I don't post on this thread often, but as a figure that big in Jpop, I felt like taking part on this moment you guys are having
My first contact with Namie was during 2002 or 2003 when a friend of mine who is a jpop fan burned some CDs with songs from several artists at the time. The only one that really grabbed my attention then was Hikki. I don't remember much of what she recorded (including Ayu), but Namie's Something 'bout the kiss came into my mind from times to times.
During 2003/2004 I started to look out for more jpop music, and even if Namie wasn't a favorite of mine, songs like Shine More, The Speed Star and So Crazy were always on repeat.
When I starter posting on a brazillian jpop forum, and Namie was considered a has been and people really bashed her when her releases started getting more sexual. Want me want me and Wo Wa were on repeat at home.
I wasn't immune to her new rising to the top and I consumed everything related to her releases from Play to Past>Future, that remains one of my favorite jpop albums ever. I was really delighted when Ayu, Hikki and Namie all had albums among the top10 selling releases of 2008.
Her direction after P>F wasn't for me and after that I consumed some specific songs here and there like Baillerina and Mint.
It's hard to see someone of Namie's caliber and career lenght having the influence she does, and I find it sad thar she is leaving the spotlight even if I believe I do get where this comes from. I do admire her resilience, most people won't have the strenght to stay around after everything that happned to her in the end of the 90's and begining of the 00's.
Wish she gets even richer and more powerful behind curtains. Japan needs a bigger share of powerful women.