:laugh

anything goes with regards to what she has instore for her next album

I completely agree. She shouldn't have to change her appearance or image, but a fashion revival could definitely lead to a sales/general interest revival. She may be in her third decade, but she's not too old to impact the youth fashion industry. She'll still be a relatively popular artist regardless, but it's not a bad prospect to consider.

In my opinion, My Story is an album to return to after you've aged a bit.

Come to Asia and you'll see that there are a LOT of people on the streets lugging around LV bags, Gucci, Prada, you name it. It's something called "fake designer goods" :P

It's not about buying expensive clothes. It's about looking expensive in inexpensive clothing. Ayu's high-end style isn't only accessible to the elite rich, unless you insist on buying the exact same articles of clothing. If one has the eye for fashion and the patience for shopping and digging through vintage shop bins, rummage sales, flea markets, etc., especially in Japan, one could easily look like Ayu.

^ I might have to visit some vintage shops :O

NEXT LEVEL's holding steady at #5 today - http://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ja/d/

I think it will be in the top10 for another week judging on how the progress's

Thats really bad, I doubt it will be able to sell 450k in this way...I am even starting to doubt 400k

at least it's held steady in the top 5, but i feel like it'll slip out of the 10 next week.

if you walk down any street in tokyo, you'll see not only women, but men as well, strutting along with designer goods. Japan accounts for around 40% of all of Louis Vuitton sales. Japan alone. It's not rare here to see even a teenager in high school (even boys) with designer bags and accessories. And really, finding fake handbags in Japan is really really hard. Plus, they don't want fake ones, they like to show off how much they can spend. LV is generally the most popular one, but gucci, dior and coach are also very present. Prada not as much, but still there. If anything, the girls of shinjuku and shibuya are still taking hints from her style, they love to spend money.

However, that being said, this is just Tokyo. I have no idea about other parts of Japan. :P

If a book I read is thrustable it the same in all japan, or at least in all citys.

You guys... speak... Prada?! (HAHA sorry I can't help it)

Right, to find fake designer goods in Japan is a task and if you actually owned any would be considered shameful. :) You have to have a lot of money to waste to buy them. And at least from what I have experienced, young girls who do nothing but spend their parents money on these frivolous things are looked down upon and are generally seen as shameful. You could say that the young generation is LV obsessed, but that certainly doesn't account for the whole country. Outside of Tokyo, yeah, its a different story - I've lived out in a small town and visited the Hiroshima area numerous times and don't remember seeing anything really designer.

Okay, I'm still licensed to hope that a mysterious 10 000 more copies would be added to this week's sales, when the weekly sales come out.

^^ but why would buying LV bags be seen as shameful and by who? it's not like they held up their parents and were like give me money so i can buy this. if the money is given to them, then they can spend it on whatever they like. if your obsession is designer bags rather than something else then what's the problem?

They can aways make out with older guys for money =)

^ Isnt that even a usual thing in japan? Again, i got this from a book, but it seemed quite realistic(and not realistic at the same time) to me, it said the LV, Prada and so on bags are often gifts from the men the women sleep with instead of money they directly buy the bag the girl/women wants

^ well if i was someone who worked for my money or got it from my parents, and then bought those bags. I probably would look down on someone if i knew that they slept with someone for it. but, how would you even know that they did that unless they told you? and you can't go around japan assuming that every young person with an expensive bag is sleeping with someone.

although i'm sure that it is true that some do have sugardaddies lol

we're totally off topic aren't we? sorry!

#5 is good :D

Thanks for the chart info, Karen.

Glad it is holding steady at the #5 position! :D

At least it hasn't gotten any lower lol.

I'm worried not seeing the sales anymore!!!
:X