Namie Amuro
Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox person Namie Amuro (Template:IPAc-en Template:Respell; Template:Langx; born September 20, 1977) is a retired Japanese singer. She rose to prominence as a teen idol, and transitioned into a leading pop artist due to her versatility across music styles and visual presentation. Due to her career reinventions and longevity, she is known as an icon across Japan and Asia.<ref name="theokinawanheroes">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="newsfromJapan">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> She has been referred to as the "Queen of Japanese Pop", and her influence domestically has drawn comparisons to artists such as Janet Jackson and Madonna in Western pop culture.<ref name="washington">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Oahu">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Born in Naha, Okinawa, Amuro debuted as the lead singer of the idol group Super Monkey's in 1992 when she was 14 years old. Despite early sales disappointments, Amuro's rising popularity helped to score a major hit with the 1995 Eurobeat single "Try Me (Watashi o Shinjite)".<ref name="Try Me">Template:Cite AV media notes</ref><ref name="Japan Record Awards">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Dave Rodgers">Template:Cite web</ref> Signing to Avex Trax for her solo career, Amuro catapulted to fame with a string of number one singles including "Chase the Chance" and "Don't Wanna Cry". A close partnership with renowned producer Tetsuya Komuro resulted in a dance-pop sound with Western influences. Her first four releases, including Sweet 19 Blues (1996) and Concentration 20 (1997), each received multi-million certifications. Her 1997 single "Can You Celebrate?" remains as the best selling single by a solo female artist in Japanese music history.<ref name="Best 30">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Gold Album 1997">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name="Gold Album 1998">Template:Cite journal</ref>
In the early 2000s, "Never End" became Amuro's last successful single before a decline in sales, and her music began evolving from pop to R&B as she reined in creative control of her career. This transition was marked by the Suite Chic project in 2002 and her sixth studio album Style (2003). Amuro's eighth studio album, Play (2007), with the hit single "Baby Don't Cry", began a period of commercial resurgence. Her comeback was solidified with the 2008 single "60s 70s 80s" and its parent release Best Fiction. She continued to experiment musically in the 2010s, dabbling in EDM and recording in English, beginning with her tenth studio album Uncontrolled (2012). It featured the million-certified single "Love Story". She later founded her own management company, Stella88, and record label, Dimension Point.
Amuro finished her career with the 2017 greatest hits album Finally, which became the best selling album of the decade and made her the only artist to achieve a million-seller in each of their teens, 20s, 30s and 40s.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> She officially retired from the music industry on September 16, 2018. As it coincided with the closure of the Heisei era (1989–2019), she became labelled as the representative "Heisei diva" with many calling it the "end of an era", in both senses.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Having sold more than 40 million records, Amuro is recognized as one of the best-selling artists in Japan by Oricon.<ref name="sales">Template:Cite web</ref> She has received accolades from the Japan Record Awards, Japan Gold Disc Awards, MTV Video Music Awards Japan and the World Music Awards.
Life and career
1977–1995: Early life and career beginnings
Namie Amuro was born on September 20, 1977, at Okinawa Red Cross Hospital in Naha, Okinawa.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> She is one of four children of Emiko Taira.<ref name="Tragedy">Template:Cite web</ref> Through her mother, Amuro is a quarter Italian.<ref name="Everlasting Diva">Template:Cite webTemplate:Dead linkTemplate:Cbignore</ref><ref name="Japan Zone">Template:Cite web</ref> Having divorced when Amuro was only 4 years old, Taira raised her children solely in Okinawa – she worked as a nursery school employee and a bar hostess to support her family.<ref name="Dramatic Life">Template:Cite web</ref> Although Amuro had no ambition to become a singer, she was discovered at age 12, while visiting a friend.<ref name="Japan Zone"/><ref name="Dramatic Life"/> One year later, Amuro was scouted by Masayuki Makino, the owner of Okinawa Actors School, and eventually she was enrolled there.<ref name="Everlasting Diva"/><ref name="Japan Zone"/><ref name="Gotouchi Idol - Super Monkey's">Template:Cite web</ref> In 1991, Makino placed her in an idol group named Super Monkey's, with four other girls: Anna Makino, Hisako Arakaki, Minako Ameku and Nanako Takushi.<ref name="Gotouchi Idol - Super Monkey's"/><ref name="Tower Records - Super Monkey's">Template:Cite web</ref> The sixth member, Rino Nakasone, joined the group one year later.<ref name="Gotouchi Idol - Super Monkey's"/> On September 16, 1992, Super Monkey's released their debut single, "Koi no Cute Beat/Mr USA".<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref> However, Anna Makino left the group at the end of that year.<ref name="Gotouchi Idol - Super Monkey's"/><ref name="Tower Records - Super Monkey's"/> In 1993, the remaining members of Super Monkey's moved to Tokyo.<ref name="Japan Zone"/><ref name="Gotouchi Idol - Super Monkey's"/>
Super Monkey's did not gain much success and the group went through constant lineup changes.<ref name="Gotouchi Idol - Super Monkey's"/><ref name="Tower Records - Super Monkey's"/> In 1994, the group changed their name to Namie Amuro with Super Monkey's to reflect Amuro's rising popularity as an upcoming actress and fashion model.<ref name="Everlasting Diva"/><ref name="Japan Zone"/><ref name="Tower Records - Super Monkey's"/> Aside from group's musical activities, Amuro had bit parts in Japanese television series and small films. Super Monkey's experienced a large amount of success with their single "Try Me (Watashi o Shinjite)", produced by Italian eurobeat producer Dave Rodgers, and Japanese businessman Max Matsuura.<ref name="Try Me"/><ref name="Japan Record Awards"/><ref name="Dave Rodgers"/> Released on January 25, 1995, the song reached number eight on the Oricon Singles Chart, and stayed in the top 200 chart for 25 weeks.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Despite the beginning success as a group, the other four members of the Super Monkey's formed their own sub-group, MAX, under the Japanese record label Avex Trax.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> As a result, Amuro released two more solo singles under Toshiba-EMI before moving to Avex Trax herself.<ref name="hmv">Template:Cite web</ref>
After signing with Avex Trax in 1995, the corresponding record company Avex Group enlisted Japanese musician Tetsuya Komuro to work with Amuro on her then-upcoming album. Amuro made her solo debut with Avex, releasing the single "Body Feels Exit" on October 25, 1995.<ref name="Body Feels Exit (1)">Template:Cite AV media notes</ref><ref name="Body Feels Exit (2)">Template:Cite web</ref> It became a huge success in Japan, peaking at number three on the Oricon Singles Chart and sold over 882,000 units in Japan.<ref name="sales"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> Amuro's second single with Komuro, "Chase the Chance", became her first number-one single on the Oricon Singles Chart and her first single to sell over 1 million units in Japan.<ref name="sales"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> For Amuro's success with those singles, she won the Golden Arrow Award in 1995.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
