Original article [here].

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Hamasaki Ayumi reveals bold jacket cover shots for new album
27 December 2012. 09:24

On the 26th, singer Hamasaki Ayumi (34) revealed the jacket cover photos for her new album “LOVE again”, to be released on 8 Feb next year, 11 months after her last original album. Sitting cross-legged on a bed with a relaxed expression and boldly revealing her shoulder, it was a sexy shot.

5 new songs were written for the album, and coupled with the songs already released on singles, make up a total of 15 tracks. The DVD contains 14 clips of music videos and making-ofs, coming together in a grand compilation. Furthermore, the limited edition comes with a mascot ayupan figure and photobook, making it an impressive release.

ayu emphasized on her confidence in this work, “The album contents are substantial, even by my standards. Every single song is precious to me, and I think I’ve created an album that is very like ayu”.

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Original article [here].

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Kouhaku: Hamasaki Ayumi changes costumes twice on stage!
31 December 2012.

Hamasaki Ayumi, as Top Batter for the Red Team for the 5th consecutive year, performed 3 of her own hit songs in a medley. With 2 quick changes, she revealed a total of 3 different costumes. She started off with ballad “Dearest” in a long silver dress, with constellation designs on the skirt. Second song “evolution” was performed in a blue mini-dress, and last song “SURREAL” in a pinkish red mini-dress, rousing the mood of the crowd at the venue.

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Original article [here].

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Hamasaki Ayumi opens Kouhaku as Top Batter for 5th consecutive year
31 December 2012. 19:16

For her 14th performance at Kouhaku, Hamasaki Ayumi (34) took on the role of Top Batter for the 5th consecutive year, opening the festivities on New Year’s Eve.

In January this year, she announced her divorce from Austrian actor Manuel Schwarz (31). In August, she released best album “A SUMMER BEST”, and became the first solo artiste in history to sell more than 50 million CD copies. In November, she announced that she was dating Uchiyama Maroka (28) or “Maro”, her back-up dancer since 2007. In all, it was a newsworthy year for Hamasaki, regarding both her private life and work.

Hamasaki belted out 3 songs in a “2012 A SPECIAL Medley”. The solemn “Dearest” and danceable “evolution” and “SURREAL” were performed on a colourful stage. She even called out for “Everyone in front of the TV!” to join in, and mesmerized all with her costume changes, from white to black to red.

After that, she headed to the National Yoyogi First Gymnasium in Tokyo for her Countdown Live concert. Even during this customary year-end concert which started from the 29th, dancer Uchiyama had quickly resigned as a dancer, due to fans’ concerns of the two “mixing work and private life”.

31/12/2012

1.Wake me up
2.Rule
3.Beautiful Fighters
4.Fly high
5.snowy kiss
6.Missing
7.Together When…
8.everywhere nowhere
9.You & Me
10.Song 4 u
11.Who…
12.Humming 7/4
13.evolution ～ SURREAL
14.until that Day…
——————————
15.Trauma
16.AUDIENCE
17.Boys & Girls
18.MY ALL

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30/12/2012

1.Wake me up
2.Rule
3.Beautiful Fighters
4.Fly high
5.snowy kiss
6.Missing
7.Together When…
8.everywhere nowhere
9.You & Me
10.Song 4 u
11.Who…
12.Humming 7/4
13.evolution ～ SURREAL
14.until that Day…
——————————
15.Trauma
16.Boys & Girls
17.MY ALL

——

29/12/2012

1.Wake me up
2.Rule
3.Beautiful Fighters
4.Fly high
5.snowy kiss
6.Missing
7.Together When…
8.everywhere nowhere
9.You & Me
10.Song 4 u
11.Who…
12.evolution ～ SURREAL
13.until that Day…
——————————
14.Trauma
15.AUDIENCE
16.Boys & Girls
17.Ivy
18.MY ALL