i still listen to her music but she hasn't had anything new in ages so i already felt like she was on a hiatus so i'm not really bothered. i'll listen to her new material if she comes back. lol i don't know which option to choose

No option fits my thoughts. And to be honest I think she acts absolutely unprofessional. Furthermore I have enough of these artists who always complain about theire job being an artist would be so hard that they need a break.

I have several points I want to point out:

1. It's simply her job being an artist. The only reason why she can permit herself taking a break is money. Most people on this planet work very hard for their money and will never have enough to go on hiatus for 2-5 years.

2. She is not the only one working hard. As metioned before most people work hard for their money and I think I'm right when I say that most people have to work a lot harder for their money than Utada has to work for her money.

3. She had chosen to be an artist by herself. She is one of those lucky people who can choose a job by themselfes absolutely free without any social borders or a certain educational achievement and earn also a lot of money with it.

4. Furthermore she is also one of those lucky people who could make her dreams come true by only making her job. Most people do something just to have a job and if they have fun by what they are doing isn't necessary as long as they earn money with it.

5. She wants to do 'human activities' instead of 'artist activities'. She wants to study and to travel. Again most people would like to do 'human activities' instead of 'working activities'. And this is an attitude by Utada which makes me really angry. For me it's like she would say 'As an artist my job is soooooooooo more hard than yours and of course it's no normal job! And it's also more important and of course I deserve it way more than you all to take a break'.

6. If she wants to take a break sure, why not. But please Utada, think more carefully about your reasons or don't point them out with this 'I'm holier-than-thou' feeling.

7. And to be honest again: I don't think she works hard. She had to pruduce 10 songs in one year (2008-2009). So she had more than one month time to make 1 song. That's really nothing for every other artist. Of course she always writes her own music and arranges it also, but for this amount of time it's nothing. And since 2009 she had 1 and a half year time to produce 4 or 5 songs, I don't know what to say about this really hard work.

8. And not to consider what an amount of money she must have earnt. To live with the financial safeness Utada can live most people can only dream off. So yeah, it's a really hard life for her with really hard work and of course with those problems and sorrows a normal human being has to bear.

9. In one point I agree with Utada: she really has to grow up. She has to grow up and to notice in what a dreamland she is living and that every human being has to handle private problems and sorrows. And that she has one big advantage: She will never have problems in her life like having no money or no job. She will never be absoluetly unhappy with her job and only make it to earn money for food and a home because she loves music and it's what she wants to do. That are problems or fears most people have to deal with in life - besides their private problems - and those people will never get the chance to take a break.

I agree with some of your points. But that's mostly on how people usually feel like "artists desrves these breaks after so much hard work". I'm a physician and as one, I have to be constantly studying and putting up with the latest science discovers. The responsibility I have when I examine a patient can sometimes be so much for me to bring the matters to think about them at home, after I've left my work place. I have to constantly be recycling my knowledge. There's just too much you have to learn. And you have to deal with people's bad humor, unfounded complaints, neurosis and also with the risks of getting infected or getting injured by a patient who's delusional or aggressive. Still, I don't feel like I deserve a 5 years break because my job is 'oh so stressing'. I know making songs is art, and you don't rush art, but if that's your job, I don't see how is it so sacrificing that you need to take lifetime breaks. Maybe hikki's human activities are jsutifiable in a way or another, but I don't feel like her music career break is something she "deserves" after all her "hard work". In other words, I just personally feel she's being a little irresponsible with career, but well, whatever floats people's boats. she does have the money to pursue her activities and put her career on hold anyways, os it's up to her. Doesn't mean either that I won't look forward to her releases when she finally decides to ocme back he he

THIS.

Why some people keep thinking she didn't work hard?
She compose, arrange, write, and even produce her music, she already put so much efforts for almost of every release. Also, her last PV, directed by herself, it's just more than efforts for me.

