the returning couple was one of ayu’s staff members, another Entertainment Authority claimed.

However, if this divorce is really a publicity stunt, it is truly a failed attempt. Her citing the “disaster” as a reason for divorce invited much accusation. Moreover, with her working in the Middle East now, flames such as “Wasn’t she reluctant to leave Japan?!” and “Is she running away overseas now?!” are many. Even ayu’s “magic” isn’t working this time round……

Original article here.

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Hamasaki Ayumi’s First Tweet after Divorce “Never Regret Anything”
23 January 2012. 10:49:02

On the morning of 23/1/2012, singer Hamasaki Ayumi updated her Twitter for the first time since the divorce.

On 16/1/2012, Hamasaki Ayumi announced her decision to divorce from Austrian actor husband Manuel Schwarz. She also tweeted a single message, saying that “TA is updated”, a contrast from her usual enthusiastic tweeting self.

Currently overseas, Hamasaki tweeted a message in English, “Never regret anything coz at one time it was exactly what u wanted…”, along with a photo. The image conveyed a message of progress, with a back view of Hamasaki running towards a translucent blue sea.

Fans’ comments include,

“The view of ayu-chan’s back as she runs towards the sea is so peaceful”
“ayu-chan!! I love you—! （ ; ; ）”
“Welcome back! ayu will always be ayu!”

and other such encouraging messages.

Original blog entry here.

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New Year’s Greeting and Announcement
6 January 2012.

Happy New Year for 2012, 24th year of Heisei.

How did everyone spend their New Year’s? I returned to my old home after 18 long years, and spent a heartwarming New Year’s with my family.

First, an announcement I’ve already made via Twitter. Hamasaki Ayumi’s 2011 POWER OF MUSIC TOUR was my last time standing on ayu-chan’s stage. I’ve graduated.

I’ve received many warm messages via Twitter and this blog, and I’m really thankful for them.

I am sorry for not announcing this when the tour concluded on 19 October, that I wouldn’t be performing for Countdown Live. I feel really guilty for not talking about CDL and not replying all the messages encouraging me to “work hard at rehearsals”.

When I was 26, I took part in ayu-chan’s first tour. 12 years have since passed in no time, full of wondeful, memorable scenes. But as a 38-year-old now, this life no longer provides me with the urge to renew myself.

I was a victim of the Hanshin Earthquake Disaster, which struck when I graduated from my 3 years in university. Friends lost their lives, and caused a strong feeling of “I must spend my life doing what I really want to do!” to grow within me. Thus, I pursued a dance career.
When I was 23, I came to Tokyo. My days were filled with part-time jobs and dance lessons, and though it was tough, thinking back now makes me realize that they were the best and most fulfilling days I’ve had. I was still full of youthful energy then.
When I was around 25, I became skilled enough to take on jobs as a dancer. At 26, I went for an audition for ayu-chan’s troupe. The audition then was held by Peco-san, and I really thank her for giving me that chance to enter the troupe.
And, from then until now, I have devoted my entire life to dancing in the troupe.

I know that I should be grateful for this opportunity to be able to pursue what I want, but if I continue here for another 12 years, I’ll be 50. This time, I want to have a new vision for the next 12 years, and so I decided to graduate.

ayu-chan, all the staff, all the dancers past and present, band members; I thank you from my heart.

When the Tohoku Earthquake Disaster struck last year, my heart was terribly shaken, just like when the Hanshin Earthquake Disaster occurred. I had a vague wish to “do something” to help. I can choose to stay where I am, or to create my own place. To do things my own way. To take responsibility. To be useful to others. To do good… The earthquake stirred up all these thoughts in me once again.

Not a full year has passed since the earthquake, and I wish to treasure these feelings which have developed during this period.

I won’t quit dance, but maybe it has gone down on my list of priorities??
I still want to learn ballet, and I’ve fallen in love with teaching dance to others. I also wish to perform at club events.

I also finally got my fortune told! I’ll update more on this next time!

And then, actually, I am in the process of opening a store. It’s still a secret now, but it’ll be open by spring.

Same as everyone else, I’ll be going down to support ayu-chan at her tour this year.

I have so much more to say, but I will update Twitter and this blog again.

“As usual”, please support me this year too.

This was taken when I went to Barcelona end of last year.

I’ll update about that next time.

GO-MI

Otsubo Tsuyoshi

Original Article from here.

