Ayumi Hamasaki (濱崎歩, born October 2, 1978, in Fukuoka), often nicknamed "Ayu", is a Japanese singer-songwriter and former actress. Raised in Fukuoka, she moved to Tokyo at the age of fourteen to pursue entertainment. She began acting in 1993.
She made her solo debut on April 8, 1998, with the single "poker face" on Avex Trax. Working across J-pop, pop, and electronic music, she became one of the defining figures of late-1990s J-pop, and her work helped shape mainstream Japanese pop.
Hamasaki writes the lyrics for her original songs and has also composed under the name CREA. Her blood type is A.
She has often been called the "Empress of pop" and the "Empress of J-Pop," reflecting her popularity and influence in Japan. Her song "Dearest" was the ending theme for InuYasha, and her career continued from acting into a long-running presence in Japanese music.
