A global goodbye for Hikaru Utada
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- Salary: ¥10,000 / Day
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- Professional Dancer(Jazz and Latin. Ballet dancers and Rhythmic gymnastics etc)
- Restaurant & Cigar Bar Luciano Show (株式会社ルチアーノショー), Tokyo
- Salary: ¥120,000 ~ ¥300,000 / Month Negotiable
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- Corporate Teacher
- AEON East Japan Corporate Division (株式会社イーオン法人部), Kanto
- Salary: ¥3,500 ~ ¥4,000 / Hour Bonus upon successful completion of the course
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82 Comments
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0
koiwaicoffee
Not sure if this is only a marketing thing.. but would be nice if not. I heard on the TV that she realized that she was not living in the "real world", that she didn't even know how much she was paying for rent, so she wants to take a break for herself.
I hope that the self-improvement doesn't mean to go to spa and shopping everyday..
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ShizukaMorley
I met her in 2007! Hope she will take a good rest and enjoy life a little bit more. Saw an interview on TV as well and thought she sounded tired a bit.
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alladin
I am glad that she is moving on with her life and that she is trying to pursue a better avenue for herself. I am sure she will be very successful in what she will do. I pray for her guidance and hope that all of her dreams will come true to her with a lot of joy and happiness in her heart. She is surely a very smart person and not just another teeny pop culture singer that depends only on singing to make money.
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Tokyoapple
When they start doing all the commercials, you know their original career is on the decline. Self-improvement probably meant losing weight. She looks a bit chunky in that Pepsi ad.
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movieguy
Must be nice to be able to take a hiatus at any point in your life and not have to worry about the daily grind. Not criticizing her. I honestly think it would be nice. Everyone should have the opportunity to take an EXTENDED vacation after a number of years of working. It would make for a far less zombie like experience and make people more productive.
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iPhone4wht32gb
I'm proud of her realizing what she's been missing as an individual to live an ordinary life. Getting fame early at 15 or 16, everything just happened too much too fast for her. Then got married young and divorced which I think she did it to boost her career. When she says DONE, she should stay done unless this is just a PUBLICITY STUNT?
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LostinNagoya
Why "global", when she is known only in Japan and by certain fans outside the country?
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kurumazaka
She got into Columbia straight out of high school so obviously she has the brain to do other things. I wish her the best.
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Papigiulio
@Tokyoapple, yeah she became a bit chubby indeed. But yeah she is a great person. She wants to learn things for herself and not get helped all the time, learn cooking etc. good on her.
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saborichan
Good for you, Utada. I hope the strange path she's taken since being a teenager doesn't stop her from finding another passion. Love your work.
0
rosujin
I truly wish her the best. She seems like a very cool and wacky (in a good way) person.
I remember listening to her first album over and over and over again on my MD player as a college student. She's part of the reason that my listening comprehension exploded early on in my Japanese language study. To this day I can't listen to First Love without getting misty-eyed recalling the final episode of the JDrama Majo no Joken.
She should lay low, leave Japan and see as much of the world as possible. She is entering a time of great personal growth. I'm happy for her, but I already miss her.
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american_bengoshi
Calling it quits or being told to leave the business because she's a washed up has been???
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bababooey
Good riddance! but she'll be back, I fear.
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american_bengoshi
My cousin works in the admissions office at Columbia. She said that Utada got into the school because of her and her father's money. She didn't even finish her degree and Columbia told her not to bother returning.
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Badge213
I wonder how many purchased the "This is it" album expecting it to be from another Pop singer...
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Weasel
Hopefully this will mean more time for Pepsi commercials.
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flyingfish
global goodbye? dont think world was aware she was even here
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kurumazaka
Think she only did one semester and Columbia did not enjoy the media circus she created while there. (J press following her into class, etc) She still had the grades and test scores, otherwise they wouldn't even look at her app. Imagine you are right about the money and celebrity being a major factor, though.
0
jforce
Good for her and her hiatus. Her music is crap, but she seems to have a good sense about herself. The comeback will be huge, in Japan (this global thing seems a bit hyped).
0
Junnama
Drama queen :)
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pamelot
This seemingly never-ending utta-wee twagic staw-wy brings to mind that fabulous Dan Hicks song;
"How can I miss you, if you won't go away?"...
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fishy
i like her music.. well, as long as her music is downloaded and her CDs are selling, people singing her songs at karaoke and etc, she gets money every month.. she's lucky she can do what she wants to do without worrying about money as long as she doesn't spend like Lindsay Lohan.. hope she goes back to school and finish this time, and hope the media will leave her alone.
so, this means that Columbia is admitting that people with fame and money can get into Columbia even if they don't have the ability?????????? lol
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sengoku38
Yep. In America, that is how it works. If Utada had gotten into Toudai, that would be a little different, due to anonymity in the admissions process.
0
goddog
Her first love was one of my students. I will not post his name though. She still has a ring of his that he wanted back. Good kid. She sings well but not my style. I wish her luck with a new adventure.
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GW
I dont care for Utada`s music but at least she seemed to be her own person as much as possible while in j-pop land, thats saying something, look at what j-pop has done Hamasaki, boy she is rooked in till she collapses.
