[andre2907]

The thing is, the fact he needed dramas to increase he's popularity doesn't make him less popular. He's more popular than BoA ever was around Asia. He's album was the best-selling album of the year in China, in Korea, in Malaysia, in Singapore and lots and lots of other asian countries while BoA sells good in a few asian countries. His concert in stadiums in Asia were ALL sold-out. He's much much more popular than BoA ever was.

Plus, he IS big in Japan. He was the first asian (non-japanese) artist to be invited to permorm of MTV Japan awards and he sold-out two concerts at Tokyo International Forum, one in Budokan and one in Osaka-Jo Hall with tickets for 10,000 yen (very expensive, Ayu tickets are 7,000), plus, he has a big fanbase and he's dramas are very popular around there.

Maybe he isn't talented or changed the world, but he is the MOST influentional entertainer in Asia and that's the point of the article.

Oh, btw, BoA isn't the most popular korean entertainer in Japan. Bae-Yong something, the male lead of Winter Sonata, is and he's the one the media says was the one who helped Japan-Korea relationship.. plus, lots of other koreans, mainly actress and actors are more popular than her. And I'm sure lots of asians artists sold-out shows in US but I doubt many of them had 10,000 people at their concert.