Ayumi Hamasaki is a Japanese singer, songwriter, record producer, actress, model, spokesperson, and entrepreneur. By 2002, Hamasaki had earned the nickname "Empress of J-pop" due to her popularity in Japan and throughout Asia, as well as being referred to as "the voice of the lost generation". Due to her success and relevance throughout her career, she is considered one of the top solo female artists of the Heisei era for her influence on the music industry and various fashion trends.
Rainbow is the fifth studio album by Japanese recording artist Ayumi Hamasaki, released on 18 December 2002 by Avex Trax. Production of Rainbow had commenced after the release of Hamasaki's fourth studio album I Am... that January; All lyrics were written by Hamasaki, and Japanese producer Max Matsuura returned to produce the album. The album was Hamasaki's first to feature conversational English lyrics, where in her previous works she had only used single words.
"Carols" is the thirty-fourth single released by Japanese recording artist Ayumi Hamasaki. It was released on September 29, 2004, by Avex Trax. It was released on the same day as her ARENA TOUR 2003~2004 A DVD. "Carols" was used as the Panasonic Digital Camera "LUMIX FX7" CM song. "Carols" is to date Hamasaki's only single to be released on the DVD-Audio and SACD formats. It was the last single to be released from her sixth studio album, My Story (2004).
"Audience" is a song by Japanese recording artist Ayumi Hamasaki from her third studio album Duty (2000). It was released as the album's fifth and final single on 1 November 2000 by Avex Trax. Hamasaki wrote the track and Max Matsuura Lewis produced it. Dai Nagao and HΛL composed both the single and album version. The single artwork was shot by Japanese photographer Toru Kumazawa and features duplicate clones of Hamasaki, resembling an audience. Musically, "Audience" is a dance–pop and disco song.
H is an EP by Japanese recording artist Ayumi Hamasaki, featuring songs later included on her fifth studio album Rainbow (2002). The EP contains the songs "Independent", "July 1st" and "Hanabi", all written and co-composed by Hamasaki, alongside composer Dai Nagao and producer Max Matsuura. Hamasaki had written and recorded the three songs when she was still hurt and influenced by the events of the September 11 attacks and the completion of her fourth studio album I Am... (2002).
Guilty is the ninth studio album by Japanese recording artist Ayumi Hamasaki. It was released on January 1, 2008 by Avex Trax. Guilty marks Hamasaki's ninth consecutive album to be fully produced by Japanese producer and manager Max Matsuura, while she contributes to the album as the lead vocalist, background vocalist, and songwriter to all songs. Recorded in Japanese with minor phrases in English, Guilty is a rock album with numerous musical elements such as pop rock, heavy metal, synthrock, and power ballad melodies.
"Rule"/"Sparkle" is a double A-side single by Japanese recording artist Ayumi Hamasaki from her tenth studio album, Next Level (2009). The song was released on a CD and DVD format on February 25, 2009 as the second single from the album. With "Rule" composed by Miki Wantanabe and "Sparkle" composed by Kazuhiro Hara, both songs were written by Hamasaki and produced by long-time collaborator Max Matsuura. "Rule" was used as the international theme song for the 2009 film Dragonball Evolution.
Next Level is the tenth studio album by Japanese recording artist Ayumi Hamasaki. It was released through Avex Trax on March 25, 2009 in five physical formats, and for digital consumption. The album was solely produced by Avex Trax owner Max Matsuura, whereas the album's content was written by Hamasaki herself. Additionally, it marks a return for several composers that helped construct her previous records, including Dai Nagao, CMJK, Kazuhiro Hara, HΛL, amongst others. Stylistically, Next Level is a departure from her previous albums, focusing on electronic music with elements of rock and dance.
"Sunrise/Sunset " is Japanese singer Ayumi Hamasaki's forty-sixth single, released on August 12, 2009. The song "Sunrise: Love is All" is used as the theme song to the 2009 Japanese drama show, Dandy Daddy? In addition, the song "Sunset: Love is All" was used in advertisements for the Panasonic Lumix FX-60 digital camera. The single debuted at #1 on Oricon weekly charts and became her 44th Top 10 single, making her the first artist to have 44 Top 10 singles in Oricon history. The single became Hamasaki's 21st consecutive single to debut at number-one position since her 2002 single "Free & Easy" on the Oricon weekly charts, making her the first solo artist and the first female artist to have 21 consecutive singles to debut at number-one position. It is also her 33rd number-one single on the Oricon weekly charts.