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Will She be Next After ayu? The Reason Why Singers’ Marriages Don’t Last!?
24 January 2012. 15:30

A few days ago, singer Hamasaki Ayumi terminated her married life with Austrian actor Manuel Schwarz with a speedy divorce after just a year. On the other hand, another singer, Koda Kumi, announced her marriage to fellow musician KENJI03, BACK-ON’s guitarist and vocal at the end of last year. Both are popular contrasting singers of this generation, and both presented their fans with a big shock at the end and beginning of the year.

And so, as various complicated backstories come to light and Hamasaki Ayumi’s divorce is kept in the limelight, a review of celebrity couplings from marriage to divorce seems to indicate that “singers” like Hamasaki often do not remain married for long.

For example, Utada Hikaru and Kazuaki Kiriya, Amuro Namie and SAM, had marriages that lasted about 5 years. Sheena Ringo and Junji Yayoshi’s marriage lasted a year and two months. Misora Hibari and Kobayashi Akira’s marriage was plagued by a complicated domestic environment, and they divorced after 2 years. In all cases, the women never officially registered their marriages. For an international example, Britney Spears and childhood friend Jason Alexander held a wedding ceremony while drunk, then submitted an appeal to negate the wedding once they sobered up, setting the record for the fastest divorce. Although this last example was committed under the “influence of alcohol”, the same could not be said for the rest.

As such, all those who claim the title of singer often end up with dramatic, short-lived marriages. A journalist familiar with the entertainment business commented that “Singers and artistes put themselves into their songs and music, and they sing with their hearts to convey their message. In order to perform, their emotions are often pulled into the content of their music”. “The artiste world is full of sensitive people. When they are getting into the mood of performing a break-up song, they develop unnecessary anxiety and think about breaking up when the smallest trouble occurs. Songs dealing with first love and fated meetings cause them to fall for new friends easily. Maybe that is the mindset singers fall into?…”

If that is true, how about Koda Kumi…!? With the release of the commemorable 10th album “JAPONESQUE”, together with the blessing of a child, let us hope that she will not be jinxed as well.

Original Article from here.

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ayu Returns Without Comment… Fully Guarded, Concealing her Left Hand
24 January 2012.

Hamasaki Ayumi (33), who announced her lightning divorce from Austrian actor Manuel Schwarz (31) late night on 16 Jan, returned to Japan via Seoul, after a work-related trip to UAE Dubai. This being her first public appearance since the divorce, Hamasaki nonetheless remained silent despite the press’ rapid-fire questions of “Have you talked with Manuel-san?” and “Is the divorce official?” On Twitter, she tweeted a message about having “no regrets” in English, implying that she is ready to move on.

For this first appearance after the divorce announcement, Hamasaki was fully guarded, dressed in a black coat with the hood up, black sunglasses and a mask. With her head bowed, her stance was stiff. About 40 press corps were gathered at the arrival gate, and though they fired many questions at her, she remained silent throughout.

Hamasaki also kept her left hand covered up with her coat sleeve, making it impossible to see if she still wore her wedding ring. Furthermore, she was surrounded by about 10 staff members who guarded her fiercely and fought against the press.

Hamasaki’s only response was to the question “Anything to say to the fans?”, to which she gave a nod. After she left the building, she turned and gave the press a small nod, but she still did not speak.

Late night on the 16th, Hamasaki suddenly announced her decision to divorce. After that, she left for Dubai for work, and came back to Japan after a week overseas. She is preparing for the concert tour, which is planned to start off at Saitama Super Arena on 7/4/2012. On this day, Hamasaki updated her Twitter for the first time since the divorce announcement, with a deep message written in English, “Never regret anything coz at one time it was exactly what u wanted…”

Original Article from here.

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Hamasaki Ayumi on Twitter, “Never regret anything coz at one time it was exactly what u wanted…”
24 January 2012. 13:11

Hamasaki Ayumi, who announced her divorce from Austrian actor Manuel Schwarz on 16 Jan, commented on Twitter that she had “no regrets”.

On the 23rd, Hamasaki updated her Twitter with the message “Never regret anything coz at one time it was exactly what u wanted…” in English. The tweet was accompanied by a fairytale-like photo of herself taken by the beach. Although she had updated her fanclub blog a few days ago, this was her first comment on Twitter after the divorce announcement.

On the night of the 23rd, Hamasaki returned to Japan from her work trip to Dubai via Haneda Airport. All are waiting to see her next move. Her concert tour 「ayumi hamasaki ARENA TOUR 2012～HOTEL Love songs～」 will begin on 7 April, with a total of 27 shows.