TA Blog 「Happy New Year☆」(2.1.22)

[koumori]

An auto-translation of Ayu's most recent blog post.

TA Blog, 2.1.22
Happy New Year☆

To be honest, it doesn't feel like New Year has come and gone for me yet; I've been spending it just lazing around, not doing anything particularly New Year-like (wait, it's the lazing around part that's the best part of New Year!)

When I was playing the announcement part for the Yoyogi date in April, I listened to everyone's voices before I went properly backstage. The cheers were far greater than I'd imagined they would be. I was so happy, and surprised, at the same time.

So, we'll definitely all get together again on the 8th!

And maybe at the end of the concert on the 8th, we'll set up an MC or something for the encore. I haven't finished discussing the method and timing properly with various parties yet, but I have an announcement from Ayumi Hamasaki.

Anyway, once we've been able to relax some more, we will begin organizing the Anni-Live as soon as possible!

Do people want to hear rare or nostalgic songs-???

But, I want people to listen to a variety of album tracks from Remember you as well...

If you have any requests, let me know♡

Here's to a wonderful 2023 for everyone!(♡°▽°♡)

ayu

[CeReSu]

She’s speaking like it will be her last live before announcing she is retiring…

[axmish87]

There isn't a hint of mystery or vagueness here in this TA post.
The post on IG is sounding so dire and here she is being "yeah , all is cool , DM me what song would you like to hear in April.
Girl, you just started a timer for who knows what.
Oh, well, I guess we will know come April.
Damn.

[greggerz189]

Well, shit. I guess all good things come to an end, but wow, I was just saying the other day that Ayu will go on making music and playing shows until she’s 90 years old. I didn’t think she’d retire. It’s the “first and last big news” part she posted in English on Instagram that’s really throwing me. Guess we’ll have to see in a few months.

If she does retire, though, I hope she plays a dome or stadium because those shows will sell out and she’ll need a lot of seats for people who want to see her, myself included.

It’d be really lonely if she retires, but if it’s what she wants, then I fully support it. She’s a mom now, so much has changed in the world, she’s done more than enough in terms of her impact on Japanese popular music. Ayu, you don’t owe anybody anything—love you always!

[Mirrorcle_Star]

Omg it sounds like retiring… what could it be if not?
I haven’t seen her live yet. I was thinking about going to that concert but i was hoping for a tour this year and going to a later date so I can save a bit more of money. But maybe there wont be any more lives this year…

[YUKARI]

no way she announces the retirement my heart's broken

why would she say "the last big news"?!

[ayu_fantasy]

Totally, I haven’t seen her live yet. Omg, my heart stopped!

[280301]

I'll be sad if Ayu retires, but also extremely happy for her - she's been working a long time, and I am in awe of how she has maintained her passion for music and performance for twenty-five years, especially with all the hardships she has endured.

I'll be interested to see how she words her retirement message though - I think she'll leave room for a comeback someday. I think it's more likely she will announce an "indefinite hiatus" than an absolute retirement, but we will see!

[tokyoxjapanxfan]

I don’t know, part of me doesn’t think Ayu would dangle that possibility of news over her fans for 4 months.

It could simply be the Asia tour being set up again.

[ayu_fantasy]

Originally Posted by tokyoxjapanxfan

I don’t know, part of me doesn’t think Ayu would dangle that possibility of news over her fans for 4 months.

It could simply be the Asia tour being set up again.

Maybe. But wonder how possible could it be?

[Zeke.]

The part about not having finished discussing the “method and timing properly with various parties yet” leads me to believe it has something to do with venues for a tour internationally.

A Japanese fan on Twitter said if it’s positive news (and not full/semi-retirement related) it could be related to an addition to a tour or the commencement of a new one.

I’m gonna go way out and say it’s the first and last time she will include tour dates outside of Asia (which would mean the “globe” she sang upon during her last tour would come to serve as a bit of foreshadowing).

[SunshineSlayer]

Originally Posted by Zeke.

The part about not having finished discussing the “method and timing properly with various parties yet” leads me to believe it has something to do with venues for a tour internationally.

A Japanese fan on Twitter said if it’s positive news (and not full/semi-retirement related) it could be related to an addition to a tour or the commencement of a new one.

I’m gonna go way out and say it’s the first and last time she will include tour dates outside of Asia (which would mean the “globe” she sang upon during her last tour would come to serve as a bit of foreshadowing).

Yeah, I'm thinking and hoping it's something more like this. I honestly can't imagine Ayu retiring. I feel like she'll be like Seiko Matsuda, just endlessly performing. She loves it too much.

[visionfactory]

She wrote it in english so it is intended to foreign fans? Avex announced their global expansion years ago and nothing happened because of pandemic. They aimed to be "bigger than BTS with the names such as Ayumi Hamasaki". Also, Max produced an album for Ayu in USA years ago too. Maybe the announcement will be Ayu's "Exodus" album (Like Utada). I don't see Ayu retiring before 30th anniversary.

[love in music]

Originally Posted by truehappiness

I saw a lot of JP fans saying that it doesn't make sense since she wouldn't want to sour TA's mood after 25th anni, so it's probably something else... maybe she is hopping to her own label?

I would actually love to see this.

Originally Posted by Andrenekoi

I always find it very funny how Ayu fandom always take whatever she says to the most tragic interpretation

Considering her historic, this could pretty much be something completely stupid like a 25th anni calendar or some shit like that.

Right? I honestly feel like it is possible it could be something like this lol

[CeReSu]

I would prefer this kind of news, Imagine she's doing a world tour, I would do everything to see her live once again (had the chance to see her in Tokyo back in 2010)

Wait and See...

[ayu_fantasy]

Let’s hope an Asia tour. Instead of retirement

[truehappiness]

Apparently her word choice for "浜崎あゆみからの報告" is uncharacteristic for most of these announcements?

[Corvina]

Originally Posted by truehappiness

Apparently her word choice for "浜崎あゆみからの報告" is uncharacteristic for most of these announcements?

Yeah, 報告 is something like a (status) report, which does make it sound like she's going to give an update on herself in Japanese.
For announcements for tours and other career related stuff they usually use words like 発表, 告知 or 解禁 or the like.

[Deep snow]

Originally Posted by Corvina

Yeah, 報告 is something like a (status) report, which does make it sound like she's going to give an update on herself in Japanese.
For announcements for tours and other career related stuff they usually use words like 発表, 告知 or 解禁 or the like.

thank you for this very important context!

[Sim']

Oh my, I just read her instagram post... Is this really happening ? =(
This post screams "RETIREMENT" to me, no matter how hard I can try to deny it...
Wait & see but prepare yourself...