1996–1998: Sweet 19 Blues, Concentration 20, pregnancy, marriage, breakthrough, 181920 and motherhood
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After a brief hiatus, Amuro released two more singles in 1996: "Don't Wanna Cry" and "You're My Sunshine". Both singles were successful in Japan, bringing her second and third consecutive number one singles, and both sold over one million units there.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> Amuro achieved huge success after the release of her first solo studio album, Sweet 19 Blues (1996). Released on July 22, it reached number one on the Oricon Albums Chart in Japan, and has sold over 3.6 million units.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name="allmusic1996">Template:Cite web</ref> She released the album's final single, the title track, on August 21, 1996; it achieved success by peaking at number two on the Oricon Singles Chart, and shifted over 400,000 units in Japan.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> On November 27, 1996, she started work on her second solo studio album with Komuro, and released its lead single "A Walk in the Park".<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref> It gave Amuro her fourth number one single on the Oricon Singles Chart, and her fourth single to sell over one million units there.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> At the end of 1996, she was awarded the Grand Prix Award for her song "Don't Wanna Cry", the highest honor at the Japan Record Awards, making her the youngest artist to have won the award.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On February 19, 1997, she released her single "Can You Celebrate?", which became her fifth number one single.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The single became a huge success in Japan, eventually selling 2,750,000 units there,<ref name="sales"/> making it the best-selling single by a solo female artist in Japan.<ref name="Best 30"/><ref name="Gold Album 1997"/><ref name="Gold Album 1998"/> After releasing her sixth consecutive number one single "How to Be a Girl" on May 21, 1997, Amuro released her second album Concentration 20 in July of that year.<ref name="concentration20">Template:Cite AV media notes</ref><ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref> It became her third number one album in Japan, and sold over 1.9 million units there.<ref name="sales"/><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> For additional promotion, she embarked her Concentration 20 Dome Tour in Japan, which achieved commercial success.<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref> By early August 1997, the total sales of Amuro's records reached 20 million units in Japan.<ref name="hmv"/> During a press conference on October 22 of that year, Amuro confirmed her marriage to Japanese musician and TRF band member Masaharu "Sam" Maruyama. During the conference, she announced that she was three months pregnant with their first child.<ref name="shotgun">Template:Cite webTemplate:Dead link</ref><ref name="lightningstrikesonce">Template:Cite web</ref> At the end of the year, she won the Grand Prix Award at the Japan Record Awards again for "Can You Celebrate?"<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and made her final appearance on the annual Japanese television music show 48th Kōhaku Uta Gassen before beginning her one-year hiatus from the music industry.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> She legally changed her name to Namie Maruyama, but continued to use her maiden name as her professional name.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Amuro's first compilation album, 181920, was released on January 28, 1998, and covers twelve singles which were released prior to her hiatus.<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref> The total sales of the album were around 2 million units in Japan.<ref name="sales"/> Four months later, on May 19, Amuro gave birth to her son, Haruto Maruyama at Maruyama Memorial General Hospital.<ref name="Haruto Maruyama">Template:Cite web</ref> She returned to the music industry by releasing the single "I Have Never Seen" on December 23, 1998.<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref> It became her eighth number one single on Oricon, and sold over 650,000 units in Japan.<ref name="sales"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> She made her first televised appearance on 49th Kōhaku Uta Gassen days later, performing a tearful rendition of her single "Can You Celebrate?".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
1999–2001: Personal struggles, Genius 2000 and Break the Rules
Working on the album Genius 2000 with Komuro and American producer Dallas Austin,<ref name="genius2000">Template:Cite AV media notes</ref> after releasing its first single "I Have Never Seen" in 1998, Amuro released its second single "Respect the Power of Love" on March 17, 1999.<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref> On the same day, news publications in Amuro's hometown, Okinawa, reported that her mother, Emiko Taira, had been murdered.<ref name="Tragedy"/> According to staff editors at The Japan Times, Emiko and her second husband, Tatsunobu Taira, were hit by an axe, owned by Kenji Taira, Emiko's ex-husband's brother.<ref name="Tragedy"/> While her second husband survived with moderate injuries, Emiko was taken to hospital, and pronounced dead after noon on March 17.<ref name="Tragedy"/> Kenji was then found dead in his car, after consuming insecticide.<ref name="Tragedy"/> Upon hearing the news, Amuro postponed all promotional activities and flew back to Okinawa in order to identify her mother's body.<ref name="Tragedy"/> A week later, the single debuted at the number two on the Oricon Singles Chart, beaten by the single "Dango 3 Kyodai".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> A third single, "Toi et Moi", was used for the Japanese animation movie Pokémon: The Movie 2000.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Both singles proved successful, selling over 400,000 and 200,000 units in that region, respectively.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> Amuro made her first single debut with Austin on "Something 'Bout the Kiss", released on September 1, 1999.<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref> It became a success in Japan, reaching number three on the Oricon Singles Chart and sold over 390,000 units there.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> In January 2000, Amuro released her fourth studio album Genius 2000; it reached number one on the Oricon Albums Chart, and shifted over 800,000 units there.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> That same month, Amuro confirmed her separation from husband Masaharu.<ref name="shotgun"/> For the first half of 2000, Amuro embarked on her Genius 2000 Tour throughout Japan.<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref> She then released the single "Never End", in July, confirming work on her fifth studio album with Komuro and Austin. The single was used as part of the G8 Summit taking place in Okinawa, Japan that year.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> It was commissioned by late Prime Minister Keizō Obuchi, who asked Tetsuya Komuro to write a song conveying "a vision of harmony and interaction in the world in the 21st century".<ref name="okinawasummit">Template:Cite web</ref> Obuchi later asked Amuro to perform the single at the summit.<ref name="timesokinawa">Template:Cite news</ref>
