xD I didn't know about that... it's ok then~~ :D

I still don't see how both of these can get number one. Like I mean. People will be expecting L the next week. Why not just buy that. I mean she's gonna need a lot of fan support for crossroad. Or flipping the situation, L
Maybe well have an ayu miracle and they'll both just easily get number one and maybe there will be tons of promo

Its definitely gonna be interesting

I don't think avex will let her 50th single slide out of the public's notice. I just hope the ads are effective.

^
^crossroad and it's b-side aren't on L, so I don't know why someone would logically conclude to buy one over the other since they're two seperate releases.

^Because L represents a more iconic moment in Ayumi's career?

Maybe some fans who have stopped listening to Ayumi will listen to or buy L because of Avex's promotion. I also think they mean that crossroad will maybe be in the shadow of L.

Not to mention L has more content and will go for around the same price (whether or not the content is different).

People who would buy based on those reasons wouldn't buy crossroad anyway

^and that is why she is saying that maybe ayumi wont be getting #1.... due potentially to those reasons.

I think Avex has got to go aggressive...

LOL soon everyone will be hoping for mirrorcles

I think some of you are under-estimating avex and Ayu's management team. If they knew there were slight chances Ayu woudn't be getting a #1 the single would be rescheduled. The only Kumi single that did better than an Ayu single since 2007 was Ai no uta, as it sold a few thousands more than talkin' 2 myself, even though it was a bigger hit, the same's happening with Lollipop and MOON and with all the promo one had and the other one didn't. Not to mention that avex can actually control the sales of both releases.

^I agree...I wouldn't worry so much about the #1 streak...but maybe the sales for crossroad. I think it will sell less than m/b...but hopefully with promotions, it will sell more.

I'm actually more worried for the streak than the actual sales xd as long as it gets 1 for the first day and week... i dont care :P

L is gonna come on top of it anyway, so I think crossroad isn't gonna sell as much as MOON/blossom... maybe the same or less

Both are under Avex. I wouldn't be surprised if Avex did something drastic to ensure good sales for Koda Kumi AND for Ayu to keep her streak.

It'd be very, very disturbing if they let something happen to her streak when her competition is on the same label XD

During the second day of the week, when Koda is beginning to outsell Ayu : WE'VE DECIDED THIS IS A LIMITED SINGLE OF 50.000 COPIES KTHXBYE

Breakdown for the last five singles for BOTH Ayu and Kuu:

Ayu's last five singles sales


Kuu's last five singles sales


Just by looking at the spoilers, I'm estimating somewhere in the low-to-mid-30,000s for Kuu's single. She does well with her younger sister misono as well as summer singles, but at other times, she does not sell as high as Ayu does. Even with the misono collaboration, the sales numbers are below Ayu at the particular time (late winter/early spring).

So I'm estimating that Ayu's going to take #1 in the 49th single situation, despite Kuu's 48th single release. (Kuu's one back, soon to be two by the time the next week comes!)

Among other releases in the 22nd other than Ayu and Kuu, there isn't anything special except for album releases by Yui Aragaki, Maki Goto and Anna Tsuchiya (not focusing on any of those). And even Seiko Matsuda in her second-tier career, releasing another set of greatest hits (B-sides) for the now-48-year-old girl that still holds the record but could be tied during that week and could be broken next week. The Gazette is quite popular among singles, but not as popular as Ayu's AWESOMENESS!

In the 29th, nothing special either. JUJU (sings Beautiful Woman) and MEG are about to release their albums, and so does globe (grobe 15th Anniversary Greatest Hits, including a 45,000-yen limited edition!). flumpool is quite good, but along with The Gazette, not as popular as the power of Ayu!

Let's go Ayu! We can do it!!! Let's break the barriers and prove that Ayu's the best Japanese pop female soloist in history!

Avex can always ship fewer Koda Kumi singles to stores than Ayu if in doubt because Ayu's streak is worth more than Kumi getting a random number one. I like Kuu but she can go for number one another week if they are that bothered.
Three years ago we would have all had panic attacks about Ayu and Kuu going head to head, but as long as Avex plan it right, I think it will be fine :)

imo it'd be reli cheap & disgusting if avex tweaks anything to let Ayu win cos I want to see like a real battle between them but Kuu's singles can't sell well yada yada & what not... oh well Ayu's streak is more important at this point of time anyways

uhm what battle?? I mean there's not battle. We are the ones that think it is one but it really isn't... Both girls do their own thing, regardless of what others do.
I don't think they're too worried of what other female singers do.

The only real battle is against themselves, I mean ayu is obviously "fighting", if we can put it that way, with herself and her own works.

Kuu is also doing her own thing and worrying about her own stuff... why would she even care going against ayu or any other female artist and beating them in what, one day or a week of sales? That is just ridiculous and in the mind of the people that worry too much about charts (eg. people in this forum)

True about how much they ship to stores. Still if people want it they'll order it online or request it from the store before release date etc. I do that whenever an Asian artist releases an album here since our HMV don't get that much supply in. You can't go telling customers "Oh, I'm sorry, but you can't have this item."

Also, @whoever said it last page, but I want an Ayu tattoo as well. Just I think I'd rather get a real one done than have one of the temporary things.

But they don't have to ship the orders right away. However I am sure there will be no need for any of those tricks.

Now I've ordered crossroad (both CD versions) and L (Both CD versions) from CDJ separately so they'll count to first week sales in their respective weeks, lol.