J-pop star Ayumi Hamasaki to bring ‘I am ayu -epi.II’ to more Asian cities

AS part of her 27th-anniversary celebration in the music industry, Japanese singer-songwriter Ayumi Hamasaki will bring her latest concert tour to more Asian cities this year!

The 46-year-old J-pop star will bring her “I am ayu -epi.II” tour—which kicked off in Japan—to Hong Kong, Singapore, and Taipei. She will also perform in six cities in Japan: Nagoya, Tokyo, Hiroshima, Osaka, Sendai, and Fukuoka.

Other details about these upcoming shows, such as dates and venues, have yet to be revealed. 

The Singapore leg of Hamasaki’s “I am ayu -epi.II” tour will be her first solo concert in the country, though this will not be her first visit. 

She performed at the Japanese music festival A-Nation at Marina Bay Sands in 2014, as well as at the MTV Asia Music Awards in 2002 in Singapore.

On Instagram, Hamasaki shared several photos from the opening night of her “I am ayu -epi.II” tour on April 8 at LaLa Arena TOKYO-BAY.

New single

Prior to her 2025 Asia tour, Hamasaki made a music comeback this month, with the release of her new single “mimosa.”

Composed by Kunio Tago, “mimosa” is a heartfelt track that encourages and uplifts listeners with its powerful yet gentle melody. The song is the newest collaboration between Tago and Hamasaki, who previously worked on the latter’s iconic songs like “Days” and “Key eternal tie ver..”

“mimosa” is the theme song for the third season of the Fuji TV drama “Second to Last Love,” starring Japanese singer and actress Kyoko Koizumi. The track is notable for Hamasaki as it is her first time writing a theme song for a drama since her hit single “SEASONS,” which served as the theme song for the 2000 television series “Tenki Yohou no Koibito.”

“Through the years, there are things that change and things that remain the same—this song reflects both sides of life that everyone experiences,” the J-pop star said.

“I hope that this track can resonate with those who have followed the drama from the beginning, as well as those who are hearing it for the first time,” she added.

Hamasaki also lent her voice to theme songs of the first and second seasons of the “Second to Last Love” series, “how beautiful you are” and “Hello new me,” in 2012 and 2014, respectively.

About the artist

Earning the nickname “Empress of Pop,” Hamasaki is renowned for her powerful vocals, versatile music styles, and high-powered live performances. 

Her career in the music industry spans nearly three decades, debuting in 1998 with her single “Poker Face.”

Her top five most streamed songs on the global music streaming platform Spotify are “SEASONS,” “M,” “BLUE BIRD,” “Boys & Girls,” and “Voyage.”

In 2017, the Japanese pop star revealed that she lost hearing in her left ear in 2008 after contracting an ear infection. However, this did not hinder Hamazaki from being a trailblazer in the J-pop industry, releasing new music every year.

She dropped her latest album, “Remember you,” in 2023, containing 14 tracks. The artist then released the single “Aurora” in 2024, the same year she embarked on her “I am Ayu” tour in Asia.