Amuro's fifth studio album Break the Rules was released on December 20, 2000, and is her final full-length produced album with Komuro.<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref> It became her first studio album to miss the top spot, peaking at number two on the Oricon Albums Chart. Amuro's sales started to decline from this release, as the album only shifted 335,000 units in Japan.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> To promote the studio album, Amuro toured Japan in March 2001, and finished in May that same year.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In August, she released the single "Say the Word"; it was her first single that she contributed to songwriting.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> This was her first single to be released after departing with Komuro, until years later, and was released in part of her upcoming greatest hits album.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Since then, she started to produce her own activities. However, in December she worked with Komuro for the last time on "Lovin' It", a single released as part of Avex's Song+Nation charity project. The single featured Japanese rapper Verbal from the music group M-Flo.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2002–2004: Love Enhanced Single Collection, decline in sales and popularity, Suite Chic project and Style
Amuro released her second compilation album, Love Enhanced Single Collection, on March 13, 2002.<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref> The album reworked nearly every single released after her return from hiatus in 1998, with new vocals, mixes or rearrangements.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The single "I Will" was released a month before the album and became Amuro's first single below 100,000 units in sales.<ref name="sales"/> Although the album was moderately successful, peaking at number three and shifting over 300,000 units, it only sold a fraction of its predecessor 181920 (1998).<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> In July 2002, Amuro divorced Maruyama, and legally changed her name back to Namie Amuro, having cited irreconcilable differences. According to reports, her divorce was due to her personal issues with Maruyama's family.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Retrospectively, The Times attributed her loss in popularity during this era to the attention surrounding her personal struggles, while The Japan Times cited the rise of newer artists Hikaru Utada and Ayumi Hamasaki, who achieved great success in the wake of her hiatus.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In a 2005 interview, Amuro said: "Even my closest friend said I was finished, but I think I may be a little different from the others. My popularity plunged three years ago and I didn’t try to court publicity. It was a real challenge forcing myself to be consistent in not playing up to my fans."<ref name=":0" /> Amuro started work on her sixth studio and third collaboration album with Dallas Austin, releasing Diane Warren-written single "Wishing on the Same Star" on September 11, 2002.<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref> The single saw a large slip in Amuro's sales, only shifting 95,000 units by the end of the year.<ref name="sales"/> In December 2002, Amuro was part of the musical project Suite Chic, involving several Japanese artists like Verbal, Zeebra, Dabo and DJ Muro.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The project released two singles, one studio album and one remix album before dissolution in 2003.<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref><ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref><ref name="bounce 2008">Template:Cite web</ref>
Amuro returned to solo activities in mid-2003, releasing the singles "Shine More", "Put 'Em Up", and the double A-side singles: "So Crazy" and "Come". The single's saw an exploration of westernised musical styles with American producers, including R&B producers Full Force and the work of Austin.<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref> "Come" was used for the Japanese anime InuYasha,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and is a re-arranged song that was originally recorded by Australian recording artist and TV personality Sophie Monk.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> At the end of the year, she released her sixth studio album and first album in three years, Style.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The album became her lowest chart album on the Oricon Albums Chart, peaking at number four. It is also her lowest selling studio album, shifting only 222,000 units in that region.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> To promote the studio album, Amuro conducted her So Crazy Tour Featuring Best Singles on November 29.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The tour concluded in Japan on April 11, 2004.<ref>Template:Cite webTemplate:Dead linkTemplate:Cbignore</ref> She extended the concert tour, marked as a promotional appearance, in Taiwan,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and South Korea.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Shortly after the tour, she released the single "All for You" on July 22, 2004, confirming work on her seventh studio album.<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref> This was followed by the double A-side single "Girl Talk" and "Girl Talk/The Speed Star", released on October 14, 2004.<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref> It was successful in Japan, peaking at number two, and sold over 107,000 units in that region; it became her first top three single in two years.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Amuro decided not to appear on 55th Kōhaku Uta Gassen, although she had been invited to perform at the event.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> She had previously attended the event nine years in a row.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2005–2006: Queen of Hip-Pop and expansion into Asia
In April 2005, Amuro released the single "Want Me, Want Me".<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref> The song was a success in Japan, reaching number two on Oricon Singles Chart, and sold over 103,000 units in that region.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In May, following a three-year split from Maruyama, Japanese publications reported that she would take back full custody of their child, Haruto.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In August, she was granted full custody of Haruto with visitation rights by Maruyama.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On May 29, Amuro performed at MTV Video Music Awards Japan for the fourth consecutive year in a row. She won two awards, "Best R&B Video" and "Most Impressive Performing Asian Artist", making her the first artist to win MTV VMAJ awards four years in a row (she won "Inspiration Award" in 2002, "Best Collaboration" in 2003 and "Best R&B Video" in 2004).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web Internet Archive copy.</ref> Amuro released her seventh studio album Queen of Hip-Pop in July 2005.<ref name="Queen of Hip-Pop">Template:Cite AV media notes</ref> The album includes four singles: "Alarm", "All For You", "Girl Talk/The Speed Star" and "Want Me, Want Me".<ref name="Queen of Hip-Pop"/> Queen of Hip-Pop was a success, reaching number two on the Oricon Albums Chart, and sold over 455,000 units in Japan.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In collaboration with MGM Studios, Amuro was granted permission to use Pink Panther in the album. A female panther counterpart was created for the album as well.<ref>Template:Cite web Internet Archive copy.</ref> Both panther characters appeared in the music video of "WoWa".<ref name="8 things to know">Template:Cite magazine</ref> In September 2005, Amuro embarked on her Space of Hip-Hop concert tour in Japan.