Kumi Koda article

[nmskalmn]

Tokyo traffic tangle
November 22, 2005

A 23m-tall poster of Japanese bombshell Kumi Koda clad in a cleavage-baring, peacock feathers-adorned dress has been bringing traffic to a standstill at a crowded intersection in Shibuya.

It was a strategic move by her record label, Axex Trax, to plug her first album of singles, Best - First Things, which released in September.

It seems to have worked with the album shifting over 1.2 million copies in a month and ousting the ever-popular B'z on the Oricon chart.

Critics have called her the most likely successor to J-pop queen Ayumi Hamasaki. And fans voted her as the Sexiest Female Singer in a poll by Oricon magazine.

Ever since she stormed the J-pop scene in 2001 with a Japanese-turned-English single, Take Back, that peaked at No 18 on the US Billboard Hot Dance Music chart, Kumi has been flaunting her shapely curves in skimpy outfits.

Sex is her middle name and the chameleon-like 23-year-old knows how to grab attention.

Fans - especially men - have loved her sex-bomb image, with some saying that even her brand of hip-hop-infused J-pop oozes sex appeal.

For instance, she turned herself into the Final Fantasy X-2 Lolita when she did the Japanese versions of the two theme songs of the popular video game. Both songs became hits.

Another time, Kumi turned up as a guest on the popular TV show, Music Station, clad in just leopard-print lingerie.

She looked so hot that members of the rock band Tokio, who were also present, were rendered speechless.

Early this year, she again set the media buzzing with the release of her fourth album, Secret, which contained a 28-page booklet with sexy photos of her posing topless.

Kumi also has a reputation for saying the most outrageous things.

She declared that she would be a mamasan for a day if her Best - First Things album hits the one-million mark.

When it did, she graciously fulfilled her promise in a pub in Ginza - much to the amusement of the Japanese media.

BITTEN BY LOVE

Kumi recently confirmed rumours that she is in love. She did not reveal who her beau is, but she did say that he is not from showbiz circles.

'My boyfriend is very important to me,' she told reporters.

'It's also to please him that I've been working so hard on my stage performances.'

Earlier, she had revealed that she is very determined when it comes to love. Regardless of any obstacles, she said she charges ahead like a 'wild boar'.

Given her brazen ways, Kumi has ruffled quite a few feathers.

Some have accused her of being ****ty, exploiting her physical assets and cheapening herself. Others have wondered whether her sexy image changes are publicity stunts.

But she seems to have escaped unscathed and judging by her CD sales and upcoming engagements, her star is certainly rising.

She has just completed a concert tour in Japan and is slated to perform with Ashley Simpson at the upcoming Cool MTV Christmas 2005 concert in Yokohama on 16 Dec.

She is also trying to break into the South Korean market. Her latest album was released there last Wednesday.

http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/show/st...,97688,00.html

[AyuGAME]

thx for the articles

[Shiso]

Great article! I love Ku, she's great

[tinyppl]

Nice article. I do think she does get overly-provocative at times (prefers her style in real emotion pv) but I guess it's just her style. I also realise she's getting more popular with more provocative style. It's not necessarily a bad thing. Koda has talent for singing and dancing, so that's alright to me.

[evolution105]

She declared that she would be a mamasan for a day if her Best - First Things album hits the one-million mark.

wats a mamasan?

She looked so hot that members of the rock band Tokio, who were also present, were rendered speechless.

Isn't that the band ayu's bf is in??? lol

[Raleigh]

Her bold image and attitude have indeed made her shine. It was a good move for a country like Japan but she risked a lot.

[Rickumi]

Now she is POP
lol
lucky i knoew her before the media started to change her
now she´s gonna be diffrent.... to sell.... like someone i know... lol

[Mirai Noah]

Interesting read! Thanks!

[ohsixthirty]

Early this year, she again set the media buzzing with the release of her fourth album, Secret, which contained a 28-page booklet with sexy photos of her posing topless.

whaaaat?! is that true???

Originally Posted by touchedstar

whaaaat?! is that true???

Only like 6 pages are the topless ones

[ohsixthirty]

Originally Posted by j_nerd

Only like 6 pages are the topless ones

i'm just...surprised. do they mean TOTALLY topless?

[minkAYuko]

Originally Posted by touchedstar

i'm just...surprised. do they mean TOTALLY topless?

not all the way.... just some pics like this one.. I think

[ohsixthirty]

^ah, ok. gotcha then. i was just shocked that she had posed totally topless and it didn't create an uproar. haha!

[Calico]

Yeah, I think if she was completely "hey look! nipples!" then there would've been talk even OUTSIDE the Japanese circle!

Kumi is sexy, there's really no denying that. (Unless her look just isn't your thing) She takes "got it, flaunt it" to a new extreme. Sometimes I think she's a little overboard (SHAKE IT PV...as amusing as it can be) but overall I kinda like her. She has a lot of admirable qualities as well, like the love thing. Plus she says that she doesn't drink or smoke. (Although I wonder if she used to smoke) Plus I love her music. She's without a doubt one of my favorite artists.

[elepop]

I think that Koda Kumi definitely stands out from other artists. Like Christina, it can be the kind of "good" sexy image. (Notice how when Xtina became wayyyy sexier, people liked her better?) Although I do think that she, a lot of times, take things a little bit too far in her photoshoots and PVs, she knows when to settle down (Promise). She has an amazing and strong voice, but unluckily for me, she's not really my type of music. She's hip-hop/r&b, I like pop/rock.

[lotusoka]

Wow, I love her image so much. Yay for Kumi and her carefree attitude, reminds me of early Madonna.

[Larisa-chan]

I really hate her sexy image, but I have to admit there are a few songs by Kumi that I like.

Thanks for the translation!

[greggerz189]

What do they mean 'successor to J-pop queen Hamasaki Ayumi'?? They make it sound like Ayu's already washed up!! >,<

[bulmasman]

hmmm... wonder where i can get that 23m-tall poster I love Koda, she's one of the best artists currently going in Japan

[elepop]

I saw a H-U-G-E picture of hitomi in that building too! lol.