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trulymadlyfukai
Probably sick of working in Japan and with Japanese people, good luck to her.
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yeswecan
I remember "first love". Great album. And she was so young.
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cactusJack
I can see it now, summer 2011: "Utada Announces World Comeback!" Today, Utada Hikaru announced her return to her music roots. She will host 4 shows in Yokohama to mark the event....
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gogogo
No money in music
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FireyRei
She had a few nice songs, a few.
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dotherightthing
I'm gonna miss her... Not her music, but she's cute:)
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gogogo
call me utada
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KevininHawaii
no news here. move on.
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bigmouth
ur music was crap.find something else to do
Moderator: Please do not post cyberbabble like "ur" for "your" or "u" for "you."
0
benhur
I think they have a word for it in English.. it's called "RETIREMENT". ^^
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Beelzebub
Count on her making a triumphant return when she runs out of money.
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MeLikeJapan
Never heard of her. I guess she must be very popular in Japan.Is an ENKA singer or J=pop singer? What was her major at Columbia University?
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coconutz
@MeLikeJapan
please play Disney's and Square enix's Kingdom Heart and you will know
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EbiChiri
When she gets a little bit older she'll realize she really did shoot the golden goose. It's one thing to regret being rich and famous, it's quite another to realize you're not anymore. I predict a comeback within three years of her being a nobody.
0
Fadamor
Probably going to take her earnings and finish her studies at Columbia University. Then take a mundane job. She might go back to music, but that life seems to burn people out faster than other jobs.
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tokyotom
i bought her third album (the english one) on spec, what a piece of crap! what happened to her talents, gone to south beach?
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norinrad21
Good luck to you Utada
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LFRAgain
Wow. Great thread. One of the most successful pop singers in Japanese history, and the best some here can come up with is:
" . . . she's a washed up has been . . . "
" . . . Good riddance!"
" . . . ur music was crap."
" . . . her being a nobody."
" . . . probably go on a diet since she has gotten pretty fat . . . "
Classy, folks. And the sad truth is, if any one of these posters were asked to name 10, 5, or even one of her top songs to save their own life, they couldn't. Because they've never listened to her. Not once.
And yet if you asked any Japanese over the age of 20 who she is, they could most certainly rattle off one or more without missing a beat.
She's a Japanese pop superstar who's sold over 52 million records in the Japanese market (the second largest market in world, for those keeping track) who's been doing a good job of it since she was 15 and just wants to take a break to try new things.
She didn't come over to your house to personally kick your dog, poke your mother in the eye, or steal your lunch money, people. So, what's with all the acrimony?
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coconutz
@LFRAgain Too many HATERS IN THE WORLD.
HIKARU is my "FIRST LOVE", its so "SIMPLE and CLEAN"."COME BACK TO ME " one day my HIKA-chan.I will "WAIT and SEE".
You know those songs haters???
0
WhiteHawk
I've got some of her CDs. Not because I'm a big fan, but because my former Japanese teacher was a big fan. I've always thought Deep River was a much better album than Exodus. Although Exodus had the title track, Easy Breezy and Animato as good songs. Traveling (from Deep River) is still my favorite song of hers.
Lots of people want a change in their late 20's, especially if they've had just one career so far. That doesn't mean she won't be back for a comeback tour if the money runs out, Streisand-style. Best of luck to her.
0
888naff
"Never heard of her. I guess she must be very popular in Japan"
not really a surprise to see a article about Japanese on a site about Japan
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bcbrownboy
If you live in Japan, and you've never heard of Hikaru Utada, you are isolated in a gaijin bubble, and need to take off your "bwana hat" and mingle with some "locals."
0
rainman1
@LFRAgain: Very well said - I'm pleased you posted. I wonder how many people who posted on this topic were here in 1999 when she broke through. I may not like her music but how can you fail to have some respect for someone who has sold that many albums. Good Luck to her. Once again, this forum has amazed me with the ignorance of people who come to Japan, are happy to take jobs here and then just slag the place off. If you really don't like it. GO HOME.
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shogun36
To all the people on this site dissing Utada and saying she's fat, untalented, good riddance, never heard of her, etc, etc, blah, blah...............nobody is interested in that nonsense.
Please gain some perspective and more importantly some taste.
Simply put, Utada Hikaru (those English albums don't count and ridiculous French ads)is the greatest Japanese singer of the 21st Century and no one even comes close.
0
tamanegi
oh for crying out loud! 27 years old and needs to take a break!
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bababooey
LFRagain, the acrimony comes from this whole "retirement" publicity stunt. Why do you even need to announce a hiatus or retirement? And btw, I have heard a few of her songs. The music is bad enough. But the real problem is her voice. She's got a one octave range.
0
reyesku
wohoo...no more of her sound and vocals for films and dramas...time for new artist...for me, there are more talented if utada leaves this entertainment world...anyway, goodluck for utada...gambatte...
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american_bengoshi
Fadamor: Like I said, returning to Columbia Univ. is not an option.
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tokyoguy719
I agree with LFRAgain.
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jdpapas
I respect her success, and wish her the best in the future.