<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref> Shortly after the commencement of the tour, she announced that she would contribute to the Japanese theatrical release of the film Sin City (2005). After viewing the movie, Amuro made an offer to the Japanese distribution company to sing its theme song; the company, feeling that her image fit the movie, accepted her offer.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The theme song, "Violet Sauce", was later released as part of a double A-side single, "White Light/Violet Sauce", in November 2005.<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref> It achieved moderate success in Japan, reaching number seven on the Oricon Singles Chart, and sold over 72,000 units there.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The movie's director, Robert Rodriguez, was impressed by the song and asked to be a part of it; he can be heard saying "Welcome to Sin City" towards the end of the song.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Shortly after the single, she released Filmography 2001–2005' (2006), a compilation of twelve of her music videos between the years 2001 to 2005.<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref> Amuro collaborated with Japanese recording artists Zeebra, Ai, and Mummy-D on Zeebra's album, The New Beginning, released in February 2006, in a song called "Do What U Gotta Do".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In May, she released the double A-side single "Can't Sleep, Can't Eat, I'm Sick/Ningyo", which peaked at number two on the Oricon Singles Chart and shifted over 80,000 units in Japan.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In August 2006, Amuro conducted her first annual tour Best Tour Live Style 2006, spanning between August and November 2006.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Released in February 2007,<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref> the Live DVD of the tour was placed on the second position by Oricon.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Its total sales exceeded 90,000 units in Japan.<ref name="sales"/>
2007–2009: Resurgence of sales, revived popularity, Play, Best Fiction and Past<Future
Amuro released the third single from her upcoming eight studio album, "Baby Don't Cry" on January 24, 2007; it was used as the theme song for the Japanese television series Himitsu no Hanazono.<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref> It was successful in Japan, reaching number three on the Oricon Singles Chart, and sold over 144,000 units in that region, her highest selling single since "Say the Word".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Based on ringtone sales, it became her first single to shift over one million units since "How to Be a Girl".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Alongside this, she achieved the distinction in having a top ten single each year for 13 consecutive years, breaking the solo female artist's record in Japan by Kyōko Koizumi and Shizuka Kudō.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> At the end of 2007, it ranked at number seven on the RIAJ yearly ringtone sales charts.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> She then released the fourth and final single, "Funky Town", on April 4, 2007.<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref> It achieved moderate success on the Oricon Singles Chart, peaking at number seven, and shifted over 54,000 units.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> She was also featured on Japanese group, M-Flo's album, Cosmicolor, in a song titled "Luvotomy".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Her eighth studio album, Play, was released on June 27, 2007.<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref> The album charted atop of the Oricon Albums Chart, becoming Amuro's first number-one album in more than 7 years.<ref name="PLAY (album)">Template:Cite web</ref> To promote the album, Amuro conducted her concert tour in Japan, titled Play Tour 2007, spanning between August 18, 2007, and February 27, 2008.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Originally consisting of 53 performances, it increased by 12 performances to 65 performances, making this Amuro's longest spanning tour.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On the day when Play Tour 2007 concluded, Amuro released the Live DVD of the tour.<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref> It was placed on the second position by Oricon.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In early 2008, Amuro confirmed that she would promote Japanese hair company Vidal Sassoon through their new marketing campaign Fashion x Music x VS, with a new single.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The single, though marketed as an extended play, was titled 60s 70s 80s, and consisted of three songs: "New Look", "Rock Steady", and "What A Feeling".<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref> The songs feature samples from The Supremes's "Baby Love" (1964), Aretha Franklin's "Rock Steady" (1971) and Irene Cara's "What A Feeling" (1983), respectively.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 60s 70s 80s became a huge success in Japan, reaching number one on the Oricon Singles Chart, and sold over 293,000 units in that region, becoming Amuro's first number-one single since "I Have Never Seen" and her highest selling single since "Baby Don't Cry".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On March 25, 2008, Amuro was awarded "Best Female Video" for "Hide & Seek" (from the album Play) at Space Shower Music Video Awards.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> "Hide & Seek" also won the award for "Best R&B Video" at MTV Video Music Awards, which was held at the Saitama Super Arena on May 31.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In the same month, Amuro recorded a collaboration with Japanese musician Double in a song called "Black Diamond".<ref name="R&B queen">Template:Cite web</ref> Despite lacklustre success on the Oricon Singles Chart, it sold over 500,000 ringtone units.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On July 26, Amuro participated at the 2008 A-nation music concert; an estimated 25,000 people attended her performance.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> This was the first time she was invited to perform in seven years.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On July 30, she released her third greatest hits album, Best Fiction.<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref> Featuring tracks between 2003 and 2008, Best Fiction sold 681,000 copies in the first week and debuted at number one on the Oricon Albums Chart.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Within its third week, Best Fiction sold over one million units, making her the first artist to have one million certified album in three consecutive decades.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Best Fiction eventually spent six consecutive weeks at the number-one position, becoming the first album to do so in more than 14 years since the Dreams Come True's 1993 album Magic.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> By the end of 2008, Best Fiction became the second best-selling album behind Exile's Exile Love.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In addition, it became the second best selling digital-format album by a Japanese artist behind Hikaru Utada's Heart Station.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Best Fiction was awarded the Album of the Year award at the 50th Japan Record Awards.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> To promote the album, Amuro conducted her Best Fiction Tour, spanning between October 25, 2008, and July 12, 2009.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Live DVD and Blu-ray of the tour were released on September 9, 2009.<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref> Amuro was invited again to the 59th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen, but she declined.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
