Namie Amuro Goes Platinum Again

Namie Amuro knows how to reinvent herself and is one of Japan’s best “million sellers”

Internationally known Japanese singer Namie Amuro (安室奈美恵) has achieved another career milestone! According to Japanese music & entertainment stats authority Oricon, the super popular diva’ s latest album “Best Fiction” has quickly sold over 1 million copies since it went on sale less than 3 weeks ago. By doing so Namie set a new Japanese music industry record for a solo female artist, reaching the Platinum status (selling over 1 million) while in 3 separate age groups…3 times when she was a teen, then when she was in her 20s and now after she turned 30!

Age 17~19

December, 1995 - Dance Tracks Vol.1 (1.87 million)

August, 1996 - Sweet 19 Blues (3.36 million)

August, 1997 - Concentration 20 (1.93 million)

Age 20~29

February, 1998 - 181920 (1.69 million)

Age 30~

August, 2008 - Best Fiction (1.09 million)*

* as of 8/08

Cover of Namie Amuro’s “Best Fiction”, CD+DVD edition

Namie Amuro still has plenty of pull with music fans both domestically in Japan and abroad. She has come a long way from a cute, trend setting j-pop teenage star singing to poppy tunes and Eurodance music to a sultry and mature single mother who has since switched her focus toward R&B and hip-hop. “Best Fiction” sold another 153,000 copies this past week since being released on July 30th and has so far tallied up 1,092,000 sales. This latest album for the songstress from Okinawa is a compilation of 17 of her best hits and the addition of new hit singles such as “Do Me More” and “Sexy Girl”.

“Best Fiction” is also the first female album to keep the top spot for 3 weeks in a row since Kumi Koda’s “Black Cherry” back in January of ‘07.

Cover of Namie Amuro’s album “Best Fiction”. It’s hard to believe the Japanese mega diva will be 31 next month!

Namie Amuro x Vidal Sassoon, Part 2

Here are a few more photos of J pop diva Namie Amuro in Vidal Sassoon Japan’s latest campaign aiming at premium style and glamour.

Namie Amuro as she appears on Vidal Sassoon’s website fashioning after a classic Barbie doll! Pretty close eh?

Namie Amuro x Vidal Sassoon

Namie Amuro looking sexy as the new campaign girl for Vidal Sassoon

Mega J pop singer and fashion leader Namie Amuro ( 安室奈美恵) has signed on with Vidal Sassoon Japan to do a collaboration project. The campaign is titled “Fashion x Music x Vidal Sassoon” and the hot commercial featuring her will begin airing this Saturday.

The theme of Vidal Sassoon’s campaign is glamour and has the Japanese diva from Okinawa appearing as a sexy and sultry showgirl! The commercial uses Namie’s new single “Do Me More” which will be included in her latest album “Best Fiction” due to release at the end of this month.

Namie Amuro makes a sizzling hot showgirl!

AVEX Concert

Here are more pictures from the annual AVEX Stockholder Concert that took place last Sunday at Saitama Super Arena (さいたまスーパーアリーナ) just north of Tokyo. AVEX Group (エイベックス) is a Japanese record giant and its shareholder-only concert was a star studded event, featuring several internationally known J pop artists.

After more than a decade, Namie Amuro (安室奈美恵), the girl who is credited with starting the contemporary Japanese fashion as we know today can still rock the stage

The humble looking Japanese diva Kumi Koda (倖田來未) performed gracefully while shedding some tears, no doubt reflecting on her “rotten womb” comment scandal from earlier this year

AVEX mega popular artist Ai Otsuka (大塚愛) looks cute no matter what she’s wearing, even in this pajama inspired outfit

Former Morning Musume Maki Goto (後藤真希) made her first official appearance as an AVEX Nation artist

Ethnic Tibetan alan (アラン, or 阿兰) was discovered recently when AVEX held an audition in China and was quickly signed to the label

Maki Goto Joins AVEX Family

Maki Goto’s first official photo under AVEX payroll

I guess there were a few last minute issues that caused the delay, but just as reported in my post back in March (which drew some heated debate) Maki Goto has switched camp to AVEX Nation! After the long speculation, it was officially announced this past Friday that former Japanese idol and Morning Musume third generation member has signed with Japanese record giant AVEX. The sexy 22 year old Maki, source of masturbation fantasy for countless men will indeed debut under AVEX’s label “Rhythm Zone”, which mega J-pop artists such as Kumi Koda and EXILE also belong to.

