Ayu has lost hearing completely in her left ear!

United States
January 4, 2008 3:30pm CST
On her Team~Ayu blog, Ayu has written two messages. She has told us that she has fully lost hearing in her left year, and that there is no hope not even for surgery to help her. I am very sad about this.. Here is translated to english texts that Ayu wrote.. "My Frank resolution for this year. the truth is, last year, I had an ear check-up. My diagnosis being that my left ear has completely lost all function and that there is no treatment. Even so, I want to keep being a singer. that's why I'll keep singing as long as this remaining right ear works, to its limit I won't quit. I won't make ecuses. As a professional, I will sing the best songs for you*. I don't really like the word 'ganbaru,' but... I will ganbaru** !!!!! At all costs!!!!!!!!! until that day, someday..." * Here she uses the word for "everyone," tbut I think it is better translated as "you." Also, the literal meaning is "I will definitely deliver the best songs to you." for reference. **ganbaru means persevere or try hard, and it is a word very commonly used in Japanese. For example, as well as being used to mean "try hard," it is used in the same situations that "good luck" would be used in english. This is the one she wrote next, after getting many messages from her fans.. "Umm.... No.205 January 5th, 2008 (Saturday) 1:13am The volume of messages from you all is amazing, I decided to post again.* "Mhmm" .... "Hey," ... "Yea..." I have always, as much as I can, meant to keep honestly conveying my own feelings with my own words. I think you all definitely understand this. Yes...right, I believe. That's why... I write. I write things I keep only in my heart, not even telling my beloved family members nor my staff. Actually, no... strictly speaking, that's not true. I only told Mama (I mean Mika John). That my left ear cannot hear anymore. I thought of going to the hospital because I felt distinctly that something strange happened to my hear. I thought it was the earphone monitors and told the people around me I wanted to switch to new ones. Honestly, when the doctor told me that there is no treatment and that it's too late, my mind went blank. In my heart somewhere, I sincerely felt that if I just make the time necessary for surgery, my ear would be able to hear again. But I was wrong. I remember the doctor's eyes even now. They looked regretful and apologetic. So, I laughed. I don't know why, but I said "I thought so", and laughed. Surrounded by my beloved staff inside the hospital room, everything returned to silence. But, please, I don't want you to read this with pessimism. I have accepted this reality. And, I want you to understand somehow that I'm not despairing, but that the light of my hopes shines forth. Because, you've told me that you will become my left ear. You've told me that, so that I'll be able to hear more and more, you'll shout out for me. Hey... So, with my remaining right ear, I'm gonna do this. I'm not at all straining myself. To me, it's my happiness. Worrying is useless!!!!!!!!!!! From here on, I'm going to keep running forward like this~~~~!!! But, let's keep running together~~~~~~~~!!!!!! I want to show you my dreams. unending, unfading. I want to show you that kind of dream. That is my wish Thank you, everyone, everyone, everyone... Thank you, Mama Thank you, My beloved big sister. Let's do it, 10th year anniversary!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" .. I'm so sad to hear the news.. she has been having hearing problems since 2001, in her left ear. And now, she cannot hear from it at all. :(
2 people like this
10 responses
@manya_pearl (1901)
• Singapore
17 Feb 08
I love ayumi... she has a very great voice... Anyway, i still idolized her even she lost her hearing. She is really blessed, because she still has her right ear which is normally functioning. Ayumi's popularity will "jump" since world know ayumi still a great singer even without perfect hearing... Ganbatte, Ayumi! FightinG!!!
• Indonesia
11 Feb 08
oh my ... I'm so sad to hear the news too. I wonder if she has been having hearing problems because of the hard rock music she has? you know, sometimes her rocky songs are too loud and I always keep wondering if these would bring trouble back to her. I hope she will still manage doing her next albums with her remaining right ear. really, I wanna cry reading this. thank you for sharing the translation of her messages here!
1 person likes this
• United States
10 Feb 08
Such a tragic shame. I loved her music ever since 2001, and I still listen to her music alongside others like Susumu Hirasawa. She introduced me to J-Pop as she's the first artist to enjoy Japanese music overall. It's so sad to hear that she lost one of her ears on the left side. But still, even with this handicap, I hope she can turn things around and still give the world her beautiful voice now that she got one ear left.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
8 Jan 08
thank you for sharing this information, it is sad that Ayu chan lost her ability of hearing in her left ear, but the fact that she accepted it is really brave of her. she is indeed strong and will continue singing for her fans that is great because even if after what happened to her left ear she is still there standing for her fans. Its so nice to know that shes not quitting after all the things that happened to her.
• Malaysia
17 Jan 08
erm i thot this is Ayumi Hamasaki disscusion..LOL
• United States
18 Jan 08
Yes.. and it's ABOUT ayumi hamasaki going def in her left ear. Learn to read
1 person likes this
@Montblanc (137)
• Canada
31 Jan 10
That's sucks for her. :( I like her early songs. For some reason her singing sounds extremely bad after her 10th anniversary.
@xkrissyx (63)
• United States
4 Mar 08
Oh wow. This is my first time hearing about this. So sad. I hope it won't affect her voice. I can imagine her writing a song from this experience. As she always does. Anyway, thank you so much for delivering this information.
@secretbear (19448)
• Philippines
29 Mar 08
ayumi hamasaki - ayu
hey! i've heard about this a long time ago. it was really a sad news. for ayu and her fans. but she said she would continue singing even if her left ear is not functioning. i'm sure she will still be able to make good songs. ayu is very talented. she won't be stopped by a minor handicap.
@theprogamer (10534)
• United States
29 Mar 08
I heard about this a while back. Sad story. She's a talented artist. It'll be rough, but I still hope she has a good life.
• Philippines
2 Apr 08
yeah, gosh! i've heard of it a long time ago. i think i even wrote that on my blog. thats the spirit. for an artist the only thing thats keeping them going was the love for their passion. and thats how passionate ayu is to her craft, for that kudos for her! banzai!!!!