I feel sad about Utada leaving for a while. Seems like today's environment is far different than what it was a decade ago.
Almost a decade ago, it was all the hype about the rivalry in albums - Utada's First Love vs. Ayu's A BEST.
But now, here's how it stands: Ayu's about to release her 49th and 50th singles (crossroad and L, respectively), while I just found out first on the new JPopStop (
http://www.jpopstop.com/) that Utada is putting a "red light" and go on hiatus.
Between the ten years, things went on different strategies for both Ayu and Utada. We know that it was back on March 2007 that Ayu and Utada met on TV the last time. Meanwhile, we are seeing sales declines for the Japanese pop music industry, blaming on economic issues as well as digital distribution. A flurry of artists have popped out, such as Arashi (debuted back in 1999 but popularity has increased since, and now they're on the top over the past three years), Koda Kumi, Ai Otsuka, Ayaka (Iida) and others. Now we feel the sense that things are different: Ayu's still busy, while Utada seems to be dormant, and now I just found out word that Utada's halting for the foreseeable future.
And remember Ayaka last year when she would go on hiatus because of the Graves' disease and marriage with Hiro Mizushima to help her recover? Remember - Ayaka did something on the single that amazes the Japanese pop industry, going as high since Utada's release, yet her magical career had to come to a halt because of the disease that I have never even heard of until I just found out April of last year.
And now, Utada's another victim of going into hiatus for something. Maybe because of the dormant situation it has been for her for so long. I feel sad already especially when after I found out that one of my favorite school friends back in elementary school (a girl, to be exact) has moved to Spokane, WA, and she does not have any more contact. I just feel sad about her leaving the Seattle area.
But the Ayaka news last year - and the Utada news just coming in - is really more of a sad impact compared to my friend's departure, as this really affects the media a lot. We're going to feel sad that Utada is going to leave for the foreseeable future.
When Utada (and Ayaka also) comes back, we won't know how things will be different since the time they're on hiatus and the time they're coming back.