According to the media relations department at AVEX, it’ll be the 10 year anniversary since Maki Goto’s showbiz debut and some drastic changes may be in the work. However, they cannot confirm any future activities since they’re still in the planning stages and Maki is considering her options.

Maki Goto has a smoking hot body that even her former handler Up Front Agency (UFA) couldn’t hold back!

AVEX held its annual stock holder meeting at Saitama Super Arena this past weekend with a stock holder only private concert that followed. Each stock holder could invite 1 guest to the concert, where AVEX artist Namie Amuro appeared for the first time in 8 years and Japanese diva Kumi Koda broke down crying in the middle of her number. With about 15000 in attendance, it was the largest AVEX stock holder concert ever. After being introduced on stage, Miki Goto surprised everyone by singing Whitney Houston’s “Saving All My Love For You”. It was her first public performance since last October when she was still a Hello!Project artist.

In a red one piece dress and super long blond hair extension, Maki belted out a Whitney Houston classic at Saitama Super Arena yesterday

Japanese Idol Ranking, Part I

The purpose of Japanese weekly TV show CDTV (Countdown TV) on TBS (no, it doesn’t belong to Ted Turner) is to compile rankings out of anything and everything from the most popular high school bags to body shampoos to crepes that are served in the trendy Tokyo district of Harajuku. And CDTV has just released their semi annual list of “girls you’d like to make your girlfriend”.

Okay, so not all of the fine ladies that made the list are idols. Without further adieu, here is the list of the top 20 girls that Japanese guys would like to make their chick:

No. 1 - YUI

For some reason, for the third time in a row, the often gloomy looking singer / songwriter from Fukuoka captured the top position

No. 2 - Kaori Mochida

The vocal for now disbanded Every Little Thing takes the 2nd spot for the second time in a row. I guess Kaori still has a lot of pull even though she’s not that active anymore.

No. 3 - Ai Otsuka

The funky singer / songwriter from Osaka has an infectious voice and has butted heads with Kumi Koda who’s also from the same record label Avex

No. 4 - Rika Ishikawa

The leader of Viyuden and former Morning Musume possesses a hot body and her ass has been known to make fanboys cream in their pants!

No. 5 - Ayumi Hamasaki

The 29 year old Japanese diva with a sultry voice needs no introduction. She’s also often known as “Ayu” to her fans.

No. 6 - Ai Takahashi

The leader of Japan’s most popular girl group Morning Musume has a beautiful voice and a cheery personality

No. 7 - Natsumi Abe

Everyone in Japan knows “Nacchi“. The former leader of Morning Musume holds the record with 6 consecutive number one positions. The 26 year old Hokkaido native still melts the heart of men everywhere with her soft voice and warm personality.

No. 8 - Namie Amura

I can’t believe this 90s mega j-pop icon is 30! The singer from Okinawa forever changed the culture, fashion and language for young people in Japan.

No. 9 - Hitomi Yoshizawa

Also known as “Yossie“, the former leader of Japanese super idol group Morning Musume with boyish charms has blossomed into a fine young lady

No. 10 - Kumi Koda

Sometimes referred to as “Japan’s Britney Spears“, the chart topping singer from Kyoto has been in hot water as of late over her careless “womb” comment. (please see my blog on 2/4, 2/6 & 2/14) It’s no wonder that the 25 year old queen of “dirty pop” listed Christina Aguilera as one of her favorite artists.

MAX Member Takes It Off

* Some images may be NSFW

Lina, a member of the former 90s Japanese sensation MAX has decided to bare it all before she’s too old and saggy. The 30 year old Lina announced at the end of last year of the release of her first photo book titled “Lina Sings”.

Still sexy after all these years

Still “active”, MAX is a unit composed of 4 females performing mainly eurobeat covers, although in recent years they have started putting out more R&B type music. Some of their well known singles include “Tora Tora Tora”, “Seventies” and “Get My Love”. MAX originated as Namie Amuro’s backup dancers, Super Monkeys then hit it big on their own around ‘95 / ‘96.

The original MAX (L to R): Reina, Mina, Lina and Nana

MAX today (L to R): Nana, Reina, Lina and Aki

The group’s success and popularity was never the same once their lead vocal Mina called it quits back in 2002 due to being knocked up. It makes you wonder how much more Lina could’ve milked if she and her members had released nude photo books back during their heyday.

Nice perky tits

Makes me wanna spread that butt cheek and take a closer look!