[bluegie]

I think you guys interpret the meaning of "retire" in a different way, at least from the people thinking ayu should retire. If I thought ayu should retire, it's NOT because
1) we want something new and BETTER;
2) we want her to make old music; OR
3) we're bored of ayu... etc.

It's just a sense that it would be the best to leave the stage when she's still the best or so. There's not a single artist who can stand at the top forever. One day ayu will not be getting no. 1, her cds may only be able to struggle to top 20. Of course we will say we dun care we still love ayu no matter what. Somehow we'll feel sad... it's not ayu can't get no. 1 for us tho. We feel sad because ayu doesn't deserve an ending like that. She is one of the jpop queen in the music history, and who wants to see the last few pages about the queen that "Ayumi Hamasaki left without notice after her 70th single had got no. 45 on the first week..."? Of course we can look at things positively. If she is going to release 70 singles and the last few ones will be able to get to the top 30 or 40, that's a good thing. At least it still proves she can stand againsts all odds.

On the other way of looking at "retirement". It's not every artist has a chance to leave the music industry with glory. How many Jpop artists, who retired, still have places in people's heart? I'm not really familiar with the older jpop generation, but I know that Momoe Yamaguchi (sp?) was the songtress of the 70's. Most Japanese remember her glory because she retired when she's still at the top. She is like a miracle in Japan. That is why people want ayu to retire as well. She can be the mircale in the 00's. Every Japanese will remember there was a shining queen in 1999 - ??.

Probly it's just personal.. I want ayu will shine forever...