Namie Amuro's Retirement

I can't believe this day has finally come. The same day last year when Namie Amuro announced that she will be retiring from being a singer came to be a shocking news to all her fans. Although I wasn't as shocked as I always knew and kind of anticipated that she will most likely retire soon when she is 40. Still, it's quite sad to know that we'll never be able to see her perform on screen anymore from now on. 

It also saddens me to know that I will never get to fulfill my dream of wanting to watch her concert live in Japan before she retire. I will definitely miss seeing her advertisements in drug stores in Japan. Since I couldn't go watch her last concert, I took the opportunity to buy her last concert DVD in order to cherish the moment and memory of her very last time performing on stage. 

I grew interest and started listening to Namie Amuro's music in 2008. It all started with her BEST FICTION album. I simply fell in love with her charisma and music style. It was so different and unique! I can't believe it's been 10 years since I've been following her. But what I have always loved about Namie Amuro the most is her smile and the positive energy she expresses through her singing and dancing. Her music has also given so many of her fans courage, inspiration, dream and hope. Thank you Namie Amuro, for proving that women can be independent and successful no matter at what age. Thank you for being our Hero! May you live the best life ever after retirement in peace and happiness.

Namie's eternal beauty and legacy will forever will live in the heart of the million of fans in Japan and all around the world! There will possibly never be another Namie Amuro to exist that will have the same beauty and charisma as she does on stage. She is the only and only Namie Amuro! I love that despite how humble and shy she is in real life but yet she's full of confidence when she is singing on stage.

Also many people made a guest appearance at her last concert in Okinawa today on September 16th including DOUBLE, Jolin Tsai, and even Yamapi made a special appearance to perform on stage with her for the first time and last time ever. OMG someone please release this video on the web soon! I have been dying to watch Yamapi and Namie perform on the same stage together for 7 years! I'm soooo happy and grateful Yamapi made this a dream come true and it's really nice of him to make a trip all the way to Okinawa to support her retirement! Even Tokyo Tower is light up in a special colour in celebration for Namie Amuro's retirement. She is so loved by all the fans and people in Japan! I'm sure nobody wants her to retire in the whole country but maybe someday she'll make a comeback. Who knows. ALL FOR 916 WE ♥ NAMIE! 

I also received my copy of her last concert DVD in blue ray at Tokyo Dome earlier this week. I will forever cherish this DVD for the rest of my life because it is soooo precious! T___T

Yamapi YOU Album at Tsutaya and Promo Ads

Trying to catch up on posting more about my Tokyo trip on my blog but I have been so busy with work that I have no time to do so! Also going through all my pictures and videos and editing them is so time consuming that I dread on getting them done. But this post will be an easy one since I already have the pictures and video edited and done about a week ago. This post will be about my experience of buying Yamapi's CDs in person in Japan! Being a huge and loyal fan for many years, I have always dreamed of being able to do this. I was so lucky to be there in Japan when Yamapi had a new album coming out as well as a movie playing in theatres. I swear I did not plan this. I already bought my plane tickets long ago before he announced that he was releasing a new album and a movie. It was just pure coincidence and luck was on my side, lol! Would have been better if he was having a concert tour during the same time too. I'd have been able to see him live! But overall I'm very happy and satisfied that on my first trip to Japan I got to see so much of Yamapi. It almost feels as if I saw him in person because normally I wouldn't get to see this on a regular basis since I live so far away from Japan. His new album was released on October 8th and I made sure I went out to the CD store to buy his CD on the first official day like a true fan would! XD And I was sooooo excited to see how they would display his CDs for sale at the store. I went to the Tsutaya CD store in Shibuya at the Shibuya Crossing. 

There was a little booth at the very front of the store when you enter filled with his new album and a big screen TV showing his music video YOUR STEP. I love the little heart message cards about each song for the album. So cute! I actually quite like the new album, it's very different from his other 3 previous albums. This one has a more of an R&B vibe and all the songs are very happy, sweet, and romantic. Yamapi said he created this about thinking about his fans and what he would like to share with them which is the theme of "LOVE". So sweet! (♥ω♥ ) ~♪ I even spotted a Japanese guy at his booth listening to the album. I'm not sure if he was a fan or he was just curious and checking the album out but he seemed to enjoy listening to the songs. XD

And I recorded a short video of the booth with the music video playing.

Promotion advertisements I saw while strolling the streets in Tokyo. 

I bought all 4 versions of the album as well as the A Nude concert tour DVD. I have never bought all versions of any of Yamapi's albums before and this was a first. I even got a chance to buy the limited shop version that can only be bought in Japan! 

Japanese Music: Yamapi EROP Live Tour 2012 Concert DVD

I didn't get around to blog about this awesome DVD because I actually didn't receive it in the mail until after the new year on January 2nd. If you didn't follow me previously in the past and you are a new follower or is reading my blog for the first time, then you might not have know that I am a JE fan - specifically a Yamapi fan. In fact I have been a fan of him for 7 years now! 

I do not regret discovering Yamapi and entering this crazy fandom that one cannot seem to get out of it once they're in it. It's an addictive drug I tell you, lol! I've met many wonderful people all over the world because of him. There are even some who I have developed a good relationship and friendship with. I am very happy to have to met every one of these awesome and amazing people who share the love for the same idol as I do! =)

Yamapi is more than just an idol to me. He's an inspiration and someone who I truly admire and look up to. He may not be the greatest actor, the best singer or the most amazing entertainer out there. His imperfections and flaws are what makes him as a normal human being just like us. He makes mistakes, feel insecure and need guidance with directions of where he wants to be in life. And although he may not be good at doing what he does but his passion and determination in his work is what's so admirable about him. Seeing him work so hard to make his dreams come true motivates me to try and work hard to make my own dreams come true as well. And the fact that I've been a fan for so long, it's like as if we've been growing, learning and walking down this life journey together that we are closely connected in some way even though we live half a world apart from each other. To be able to witness the growth of your most favourite idol and to grow old together is simply a bliss. I'd like to continue on this journey for as long as Yamapi exists in this world. And someday, I'd really like to attend his concert live (although I am uncertain if it will ever happen) and now that he's a solo artist, it should be much easier. I'm sorry but when he was still in NEWS and doing concerts with them, I always only had eyes for Yamapi, lol. So now that's he's a solo artist, it just makes my life much easier to focus solely on him. XD 

And some other items that I bought in the year of 2012 just because I have way too much money to spend because I cannot ever get enough of him! ♥