On January 20, 2009, Amuro begun working on her ninth studio album, and featured a new track entitled "Dr." through a Vidal Sassoon commercial.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> She then released the album's lead double A-side singles, "Wild/Dr.," on March 18, 2009.<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref> The song was a success, peaking at number one on the Oricon Singles Chart, and sold over 119,000 units in that region.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> As a result, she also broke her own record of having all of her singles debut in the top 10 (on the Oricon Daily Singles Chart) for the last 15 years.<ref name="namienewsnetwork.blogspot.com">Template:Cite web</ref> Amuro collaborated with Japanese music group Ravex on a song for their album Trax (2008), entitled "Rock U". On October 1, Vidal Sassoon released new commercials featuring Amuro, and two tracks from her ninth studio album, "My Love" and "Copy That".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On December 16, 2009, Amuro released her ninth studio album, Past<Future.<ref name="oops">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="sunnymisaki">Template:Cite web</ref> The album was a success on the Oricon Albums Chart, reaching number one, and sold over 600,000 units in that region, slightly higher than the sales of Play.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2010–2012: Award at WMA 2010, Checkmate!, Uncontrolled and 20th anniversary commemoration
To promote Past<Future, Amuro travelled throughout 26 cities in Japan to conduct her Past<Future Tour 2010, which began on April 3, 2010, in Ichihara, Chiba and concluded on December 15, 2010, in Nagoya, Aichi.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On the day when Past<Future Tour 2010 ended, Amuro released the Live DVD and Blu-ray of the tour, which reached the top spot on the Oricon DVD charts and shifted over 100,000 copies.<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref> On May 18, 2010, Amuro won the Best Asian Artist award at World Music Awards in Monte Carlo, Monaco.<ref name="WMA 2010">Template:Cite web</ref> There, she performed her track "Hide & Seek" from her album Play.<ref name="WMA 2010"/> Two months later, she released her double A-side single "Break It/Get Myself Back", which performed well on several record charts in Japan.<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On December 15, 2010, together with the premiere of Live DVD and Blu-ray of Past<Future Tour 2010, the Blu-rays of Space of Hip-Pop, BEST Tour Live Style 2006 and PLAY Tour 2007 were also released.<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref><ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref><ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref>
On April 27, 2011, Amuro published her fifth compilation and second collaboration album Checkmate!, her first musical release of the year.<ref name="Checkmate!">Template:Cite AV media notes</ref> The album featured nine collaborative tracks Amuro had participated in throughout her career and four new recordings: "Wonder Woman", "Make It Happen", "Unusual" and "#1".<ref name="Checkmate!"/> Checkmate! was a commercial success, reaching the top spot on Oricon and distributed over 500,000 units in Japan.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On July 27, Amuro released her first triple A-side single, "Naked/Fight Together/Tempest".<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref> Although it reached number two on Oricon Singles Chart,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> "Fight Together" was used as the theme song of the anime series One Piece.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> "Naked/Fight Together/Tempest" achieved better sales through digital store and certified double platinum by RIAJ.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> At the end of July 2011, Amuro conducted her first arena tour Live Style 2011 to promote Checkmate! and some new materials taken from her then-upcoming studio record.<ref name="Live Style 2011">Template:Cite AV media notes</ref> "Sit! Stay! Wait! Down!/Love Story" was the next double A-side single from Amuro's upcoming studio album, released on December 7, 2011.<ref name="Love Story">Template:Cite AV media notes</ref> While the physical release of the single exceeded 100,000 units in Japan,<ref name="sales"/> "Love Story" shifted over 3 million digital copies throughout Japan, becoming one of Amuro's highest-selling singles to date.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> The single also featured two unreleased tracks: "Higher" and "Arigatou".<ref name="Love Story"/> "Higher" made an appearance on her Live Style 2011,<ref name="Live Style 2011"/> whereas "Arigatou" was made available as a free download on Amuro's official Facebook page.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Live DVD and Blu-ray of the tour were released on December 21, 2011.<ref name="Live Style 2011"/>
The final single, "Go Round/Yeah-Oh!", was released on March 21, 2012, and continued the 100,000 sales streak in Japan.<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref> In April, the singer confirmed the release of her 10th studio and first bilingual album Uncontrolled, which premiered on June 27, 2012.<ref name="Uncontrolled">Template:Cite AV media notes</ref> The album proved to be commercially successful, reaching the top spot on the Oricon Albums Chart and shifted 500,000 units throughout Japan.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Uncontrolled also gave her the highest first-week sales of the year, and her 10th overall number one in the region.<ref name="oriconnews1">Template:Cite web</ref> On September 16, Amuro was scheduled to host a special concert tour in her hometown Okinawa, commemorating her 20th anniversary in the music business. However, due to typhoon warnings in the region, the tour was cancelled and never rescheduled.<ref name="oriconnews1"/> After debuting her first digital single "Damage" on October 31,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Amuro finished the year by conducting her 5 Major Domes Tour 2012 in Japan, spanning between November 24 and December 21, 2012, attended by around 340,000 people.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Released on February 27, 2013,<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref> the Live DVD and Blu-ray of the tour were placed on the first position by Oricon.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Their total sales exceeded 300,000 units in Japan.<ref name="sales"/>
2013–2015: Feel, Ballada and Genic