Rock 'n' Roll Circus is the eleventh studio album by Japanese recording artist Ayumi Hamasaki. It was released on April 14, 2010, by Avex Trax. It was also released just a little over a year after her 2009 album, Next Level. Rock 'n' Roll Circus marks Hamasaki's eleventh consecutive album to be fully produced by Japanese producer and manager Max Matsuura, while she contributes to the album as the lead vocalist, background vocalist, and songwriter to all songs. Recorded in Japanese with minor phrases in English, Rock 'n' Roll Circus is a rock album with numerous musical elements such as electropop, J-pop, rock, pop ballad, and dance music.
Ayumi Hamasaki Rock 'n' Roll Circus Tour is the thirteenth concert tour by Japanese recording artist Ayumi Hamasaki, held in support of her eleventh studio album, Rock 'n' Roll Circus (2010). The concert tour, which began at the Saitama Super Arena on April 10, 2010, spaned 41 performances throughout Japan. It concluded at the Yoyogi National Gymnasium on October 11, 2010, drawing an audience of approximately 400,000 people.
"Progress" is a song by Japanese musician Ayumi Hamasaki. It was one of the promotional tracks from her third extended play Five, released on August 31, 2011. The song was used as the theme song for the PlayStation 3 role-playing game Tales of Xillia, the thirteenth main entry in the Tales series. The song was a commercial success, certified gold by the RIAJ.
Japanese musician Ayumi Hamasaki has released more than 100 music videos since her debut in 1998, creating works for songs she has released as singles, as well as songs found exclusively on albums. Hamasaki has released 37 video albums, including 27 concert footage releases. Many of these have been successful, debuting at number one in Japan or Taiwan, while several have been certified gold by the RIAJ: Complete Live Box A (2003), A Museum: 30th Single Collection Live (2004), Arena Tour 2005 A: My Story (2005) and Arena Tour 2006 A: (Miss)understood (2006). Most of these concerts feature footage from her arena tours in Japan, or from her annual Countdown Live New Year's events. Her Tour of Secret video album featured footage from her concerts in Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Shanghai in 2007, while her Ayumi Hamasaki Asia Tour 2008: 10th Anniversary concert recording was filmed exclusively in Taipei, Taiwan.
"Next Level" is a song recorded by Japanese recording artist and songwriter Ayumi Hamasaki taken from her tenth studio album Next Level (2009). The song was written by Hamasaki herself while the composition was by Dai Nagao and arrangement by HΛL. The song was conceived while Hamasaki was working on the studio album during her anniversary year, which was in April 2008. This year was to commemorate her ten-year anniversary since her debut single "Poker Face". "Next Level" was released as the album's lead and only promotional single on the same date as the album release digitally.
sixxxxxx is the sixth extended play by Japanese recording artist and songwriter Ayumi Hamasaki. The EP was released on August 5, 2015, by Avex Trax and was produced by long-time collaborator Max Matsuura. With all the tracks written by Hamasaki herself, the EP features five original tracks and one hidden track to commemorate the "six" tracks. It was released as a stand-alone CD, a CD and DVD bundle, a CD and Blu-ray bundle, and a gatefold vinyl.
Trouble is the seventh extended play by Japanese singer Ayumi Hamasaki. It was released digitally in Japan on August 6, 2018, and was eventually released physically on August 15. The EP features five original tracks, with all the tracks written by Hamasaki herself.
Ayumi Hamasaki 15th Anniversary Tour: A Best Live is Japanese pop singer Ayumi Hamasaki's 36th DVD/Blu-ray release. It was released on October 30, 2013. The tour was held to celebrate Hamasaki's 15th anniversary in the music industry, with her performing 28 shows in Japan from mid-April to late July. The tour started on April 13, 2013 at Saitama Super Arena and finished with two final shows at Yoyogi National Gymnasium on July 27 and 28, 2013.
Ayumi Hamasaki Arena Tour 2015 A: Cirque de Minuit – The Final is Japanese pop singer Ayumi Hamasaki's 40th DVD/Blu-ray release. It was released on October 28, 2015. The tour started on April 11, 2015, at Saitama Super Arena and initially ended on June 7, 2015, at Yoyogi National Gymnasium. However, four additional dates - promoted as "The Final" - were added and the tour finished on July 5, 2015, at Yokohama Arena.
"Ohia no Ki" is a song by Japanese singer-songwriter Ayumi Hamasaki. It was released as a digital single only on July 5, 2020, following the airing of the final episode of M Aisubeki Hito ga Ite. The song is Hamasaki's first new release in almost two years and her first digital single since 2016's "We Are the Queens".
Ayumi Hamasaki Trouble Tour 2020 A: Saigo no Trouble – Final is Japanese pop singer Ayumi Hamasaki's 45th video release. It was released on January 27, 2021.