Even this radio interview almost tell everything :


If she didn't work that hard and money oriented, what about her decision to tell the fans that the fans shouldn't buy the Utada The Best album? She doesn't want her fans putting down money for something that her heart isn't in.

I'll be waiting for her return, no doubt.

I lost interest in her quite awhile ago. Even going to her concert earlier this year only reignited my former love for her for just one night. To be honest, she could retire for good at this point and I couldn't care less :\

I'll be waiting for her return, no doubt.

i admit i don't acre anymore about her but it's sad she's leaving..i believe anyway she won't ever release anything

I hated her This is one album, so I don't care that much, but I still like her old songs. I think she'll come back next year. And it will be difficult for her to become one of the best again. She'll may need change of style or something, just like Namie did.

No doubt, she's lost the battle to Ayumi XD

wtf are you blabbing about? Her albums have been outselling Ayu's since the dawn of time. Get your facts straight.

but where is she now? people started to lose interest in her, they may forget her at all if she doesn't come back ;)

I think it's you who'd better get facts straight. ayu's already broken the record as the best selling solo singer in Japanese history, so entirely she's outselled Hikki.

and you know, it's not all about the sales. just look how many albums Hikaru Utada has, how often did she appear on tv and magazines, how many tours she had. not that much as ayu, it's obvious. and who had lot of influence among japanese youngsters? definitely not hikaru!

We're on an ayu forum. Of course there are Ayu stans. :laugh

It's ok if you two have a difference of opinion but don't make it personal!

I agree with you! I'm not a fan of This is the One, and I prefer her Japanese works and older works, like Ultra Blue. (if you consider that old!)

I think Ayu is a more powerful force in the music industry, and a consistent force at that. My friends in Japan say that they see her quite often on magazine covers and she always releases a new album & single every year, as well as does CDL and Arena Tours. Even if she has lost a bit in popularity if you are counting that solely on sales, she is consistent. Utada was so hard for me to follow... there's giant information gaps and tours every once in a while, and albums with quite a while in between release..

Now having said this, I like Hikki. I discovered her before Ayu and fell in love with Ultra Blue. But it's frustrating to wait like 3 years in between albums..
Maybe she needs this break to "find herself" and her musical muse! I think she'll write some lyrics and things casually while taking her time off.

yes, if Utada constantly released one album per year and toured, she would probably be just one of the best. I mean, with her super musical skills she could do a lot of great things!

I'll be waiting for her return, no doubt.

Hikki is one of my favorite singers ever along with Ayu and Namie. Of course, Ayu's first :laugh but Hikki comes second.
When I knew she was going to retire I was soo sad, srsly. I grown up with her as well, although I always complaining because she wasn't super-duper fast as Ayu at releasing singles and albums :roflmao. Too spoiled because of Ayu, you know lol.
Well I've waited a year to get new stuff, I'll wait for just 4 more years then.

Thanks for stating the obvious, but we are all fully aware that ayu is the highest selling solo artist in Japan overall. No one is doubting that. What Polyrythm meant is despite that, Hikki has more studio albums sold than ayu (17,647,829 +/- vs. 15,775,927 +/-) but that will more than likely change since she is on hiatus. :yes

Despite the fact that Hikki is my favorite Japanese artist of all time, I'm basically touch and go in regard to her return. I feel this hiatus will benefit her and I will wait for her but I won't hold my breath.

I don't care.

I'll be waiting for her return, no doubt.

Although I do kinda think she already took enough time off already :/...but of course I'll always stay a loyal fan!

I'll be waiting for her return.

I won't lie, I was really disappointed. I was expecting an album or more singles after releasing HEART STATION for so long... then she comes back an announces hiatus. But I still consider her as one of my favorite artists and she was the reason why I got into Asian music. If that's her choice, well we can't do anything about it. I just hope this won't be a very long hiatus.

I'm still waiting for this lazy chick to get off her lazy butt and make some wig snatching music again.
Sakura Drops can only satiate the universe for so many years...