Ayumi Hamasaki (浜崎 あゆみ
Hamasaki Ayumi?, also 濱崎 歩; born October 2, 1978) is a Japanese singer-songwriter, record producer,
model, lyricist, and
actress. Also called “
Ayu” by her fans, Hamasaki has been dubbed the “Empress of Pop” because of her popularity and widespread influence in Japan and throughout Asia. 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 ××. The album debuted atop the Oriconcharts and stayed there for four weeks, establishing her popularity in Japan.
