Original article from here.

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Who is Hamasaki Ayumi’s new lover “Maro-chan”? An introduction
15 November 2012. 11:28

On the 14th, artiste Hamasaki Ayumi (34) and dancer Uchiyama Maroka (28) declared their devotion to each other. Both parties have confirmed this relationship.

The relationship was first revealed in “Josei Seven”, released on the 15th. Hamasaki has also announced the relationship via her official fanclub site, stating that “I am in a serious relationship with Maro-chan.” On his blog, Uchiyama commented that “As the person I am, I will take this relationship seriously from now on.”

◆Joining the tour in 2007, acting as passionate lover in PV

Uchiyama Maroka, whom Hamasaki lovingly calls “Maro-chan”, was born on 28 February 1984 in Tokyo. Having been exposed to dance and music since a young age, he made his CD debut in November 2005 as a rapper on “VARIETY VARIOUS”. On his debut single “Friends”, he collaborated with comedy duo KING KONG’s Kajiwara Yuuta.

In 2007, he joined Hamasaki’s concert as a back-up dancer, and has since played a major role in Hamasaki’s performances. Aside from choreographing for 2012’s “ayumi hamasaki ARENA TOUR 2012 ～HOTEL Love songs～”, his bed scene with Hamasaki was also a memorable and provocative performance. Then, in the PV for “You&Me” released in August, the two played as lovers. Embracing and kissing on Guam’s beach, their performance of a sweet and sorrowful “summer romance” also gained much attention.

Uchiyama is the coach for Aomori Yamada High School’s acrobatics team, and also does choreography for them. The team won the inter-school competition and national team championships in 2009, the national championships in 2010, and is currently aiming to become the 3rd time champion.

◆Sharing the Stage Greeting

During the stage greeting for “A3D II ayumi hamasaki Rock’n’Roll Circus Tour FINAL～7days Special～” in August, Uchiyama joined 5 other dancers to appear alongside Hamasaki. The two often chatted together off-mike, showing off their close relationship. During the talk show, he also praised her, saying that “ayu-chan notices every little detail about everyone. Because she plans things to let each of us shine, we feel the urge to do our best as well. She’s truly the troupe leader”, to which Hamasaki replied “Thank you” with a smile. A strong sense of trust could be felt between them.

In the September issue of “SCawaii!” released in August, a private report about the “You&Me” PV was featured. According to the feature, the two would meet up to chat in between filming sessions and hold each other by the waist, exibiting signs of a pair of new lovers. Also, in the scene filmed in “his room”, Hamasaki was wearing Uchiyama’s personal T-shirt.

Hamasaki divorced Austrian model Manuel Schwarz in January this year. This new relationship between “singer and back-up dancer” will definitely grab much attention as well.

Original article from here.

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Hamasaki Ayumi’s new lover and confirmed boyfriend, eyewitness accounts of dates in Hawaii
15 November 2012.

Hamasaki Ayumi (34) had been seen having a passionate date with back-up dancer A-san (28).

The scene was a large supermarket near Waikiki in Hawaii, quiet after midnight with few locals or tourists left shopping.

In their midst was a Japanese couple pushing a big cart. The woman was dressed in resort style, with short pants, T-shirt and a fur parka, in a good mood because she was free to roam around without her entourage. The two’s hands were entwined, faces so close as if about to kiss, laughing together as they piled goods into their cart.

The couple was ayu and A-san. A-san acted as ayu’s lover in the “You&Me” PV released in August. She holding his arm and dating in an amusement park at Minaminoshima, him embracing the bikini-clad ayu bridal-style on the beach… The theme of the PV was truly “summer romance”, but it seemed a little too real, and people started to confirm A-san as ayu’s “new lover”.

An eyewitness reported that “the two were always together, only joining the other staff when it was time to cash out. They came to Hawaii for work, but when alone, they were like lovers”.

On 11 October, after finishing her last show for tour “ayumi hamasaki ARENA TOUR 2012 A ～HOTEL Love songs～”, which lasted for 37 shows and played to 320,000 audience, ayu flew out to Hawaii. Of course, A-san, who had been the person closest and most supportive to her, accompanied ayu to Hawaii as mentioned.

After Hawaii, ayu flew on to Los Angeles, and A-san accompanied her there too. During Halloween on 31 October, the two cosplayed together in matching mini-skirt uniforms. ayu had uploaded photos of the event onto Twitter.

With Austrian model ex-husband (31), whom she had divorced on New Year’s Day without ever officially registering the marriage, ayu started off casting him as her husband in a PV, which then led to real marriage. Will this repeat again?… However, A-san is still a married man. In 2005, he had married dancer B-san (43), and the two are currently involved in a drawn-out divorce process, and the name “Hamasaki Ayumi” is being thrown about in the judicial proceedings.

For example, the wife has accused A-san of “hiding the fact that he is married, because ayu got jealous”, and ayu’s name has come up repeatedly during several occasions.

Original article from here.

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ayu confesses devoted love for back-up dancer “A serious relationship”
14 November 2012. 22:52

On the 14th, singer Hamasaki Ayumi (34) made a sudden announcement of her devoted love for back-up dancer Uchiyama Maroka or Maro (28) on member-restricted fanclub site “TeamAyu”. Uchiyama declared his devotion for her on his own blog on the same day as well. Hamasaki had divorced her Austrian model husband Manuel Schwarz in January this year.

Hamasaki wrote to her fans: “An article about me will be published in a weekly magazine tomorrow. The contents are about Maro-chan and myself. I don’t want everyone to hear incorrect rumours about me from other sources, and I don’t want to hide anymore, so I will say it clearly. I am in a serious relationship with Maro-chan”.

Maro became Hamasaki’s concert back-up dancer in 2007. In this year’s tour, he participated in a bed scene in a love hotel with Hamasaki, a performance that sparked much discussion amongst fans.

Aside from declaring her devotion for back-up dancer Maro, Hamasaki also commented on the separation of work from life, saying that “However, work is still work, private life is still private. I will continue to keep them separate, and create the best shows. Definitely. I promise.”

On the same day, Uchiyama also commented on his own blog, “This has caused some worry amongst those connected with Hamasaki-san, as well as lots of fans. I apologize for that.” He also called for understanding for this serious relationship, stating that “Since this is something which involves me, I will solemnly acknowledge it. As the person I am, I will take this relationship seriously from now on.”

Uchiyama was born on 28 February 1984 in Tokyo. He became Hamasaki’s concert back-up dancer in 2007.

In the summer of 2010, Hamasaki met Manuel during PV auditions, and decided to pick him as her acting partner. They started having romantic relations soon after, performed a lightning marriage in January 2011, and divorced in January this year.