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Translation of Article from Singapore's Shin Min Ri Bao's article on Ayumi:

Title: Even the Queen of J-pop has her share of bitterness, Ayumi once wished to leave the music industry

The Queen of Japan's Trends, Ayumi Hamasaki, has achieved astounding results in her music career, leaving others envious of her. However, behind that veil of success lies an unspoken trail of bitterness and frustration.

Since 1999, Japan's TV Channel (NTV) has been carrying on with an intimate interview with Ayumi Hamasaki, recording down every single moment of her feelings along her way to success, and bitter stories that she never did say as well as revealing her wish to quit the music industry out of impulsiveness.

The programme was revealed to her fans at the previous day. It was given the spotlight by them.

This special programme : Ayumi Hamasaki's Lights and Shadows - 25 years of despair and decisions; just by looking at the title could evoke breath taking emotions. The production crew started interviewing Ayumi Hamasakin since 1999 and for 5 consecutive years kept the interview running under closed doors. They even paid a visit to Fukuoka, unearthing many of her childhood treasure memories.

Her results in the J-pop industry have made other envious of her, however behind that success is a trail of unspoken bitterness and frustration. In an interview, Ayumi reveals that in March 2001, her compilation album, A Best, clashed with Utada Hikaru's album, Distance, generating a lot of debate and argument. It was exactly at that period of time that Ayumi wanted to leave the music scene. She reveals that she wanted to retire from her music career and not do anything else anymore.