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On March 6, 2013, Amuro released her double A-side single "Big Boys Cry/Beautiful".<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref> Although both tracks appeared in the commercials for the make-up brand Kosé, its commercial experience resulted in being the singer's worst-performing single to date, barely shifting 30,000 units in Japan.<ref name="sales"/> Amuro returned to sole-digital releases with her single "Contrail", which was used as the theme song for the Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS) series Flying Public Relations Office, and sold over 250,000 digital copies in Japan. Additionally, two more songs were released on the iTunes Store to promote her then-upcoming album: "Hands on Me" and "Heaven".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On July 10, 2013, Amuro released her 11th studio and second bilingual album Feel.<ref name="FEEL">Template:Cite AV media notes</ref> This was her first studio release through her own record label Dimension Point, which was operated under Avex Trax. Despite offering the track "Beautiful" as a single, it did not appeal on the final track list of the album.<ref name="FEEL"/> It was commercially successful on the Oricon Albums Chart,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> debuting at the top spot and was certified platinum by RIAJ.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In support of the album, Amuro conducted her FEEL Tour 2013, spanning between August 16 and December 23, 2013.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Live DVD and Blu-ray of the tour were released on February 26, 2014.<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref> During the course of Amuro's digital releases, she was offered to feature in the remake of "Waterfalls", a song originally recorded by American girl-group TLC. Amuro—who knew the group during the singer's sessions with producer Dallas Austin, and whose fellow Okinawa Actors School alumni Speed had been huge fans of TLC—accepted the role, and re-recorded the rap segment as a homage to previous member Lisa 'Left Eye' Lopes, who had died in a car accident in La Ceiba, Honduras in 2002. Despite being a Japan-only release, Amuro's version was criticized due to the announcement of her involvement without the knowledge of Lopes' family, though Lopes' sister later stated she had no objections to Amuro's inclusion.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> However, TLC defended Amuro's involvement as neither member had access to Lopes' master recording rights and they "were forced to use creative ways to honor Lisa's memory and celebrate this milestone with the fans".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In 2014, Amuro released her single "Tsuki", including the title track and two previous digital compositions – "Ballerina" and "Neonlight Lipstick".<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The physical single was successful in sales, while the title song achieved a platinum award by the RIAJ.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On June 4, 2014, Amuro released Ballada, her first conceptual greatest hits compilation.<ref name="Ballada (album)">Template:Cite AV media notes</ref> 15 tracks were all selected via a fan poll on the singer's website, and a few selection were re-recorded with new vocals and arrangements by Amuro.<ref name="Ballada (album)"/> Additionally, a bonus DVD package included new music videos for her 1990's singles "Sweet 19 Blues" and "Can You Celebrate?", and two newly established videos for "Himawari" and "Four Seasons".<ref name="Ballada (album)"/> It was placed on the first position by Oricon,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and shifted under 500,000 units in Japan.<ref name="sales"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In support of the album, Amuro conducted her second nationwide tour Live Style 2014, spanning between August 22 and December 23, 2014.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Live DVD and Blu-ray of the tour were released on February 11, 2015, through her label Dimension Point.<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref> In November 2014, Amuro released her first stand-alone single titled "Brighter Day", which featured a total of three different tracks and instrumentals.<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref> It was moderately successful on the Oricon Singles Chart,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> whereas the titular track sold over 250,000 digital copies in Japan.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> That same month, Amuro collaborated with Taiwanese singer Jolin Tsai on a song titled "I'm Not Yours", which was released as a track on Tsai's album Play (2014).<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref> The music video of the song was published on YouTube on February 2, 2015.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
On June 10, 2015, Amuro released her 12th studio and third bilingual album Genic.<ref name="Genic">Template:Cite AV media notes</ref> It marked her first record with her own management company Stella88, which she founded after leaving Vision Factory.<ref name="Stella88">Template:Cite web</ref> Despite there being five music videos from the record, the entire collection of tracks were newly recorded and featured no singles.<ref name="Genic"/> However, it was a commercial success, peaking atop of Oricon Albums Chart and sold 250,000 copies in Japan alone.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In collaboration with Google, the music video of "Anything", one of the songs from Genic, was produced as an extension of Google Chrome.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> To promote the album, Amuro conducted her Livegenic 2015–2016 tour, spanning between September 5, 2015, and February 10, 2016.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> During the course of her December concert dates, Amuro released her second independent maxi-single "Red Carpet" on December 2, 2015.<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref> The B-side track of the single, "Black Make Up", was used as the ending soundtrack of the anime series One Piece.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Despite reaching number two on Oricon Singles Chart,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> the sales of "Red Carpet" slumped and only shifted 36,000 units in Japan, making it one of Amuro's lowest-selling singles to date.<ref name="sales"/> The Live DVD and Blu-ray of LIVEGENIC 2015–2016 were released on March 2, 2016.<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref>
2016–2018: Return of maxi-single releases, 25th anniversary commemoration, Finally and retirement
On May 18, 2016, Amuro released her third independent maxi-single "Mint",<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref> which was used as the theme song of Fuji TV series Bokuno Yabai Tsuma (2016).<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Despite reaching number four on the region's single chart,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> the digital sales skyrocketed with the music video of the song, and achieved platinum status months later.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The same year in June, Amuro accepted an offer by NHK to record the theme song for the Japanese broadcast of 2016 Summer Olympics and Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The single was titled "Hero" and saw a rise in its physical sales, achieving a gold certification by RIAJ.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On October 26, 2016, Amuro released two songs "Dear Diary" and "Fighter" as a double A-side single "Dear Diary/Fighter".<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref> Both songs were used in Death Note: Light Up the New World, a 2016 movie adaption of the manga of the same name.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Amuro conducted her fourth annual tour Live Style 2016–2017, spanning between August 19, 2016, and May 3, 2017.<ref name="Live Style 2016–2017">Template:Cite news</ref> The tour initially scheduled 88 dates, but due to a higher demand and further promotional activities with singles and the unreleased track "Christmas Wish", Amuro added 13 dates.<ref name="Live Style 2016–2017"/><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The Live DVD and Blu-ray of the tour were released on May 3, 2017, and certified gold by RIAJ.<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref> On May 31, 2017, Amuro released her single "Just You and I",<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref> which sold over 100,000 digital units according to RIAJ.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The following month, Amuro announced her 25th anniversary concert in her hometown Okinawa, which redeemed her cancelled 20th anniversary concert on September 16, 2012, due to typhoon warnings in the region.<ref name="25th Anniversary (1)">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="25th Anniversary (2)">Template:Cite web</ref> She opened the show on September 16 and 17, with 52,000 attenders totally (26,000 attenders each day), resulting in being one of the largest for a Japanese concert.<ref name="25th Anniversary (1)"/><ref name="25th Anniversary (2)"/> Additionally, Amuro announced her third-time collaboration with One Piece.<ref name="Hope (1)">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Hope (2)">Template:Cite web</ref> The anime's theme song, "Hope", premiered on October 1, 2017.<ref name="Hope (1)"/><ref name="Hope (2)"/>
