Ayumi Hamasaki (born 1978) is a Japanese singer-songwriter and former actress. Also called Ayu by her fans, Hamasaki has been dubbed the "Empress of Pop" due to her popularity and widespread influence in Japan. Born and raised in Fukuoka, she moved to Tokyo at fourteen to pursue a career in entertainment. In 1998, under the tutelage of Avex CEO Max Matsuura, she released a string of modestly selling singles that concluded with her 1999 debut album A Song for ××. The album debuted atop the Oricon charts and stayed there for four weeks, establishing her popularity in Japan. Because of her constantly changing image and tight control over her artistry, Hamasaki's popularity extends across Asia; music and fashion trends she has started have spread to countries such as China, Singapore, and Taiwan. She has appeared in or lent her songs to many advertisements and television commercials. Though she originally supported the exploitation of her popularity for commercial purposes, she later reconsidered and eventually opposed her status as an Avex "product".

Read the rest of this article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayumi_Hamasaki

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

331 BC:

Alexander the Great of Macedon defeated Darius III of Persia at the Battle of Gaugamela, and was subsequently crowned "King of Asia" in a ceremony in Arbela. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Gaugamela

1890:

At the urging of preservationist John Muir and writer Robert Underwood Johnson, the United States Congress established Yosemite National Park in California. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yosemite_National_Park

1891:

Stanford University, founded by railroad magnate and California Governor Leland Stanford and his wife Jane Stanford on their former farm lands in Palo Alto, California, officially opened with 559 students and free tuition. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanford_University

1949:

Chinese Civil War: Chinese Communist Party leader Mao Zedong proclaimed the establishment of the People's Republic of China. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People%27s_Republic_of_China

1965:

A coup d'état in Indonesia by the self-proclaimed Thirtieth of September Movement was crushed by forces of General Suharto and sparked an anti-Communist purge. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/30_September_Movement

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

agape (adj): 1. (of a mouth) Gaping, as with wonder, expectation, or eager attention. 2. Open wide http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/agape

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

The final end of government is not to exert restraint but to do good. --Rufus Choate http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Rufus_Choate