Why did Ayu become popular?

[voltron]

Delerium gave a really, really insightful answer that I think really hits on many of the main points.

I would even build upon some of these other points a little bit. In some ways, Ayu was the perfect un-Idol. She really started toward the end of the Idol age, and she broke the mold so much from what was expected.

Japan is a hugely xenophobic country that is also simultaneously obsessed with Western culture. I also feel like Japan was in a really unique period of time during her career launch. And Ayu was the perfect combination of literally being Japanese, but then also being a "bad" Japanese. I'm not sure if I'm articulating this well, but she did so many things to break the mold -- the mold of the idol, the mold of the good Japanese girl, etc. She was simultaneously this totally relate-able young girl, while also being this aspirational image of breaking the chains of expectation.

Unfortunately I think this same behavior has also attributed to the "drama" surrounding her in recent years, and a feeling of disconnect from the general public. But having visited Japan several times over the past 10+ years, I also feel like the general (young) public has regressed in their world view over that time.