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On September 20, 2017, Amuro's 40th birthday, she announced her plan to retire from the music industry on September 16, 2018.<ref name="retirement">Template:Cite web</ref> Her final compilation album, Finally, was released on November 8, 2017.<ref name="Finally (album info)">Template:Cite AV media notes</ref> The album includes new recordings and re-recordings of her selected singles from 1992 to 2017.<ref name="final album">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Finally">Template:Cite web</ref> Finally became a huge success in Japan – it was placed on the first position by Oricon and sold in 2,250,000 units by the end of 2017.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In support of the album, Amuro conducted Final Tour 2018 ~Finally~ as her farewell tour, spanning between February 17 and June 3, 2018.<ref name="Final Tour 2018">Template:Cite web</ref> The tour took place in Nagoya Dome, Fukuoka Dome, Sapporo Dome, Osaka Dome and Tokyo Dome.<ref name="Final Tour 2018"/> During this tour, Amuro conducted another tour, named Final Tour 2018 ~Finally~ In Asia, to perform in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan.<ref name="Final Tour 2018 in Asia">Template:Cite web</ref> Taking place in Shenzhen Bay Sports Center, Hong Kong Coliseum and Taipei Arena,<ref name="Final Tour 2018 in Asia"/> Final Tour 2018 ~Finally~ In Asia began on March 17 and concluded on May 20, 2018.<ref name="Final Tour 2018 in Asia"/>
On May 23, 2018, Amuro was awarded "Okinawa's National Honor Award" at Okinawa Prefecture Government Office in Naha.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="auto">Template:Cite web</ref> By August 21, the total number of pre-ordered Live DVD and Blu-ray of Final Tour 2018 (the concerts in Japan only) exceeded 1 million units in Japan.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On August 25, One Piece featured the anime version of Amuro at the end of one of its episodes to bid a farewell to her.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Live DVD and Blu-ray of Final Tour 2018 (the concerts in Japan only) were released on August 29, 2018.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On September 15, Amuro made her final appearance as an entertainer at the "We ♥ Namie Hanabi Show: I ♥ Okinawa / I ♥ Music" at the Okinawa Convention Center, a commemoration of Amuro's career and other cultural and musical aspects in Okinawa. She officially retired from the entertainment industry on September 16, 2018.<ref name="Retirement">Template:Cite magazine</ref> On September 30, 2018, her official website, official fanclub, official Facebook page, and official online store officially terminated service. On June 16, 2019, Amuro released her entire music collection onto the iTunes store (most of which was previously restricted to Japan), through her label Dimension Point. Her records published by her own label were also released through Apple Music, Apple's streaming service, on the same day.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In November 2023, 5 years after her continued silence after her retirement, Amuro's creative content including her full discography on streaming services, music videos, online stores, and her official YouTube channel were removed from official internet sites.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> As of September 2025, her official content is still absent from streaming services.
Artistry
Amuro has a mezzo-soprano vocal range. By 2000, the English language started to heavily mix in with her music, starting with Genius 2000. In several tracks, Amuro would record her vocals in Japanese (and additionally in English), whereas back-up vocalists would provide English translations and marry the two together.<ref name="genius2000"/> By Play, the singer would start to record tracks with less electronic synths and beats, particularly with the album track "Baby Don't Cry". According to Mills, he felt that the song focused more on her vocals than the production.<ref name="allmusic2007">Template:Cite web</ref> Her final three studio albums, Uncontrolled, Feel and Genic, had multiple full-length English tracks and, although it received positive remarks for experimentation, she was frequently lambasted for her incomprehensible deliveries in most songs.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref name="feelreview">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Throughout her career, Amuro has covered a wide range of musical styles and genres. Her music through the 1990s were influenced by eurobeat and the rise of J-pop music.<ref name="allmusic1996"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Additionally, she identifies Madonna and Janet Jackson as her inspirations, despite constant comparisons with sound and imagery by critics and publications alike.<ref name="8 things to know"/><ref name="allmusicbio">Template:Cite web</ref> Sweet 19 Blues stuck with J-pop elements, but she began to experiment with Western genres such as R&B, jungle, acid house, house and jazz.<ref name="allmusic1996"/> From Genius 2000, she worked with American producer Dallas Austin, resulting in a fully adapted hip hop record with elements of J-pop. She carried this sound on with Style (2003), another record produced by Austin, and eventually onto Queen of Hip-Pop (2005).<ref name="allmusicbio"/> Amuro's transition from J-pop to "more mature, transatlantic" R&B was noted by critics, and the aforementioned title "Queen of Hip-Pop" was used by the Japanese media to identify her (the term "Hip-Pop" is Amuro's combination of hip-hop and pop).<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
In 2007, Amuro released Play, which was highlighted as one of her key re-inventions of her entire career.<ref name="allmusic2007"/> Sonically, the record relied on R&B and hip hop elements, but started to involve contemporary dance-pop music. To an extent, Tills from AllMusic compared the effort to the works of Jennifer Lopez and En Vogue.<ref name="allmusic2007"/> Uncontrolled (2012) saw yet another transition with her sound, leaving R&B and focusing on electronic dance music. Additionally, this saw her first experimentation with full-length English language tracks.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Unlike her previous records, Uncontrolled ventured into Western practitioners to helm the collection, including the likes of The Nervo Twins, Henrik Nordenback, Christian Fast and Peter Mansson.<ref name="Uncontrolled"/> This trend also moved onto her follow-up album Feel, where she worked with artists such as Hook n Sling, Dsign Music and Zedd.<ref name="FEEL"/><ref name="feelreview"/> Her final studio album, Genic (2015), was her first record not handled by Japanese producers, and her second record to include almost all tracks entirely in English (after her 2013 album Feel).<ref name="FEEL"/><ref name="Genic"/>