However, "You're easy breezy and I'm Japaneesy"? Wow. Takes guts to have that line appear in the chorus of a single you're using to try to break into the US market.
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manfromamerica
omg...
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manfromamerica
as american_bengoshi said: "returning to Columbia Univ. is not an option."
0
Wakarimasen
Aaaaaah Hiki. you will be missed for your fab music and great insights into life, love and the Universe.
0
jtuzr
Can't wait for her next album "No it ain't"
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cracaphat
Unhappy negative foreigners who need to do their own hiatus/personality transplant.I see way too many of them around.Or maybe someone DID one of the aforementioned transgressions to them lol.
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WhiteHawk
bababooey:
She's no bird (Kitayama Yuki), but I've heard worse (Taylor Swift springs to mind). Utada needs to smooth out her vibrato more than anything else. Too sheep-like. Not that it ever stopped Stevie Nicks, Cher, etc. from singing careers...
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bass4funk
Let's hope this is and will be her last Goodbye! That's one down, how many more are there in the woodworks to go?
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MeLikeJapan
Was her major Japanese language studies at Columbia
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usaexpat
I couldn't stand her voice or her music and found her to be rather rude in the interviews I saw, not going to miss her.....
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Psyops
bye, sorry you flopped in the US. It was never meant to be.
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Fadamor
I can't think of any Japanese acts that became a hit in the States. Maybe the lyrics don't translate well, or are just too hard to follow. Of course you could say the same thing about Nirvana's songs and they seemed to do OK. :-)
0
WhiteHawk
Fadamor, Loudness and EZO didn't do too bad back in the 80's metal scene.
(Showing my age there, eh? lol)
0
scoday
Say what you want about "Easy Breezy" but I still say that line to the day and it's been over a year (?) since I first heard it. I think she was trying to be funny, she is a bit of a geek after all.
Her stuff wasn't popular in most of the U.S. but in places like SF her concerts were sold out and no not ^just attended by all the Japaneesey students we have studying here. Thanks Utada.
0
pamelot
Fadamor : YMO ( Yellow Magic Orchestra) ! Ryuichi Sakamoto, keys, Haruomi Hosono, bs, Yukihiro Takahashi drs,voc.
0
manfromamerica
Did not become a "hit". A small cult following does not make them successful.
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manfromamerica
in any of the US. But glad she could sell out a 100 seat theater.
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EbiChiri
Never listened to her stuff, not so diff from most J-pop, can't understand why she's famous 'cept for the fact she was bilingual/bicultural. She'll be back in 10 years as an oldies act, mark my words.
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genkimark
No offense to her, but hasn't her career already been over for some time now?
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fishy
nope! her new song's selling and i hear it on the radio everyday ;)
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c13Haruka
I am going to miss her very much when she left. I like her songs and I respect her. She is very strong women, I think. Her songs have great depth and gave me power! Actually I want her to come back as soon as possible but I want to support her determination as one of her fan.
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porter
This is what happens to people when they get uber rich - they lose their hunger to perform.
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TheDonald
I take it most of you are people who've only heard of her since she came here to the U.S. and for that reason I forgive all the writing her off as just another Japanese pop artist.. though I have to tell you, it offends my eyes to read that.
0
TheDonald
Anyway, she did say a number of years ago she'd quit music after a time and go on to something else. She planned to do that ages ago. I guess now she's cashing in on it. I guess I'm one of the only Americans who appreciates this woman's entire musical career.
0
TheDonald
I didn't enjoy everything she released post-U.S debut but I will definitely tell you that this woman is a classic previous to that, the likes of which is few and far between and some of her later U.S. releases were at least reminiscent of her best style and time. She was also one of those artists who actually could sing without studio help... if those even exist anymore.
0
TheDonald
I think a lot of people just couldn't understand her work and that's why people in the west didn't appreciate it as much.. that or we're far too desensitized by the mediocre music that's too often made here to know it when a real artist comes. One or the other. I will admit her creative style is one you have to be pretty familiar with to get it. But it definitely is deep and legitimate and well thought out, every time she makes something.
All this being said, it breaks my heart to see this one go, though not nearly as bad as it would to see her career crashing down because of personal drama, infamy or other cool stuff that fame usually leads people into. I have thoroughly enjoyed her music, almost from her very beginning and it will definitely be missed.. by me.
I definitely wish her good luck in the rest of her life's endeavors and I hope she pursues them as well as she did music. I am glad to see her music era end with grace and on a good note.
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TheDonald
And sorry for the muti-posting, the "smart" filter drove me mad trying to figure out what in that whole speech was "potentially offensive". As it turns out, it was just an ellipses that the filter didnt like..
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TheDonald
Who has that ever happened to? lol.
Usually fame and riches are addicting things that keep you trying to stay in the spotlight and on stage well into your 40s.. ages after you've lost the talent that made you famous to begin with.
I can't see Utada losing her singing voice or doing something to ruin her success even by that time, but I'm glad she isn't indignant or desperate enough to try and go that road.
She obviously is one star who knows when to hold 'em and knows when to fold 'em. There's a lot of artists who just might want to do the same.
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