I really don't get the retire thing with japanese artists, specially women. Stop listening if you want the artist to stop so badly

Artistes retire due to a variety of reasons and not just Japanese female artistes do that , Japanese male artistes do so as well

BOØWY's Himuro Kyosuke-san retired 2 years ago due to problems with his hearing

I'm not so sure about that. I mean, in general public opinion for Namie is extremely high and has been for a very long time. Even at her low points, her vocals, looks, music etc., were never really criticized, only her personal life. For Ayu though, she gets criticized about absolutely everything and has been held in fairly low regard publicly for many years now.

I don't think that's right at all, and I do think there are asinine reasons for it, I just don't think it's right to say that Namie went through the same thing and would likely be going through it again. The two aren't all that equatable imo.

Ayumi is definitely more comparable to the back clash that Seiko Matsuda or Akina Nakamori got in the 90´s after a full decade on the top during the 80´s ... especially Seiko with her tremendous love life lol
The exemple of Namie is quite an anomaly on the Japanese market and it will probably remain unique !

I started to listen to jpop around the time Namie was at her lowest, and on the forums I read she was treated her like a has been that only fanatic stans cared about, desperate to sell through a growing sexualized image that should retire already. Some even started "ironically" liking her before being completely sold around the Queen of Hip hop/Play/Best Fiction eras.

I think the comparison works when we're talking about Western fans, because I was around in the early 00s and listening to both ayu and namie and... yeah, the air online was definitely the opposite it is today. From Break the Rules -> early QoHP era things were dire for Namie fans. I got into her through Put em Up and woo boy the crap I got, lol.

I do compare Ayu's trajectory more to Seiko and Akina though. Seiko is probably more comparable, but Akina is my second favorite artist after Ayu and I see a looooot of similarities. But it also makes me kinda happy because Akina is still releasing great albums (well, I really loved her recent 80's cover album and FIXER and I'm probably one of the only people who liked DIVA) and doing her thing. Of course, it would only be worth it if it's what Ayu wants to do. She's said as much, but I can imagine all the constant criticism doesn't help one's mood.

My partner is the huge Seiko fan in our relationship and through her I've learned all about THE DARK TIME OF THE '90S lol. There are definitely similarities in terms of public opinion WRT getting more westernized and the relationship dramas. Unfortunately Akina's big downfall moment was the suicide attempt :\ Her image never quite recovered through the 90s and she's had a lot of issues, both mental and physical (hey-o scabies), since then. I have a feeling Ayu's career is gonna be a lot like theirs in that she'll be an active legend doing her thing. She'll get some press for new releases, she'll have her hardcore fans and those that come and go as the nostalgic winds claim them, and people will be analyzing and picking apart their careers like we are now lol.

Basically, being a top J-pop diva is hazardous to one's health. Some definitely navigate it better than others, though. I hope Ayu can stay strong and keep on doing her thing, whatever that is.

I also started listening to Namie in the early 2000s's, and yes, that is true.
I mean she went from million sales after million sales in the 90s to much less, so that kind of criticism was inevitable. But again, she was never criticized for anything other than being a has been with some spotty personal life bits here and there, but nobody criticized her really beyond that -- vocally, looks, etc. But I take your point; just don't really think it's the best comparison.

I like the Akina/Seiko comparison more, although Seiko did have the anamoly big hit in 1996, six plus years after her prime.

Week 2 Day 2 - #7

https://tieba.baidu.com/p/5852279370

Wow :O

^Wow! From #38 to #7 in a day. I wonder what boosted the sales.

now this is a surprise :luv2

Oh wow!! I was hoping so badly for another boost. This is really good!
I wonder how much more she's going to sell after a-nation.

The drop to #38 happened due to the new releases being out. Majority of those probably sell really badly, so they dropped to under 300-400 copies xD Would be nice if it were an actual boost and that she manages to crack 30k this week.

Wow, I just looked and that's a shocking drop. It must be hard to see your numbers change so much.

2nd week digital
#6
Sales: 1,476

First post updated

I am so glad that sales are getting better :)

some fans say that avex were replenishing TROUBLE's stock, hence the boost...

Ayu is also much older now than Namie was then. That likely plays into the backlash, too. "Almost 40, two divorces, no children." :rolleyes

When it comes to Ayu's voice, I observed something. Reading the comments to an old performance on youtube (I don't remember which one) someone asked who made her sing from her throat, because that's bad for the throat. Someone said that if it wasn't for that high voice she wouldn't have been selling as much. So it's basically not about skill and technique, but about her tone.
I'm curious to know what would have been if she'd properly attended singing classes before her debut. We'll never know.

I was also suprised to see that Otsuka Ai's latest albums (I don't know about LOVE HONEY, though) didn't even make it into the top 20. So Ayu isn't doing all too bad for herself.

Week 2 Day 3 - #27

https://tieba.baidu.com/p/5853622460

^ Drop again? Maybe tommorow she will chart better.

I don't think Ayu ever got proper vocal lessons until the 2010's to be honest. Before that she was always going for that iconic but unhealthy singing she is known for. Over here, not that much, but there is always a comment here or there on Youtube videos complaining about her singing while she is actually doing well.