Legacy
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Ever since her debut, Amuro has been classified as one of Japan's most prominent and successful singers.<ref name="allmusicbio"/><ref name="hikaruutada">Template:Cite web</ref> In an opined article published by The Japan Times, writer Ian Martin encompassed the singer alongside superlatives Yumi Matsutoya, Hikaru Utada, Seiko Matsuda and Hibari Misora as the leading female figures in Japanese music history. Although Martin identified Utada as one of the "only contemporaries" to break the Western society, he felt Amuro was her "most immediate predecessor," based solely on the fact that "[Amuro] represented a period when Japanese pop was learning to see itself as something that could stand alongside the Western music from which it took many cues."<ref name="hikaruutada"/> Additionally, Amuro's career has been constantly compared to the likes of Matsuda's, both whom grew up in the idol routine and having achieved commercial resilience ever since; music author Motti Regev regarded the musicians as part of the "golden age of J-Pop", before records declined due to the rise of the digital market in the mid-2000s.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Because of her longevity and the numerous musical and imagery re-inventions, numerous publications have referred her as the "Queen of Japanese Pop" and the Japanese equivalent to American singers Janet Jackson and Madonna.<ref name="washington"/><ref name="Oahu"/>
Throughout her years active as a singer, Amuro has sold more than 36 million records in Japan according to Oricon.<ref name="sales"/> According to a report by Entertainment Weekly announcing her retirement, she has sold more albums in Japan than Lady Gaga, Katy Perry or Kesha have in the United States combined.<ref name="8 things to know"/> As of 2017, this makes her the fifth highest-selling female act, and fourth best-selling female solo act overall, just behind Yumi Matsutoya, Ayumi Hamasaki, Hikaru Utada, and Japanese all-girl idol group AKB48 (see total list here). Additionally, Amuro was ranked the 12th best-selling digital artist according to Japanese digital site Recochoku.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The singer has achieved nine number-one studio albums with an additional five compilation/collaborative inclusions, and 10 number-one singles.<ref name="oricon-positions">Template:Cite web</ref> She is one of the only female solo artists to achieve the most accumulations of million-certified physical singles, with a total of five ("Chase the Chance", "Don't Wanna Cry", "You're My Sunshine", "A Walk in the Park" and "Can You Celebrate?" – see her discography for more). "Can You Celebrate?" still remains the best-selling physical release by a female singer—with estimate sales of 2.750 million copies sold in Japan alone.<ref name="Best 30"/><ref name="Gold Album 1997"/><ref name="Gold Album 1998"/> For a brief period in 1996, her second studio album Sweet 19 Blues was the best-selling album in Japanese music history.<ref name="highestrank">Template:Cite web</ref> Additionally, she held the record for the highest-opening sales for a female or solo artist until it was challenged by Hikaru Utada's 1999 studio album First Love, which to this day stands as the best-selling album in Japan.<ref name="highestrank"/>
With her sudden rise to stardom, Amuro was noted by journalists and commentators as a trendsetter to the Japan and across Asia.<ref name="allmusicbio"/> She eventually became the most prominent figure in fashion magazines and the general press for changing the typical Japanese idol image and styles of women in Japan, in favour of "dyeing their hair brown, plucking their eyebrows... thick-soled/long boots, a miniskirt, tanned-skin and tattoos". This made her a fashion icon, and created a phenomenon fan base known as Amuraa in the 1990s, with many young girls and women looked up to her fashion, hairstyle and makeup.<ref name="allmusicbio"/> Additionally, her style has been noted for paving the way for kogal fashion trends in Japan, as well as for the gyaru subculture.<ref name="allmusicbio"/><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Anthropologist Hiroshi Aoyagi said in 2003 that Amuro changed the stereotypical idol culture.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Writer Marwan Kraidy described Amuro in 2005 as part of "Japan's rising cultural power" towards the world.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Nichi-Bei Josei Jānaru, writing for the U.S.-Japan Women's Journal, believed the success of Sweet 19 Blues was the reason many people emulated her as a role model between 1996 and 1997.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Discography
- Dance Tracks Vol. 1 (1995)
- Sweet 19 Blues (1996)
- Concentration 20 (1997)
- Genius 2000 (2000)
- Break The Rules (2000)
- Style (2003)
- Queen of Hip-Pop (2005)
- Play (2007)
- Past<Future (2009)
- Uncontrolled (2012)
- Feel (2013)
- Genic (2015)
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Hirake! Ponkikki | Rabbit | |
| 1993 | Ichigo hakusho | ||
| 1994 | Toki o Kakeru Shōjo | Miyoko Yoshiyama | |
| 1995 | Watashi, Mikata Desu | ||
| 1995 | Station | ||
| 1995 | Shounan Liverpool Gakuin | ||
| 1996 | That's Cunning! Shijō Saidai no Sakusen? | Morishita Yumi | Film debut |
| 1996 | Gakko II | Cameo | |
| 2000 | Yonigeya Honpo | ||
| 2011 | The Reason I Can't Find My Love | Herself | Cameo Episode 9 |
Concert tours
Template:Col-start Template:Col-2
Japan tours
- A Walk in the Park Tour (1997)
- Summer Stage Concentration 20 Live (1997)
- Genius 2000 Tour (2000)
- Break the Rules Tour (2001)
- Tour "AMR" 01 (2001)
- Fan Space 04 Tour (2004)
- Space of Hip-Pop Tour (2005)
- Namie Amuro Best Tour Live Style (2006)
- Past<Future Tour (2010)
- Namie Amuro Live Style (2011)
- Feel Tour (2013)
- Namie Amuro Live Style (2014)
- Namie Amuro Live Style 88 (2016–2017)
Asia tours
- So Crazy Tour (2003–2004)
- Play Tour (2007)
- Best Fiction Tour (2008–2009)
- 5 Major Domes Tour 2012 ~20th Anniversary Best~ (2012)
- Namie Amuro Asia Tour (2013)
- Namie Amuro Livegenic (2015–2016)
- Namie Amuro Final Tour 2018 ~Finally~ (2017–2018)
Awards
Video games
- Digital Dance Mix Vol. 1 Namie Amuro (1997, Sega Saturn)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
See also
- J-pop
- Japanese popular culture
- Honorific nicknames in popular music
- List of best-selling music artists in Japan
- List of best-selling singles in Japan
- List of best-selling albums in Japan
- Japan Record Awards
- MTV Video Music Awards Japan
- Billboard Japan Music Awards
References
Further reading
External links
Template:Namie Amuro Template:Namie Amuro singles Template:Super Monkey's Template:Japan Gold Disc Award for Artist of the Year Template:Portal bar Template:Authority control
- Pages with broken file links
- Namie Amuro
- 1977 births
- Living people
- Actors from Okinawa Prefecture
- Avex Trax artists
- English-language singers from Japan
- Japanese dancers
- Japanese female dancers
- Japanese idols
- Japanese mezzo-sopranos
- Japanese people of Italian descent
- Japanese contemporary R&B singers
- Japanese synth-pop singers
- Japanese women in electronic music
- Japanese women pop singers
- 20th-century Ryukyuan people
- Singers from Naha
- Universal Music Japan artists
- 20th-century Japanese actresses
- 21st-century Japanese actresses
- 20th-century Japanese singers
- 21st-century Japanese singers
- 20th-century Japanese women singers
- 21st-century Japanese women singers
- Japanese musicians of Italian descent