Ayumi Hamasaki (浜崎あゆみ, Hamasaki Ayumi; real name 濱﨑 歩) is a Japanese singer-songwriter, composer, record producer, actress, model, and entrepreneur. She is widely recognized as one of Asia’s most influential and best-selling artists, often referred to as the “Empress of J-Pop”. Born on October 2, 1978, in Fukuoka, Japan, Hamasaki began her entertainment career in the mid-1990s, appearing in television dramas and modeling before turning to music. Read more on Last.fm