Singer Ayumi Hamasaki implicated in drug scandal

[Yoake]

Singer Ayumi Hamasaki implicated in drug scandal
Posted: 12 January 2010 1609 hrs



TOKYO: Japanese pop princess Ayumi Hamasaki's record label Avex Trax, a subsidiary of Avex Entertainment, has reportedly been trying to transfer her management rights for one billion yen (S$15 million) after the singer became embroiled in a drug scandal involving colleague Manabu Oshio.

According to Japanese media reports, Avex arrived at this decision to prevent her drug scandal from affecting the record label's stock prices, though industry observers say the figure is simply too low to be true.

Oshio was arrested in December last year on suspicion of giving recreation drug Ecstacy to a hostess who later died of an overdose.

The pair were at a residence in the prestigious Roppongi Hills area rented by Oshio's friend Mika Noguchi, a prominent businesswoman.

The police are investigating Hamasaki's links to the case as Noguchi is her close friend, though rumours are rife that it was Oshio who directly implicated Hamasaki in a bid to save himself.

If these reports turn out to be true, they would mark a sharp reversal of fortune for the 31-year-old superstar.

Hamasaki was discovered by Avex Trax's current president, music producer Masato Matsuura, at a karaoke bar in 1998. He signed her to Avex Trax shortly after and she has been with the label ever since.

Hamasaki went on to become the only singer in Japan with a chart-topping album every year, consecutively for 11 years.

- CNA/ha

Credit to channelnewsasia.com.
link: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stori...030116/1/.html

[KarenPang]

O.O

wow the fact that it was reported in my country's Channel News Asia's website that's saying something

this's just well you know

[kiseki89]

Originally Posted by KarenPang

O.O

wow the fact that it was reported in my country's Channel News Asia's website that's saying something

this's just well you know

anyway i thought this new is rather old?

[greenteadrinker]

Originally Posted by kiseki89

anyway i thought this new is rather old?

Yes, this is very old news. There was a super long thread discussing this in AHS. We first heard about it in Aug/Sept, after Noriko Sakai's arrest. The Japanese government then raided Avex's office, on the pretext of Ayu's "traffic violation" in Shibuya cos of her book launch but we all know they were looking for evidence of drug use amongst Avex employees. They didn't find anything but the tabloids printed articles about Ayu's so-called "involvement" because her friend Mika Nogouchi (Peach John owner) was brought in for questioning as someone died of drug overdose at a party of Mika's tenant. The media also speculated about Ayu's involvement because she once made enquiries about buying an apartment Noriko Sakai once owned.

So the gist of the story is basically that Ayu's "involved" because she knows someone who knows someone who took drugs and that she once enquired about Noriko Sakai's apartment. Which is really silly because just about everyone in the industry probably knows someone else who takes drugs.

All a bunch of tabloid bull. If they had any evidence at all, she'd have been arrested by now, just like how a bunch of other pple in Japanese entertainment have been.

Having said that, this isn't necessarily bad publicity. "Ayumi Hamasaki" is now the number 1 most searched topic on Yahoo Singapore. And right next to the CNA article are pictures of the NEXT LEVEL cover.

[pchan1986]

wahhhh....

[Suteisi]

Woaw. Is that news channel IN ENGLISH? Because they use weird words in their sentenses... Maybe it's just me, but WTF? Lol Embroiled? Arrived at this decision? (No offense entended!)

Hum.... Ooookkaayy? I'm really not going to worry about anything. If there needs to be, Ayu will surely comment on the issue.

[extepan]

Originally Posted by Neffiline

Woaw. Is that news channel IN ENGLISH? Because they use weird words in their sentenses... Maybe it's just me.

it's just you....try to read more news, many journalist uses appropriate words that reflect their language competency.

[AyuGAME]

i don't really understand what is going on...
but i wish the best for her...
as her fans, i need to put my trust on her...and i hope all of you do...

[AyUmIXx]

wow isn't this news already been posted long long long time ago?

[Yoake]

Originally Posted by AyUmIXx

wow isn't this news already been posted long long long time ago?

no beause the date of that article is : 12 January 2010 so Today!

[noidea]

Hope this isn't true...not that I would mind much, but it might hurt her career BADLY

[Ayu_Ready]

rumor anymore ? I think if she has this type of problems Ayu will talk about it let's wait..

[Delirium-Zer0]

We heard something very vague about this several months ago, I remember. We didn't hear that it was Manabu Oshio who was in trouble though - only that a girl died of a drug overdose while in a flat that was owned or rented by Mika Noguchi.

Ayu's involvement in the actual problem is basically nonexistant; it's just people in her social circle.

[Kazeyomi]

Originally Posted by Delirium-Zer0

Ayu's involvement in the actual problem is basically nonexistant; it's just people in her social circle.

this.
It's Oshio's fault not Ayu's fault. So it didn't concerned me so much D:

[panda♥]

Originally Posted by Delirium-Zer0

Ayu's involvement in the actual problem is basically nonexistant; it's just people in her social circle.

And it looks like they're trying to bring Ayu down with it, which I doubt will happen.

[waterballoon]

lol omg. This was reported by Channel News Asia? =.=" wtf.

[-KuMiLoVeR-]

Oh no this news sounds bad (though Ayu is not directly involved in this issue)
Hope this drug scandal would not affect Ayu's career...

[rakeru]

And Ayu was involved in this....how? This is not a scandal, this is just a way to hurt Ayu's reputation. And of course, since most people don't bother to find out the facts for themselves, if this piece were to garner more attention then it could turn the public (and endorsements) away from her. Anyway, it's so stupid that we probably won't hear about it again.

[AyuHamasaki01]

I don't know what to say ... I hope she will be okay.

[Misa-chan]

What's this got to do with ayu? She just happens to be friends with people who were involved.. *shakes head*