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

[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.

[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?

[noidea]

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

[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!

[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.

[waterballoon]

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

[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:

[-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*

[Izzette]

Why is the world trying to ruin Ayumi Hamasaki? Are they so jealous of her success? That is screwed up.

EDIT: Japan isn't an entertainment industry of sex scandals,drug scandals etc etc. Damn americanization is causing more and more stuff like that for the Japanese people.

[ストロボ・EdGE]

What does that have to do with Ayu? Just the fact that she's friends with Noguchi?

[Mr. Goto]

Isn't this all normal? Seeing as Ayu was good friends with her it only makes sense that the police would at least question her...or am I completely wrong here? Being friends with druggies won't exactly sit well with Japan even if she had nothing to do with that girls death.

[alternarist]

previously there was this actress, Sakai Noriko.. she was involved in a scandal and ayu was only assisting the police. she is not involved.

I hope this is also the case.

And yeah the bad news is, reports from Channel News Asia have some credibility. It's not a tabloid channel.. so....