-Summer Single Coming Up!-
It's summer in Japan and Ayu's summer single is coming up mid-August (official site)! Tracklistings of this single are pretty much complete and the cover art of both CD+DVD and CD-only versions are expected to be revealed very soon!

Jacket A CD+DVD Pre-order from Yesasia US Customers: Japan version Global customers: Japan version Jacket B CD only Pre-order from Yesasia US Customers: Japan version Global customers: Japan version

Sunrise / Sunset ~LOVE is ALL~ Jacket A (CD+DVD): AVCD-31718/B Jacket B (CD only): AVCD-31719 Release Date: 08.12.09 Price: ¥1,890 for Jacket A, ¥1,050 for Jacket B Jacket A track listing: [CD] 01. Sunrise ~LOVE is ALL~ (Original mix) 02. Sunset ~LOVE is ALL~ (Original mix) 03. Special Mega-Mash-Up-Mix (July 1st / Greatful days / fairyland / BLUE BIRD / glitter) (to be confirmed) 04. Sunrise ~LOVE is ALL~ (Original mix -Instrumental-) 05. Sunset ~LOVE is ALL~ (Original mix -Instrumental-) [DVD] 01. Sunrise ~LOVE is ALL~ (video clip) 02. Sunset ~LOVE is ALL~ (video clip) 03. Sunrise ~LOVE is ALL~ (making clip) Jacket B track listing: [CD] 01. Sunrise ~LOVE is ALL~ (Original mix) 02. Sunset ~LOVE is ALL~ (Original mix) 03. Special Mega-Mash-Up-Mix (July 1st / Greatful days / fairyland / BLUE BIRD / glitter) (to be confirmed) 04. Sunrise ~LOVE is ALL~ (Original mix -Instrumental-) 05. Sunset ~LOVE is ALL~ (Original mix -Instrumental-) *Beach sandal limited to only TEAMAYU fanclub members.

-ARENA TOUR 2009 A -NEXT LEVEL- Official Collectibles On Sale Worldwide!-
Surprise! Yesasia [US] [Global] was able to secure many Ayumi Hamasaki ARENA TOUR 2009 A goodies and they are all on sale. One of the rare items worth highlighting here is the rare "Mirrorcle World" Stage Set ayupan that is also available now! Ayu fans outside Japan should find this ayupan more affordable as compared to listing of $80+ by proxy seller on auction sites. Also, note that the rare 60-page concert pamphlet is also up for grasp there!

Mirrorcle World Stage Set ayupan US Customers | Global Customers Concert pamphlet (60 pages, 260mm×183mm) US Customers | Global Customers Message from Yesasia: "There are over 30 items available in this hot new collection of Ayumi concert collectibles including the concert pamphlet, T-shirts, caps, towels, phone straps, and more. Plus, you can get ayupan figures and ayupan x Hello Kitty collectibles! Ayumi Hamasaki Arena Tour 2009 A ~Next Level~ Collectibles went on sale at YesAsia at almost the exact same time as they did in Japan so there's no extra wait for overseas fans. Be sure to act quickly as all items are of limited supply!" US customers: View complete goodies listing Global Customers: View complete goodies listing

-Ayu's May 20th & 21st Osaka Hall Concerts Cancelled Due To Flu Outbreak-
Reportedly by major Japanese and English news sites, Avex initially intended to hold the scheduled six Osaka concerts but eventually cancelled all of them due to the rising number of A-H1N1 infections in Japan.

"The virus has hopscotched through the western prefectures of Osaka and Hyogo, where more than 4,400 schools and some businesses have been temporarily closed..." ~photo and excerpts via Time

Industry-leading record label and management company Avex has canceled concerts by highly popular artists due to the swine flu outbreak in Western Japan. The H1N1 virus has spread in the Kansai (Western Japan) region much quicker than in the Tokyo area.

So far Avex has canceled six concerts by three of its most popular artists, Ayumi Hamasaki, Kumi Koda an Ai Otsuka. The performances would have attracted an estimated 48,000 fans.

Originally the label had planned to provide anti-bacterial disinfectant to patrons at the entrance and mouthwash in the bathrooms, but in the end Avex thought the risk was too great.

Rescheduled dates for the six shows have yet to be announced. ~via BillboardBiz

More articles: Chosun, Variety.com, Monsters and Critics, Straitstimes, BARKS.

-"ayumi hamasaki PREMIUM Countdown Live 2008-2009 A" Released!-
Officially released today was Ayu's PREMIUM Countdown Live 2008-2009 A DVD! If you have secured your copy via pre-order, your DVD should have been already shipped out. While your DVD is on its way to your door step, check out BARKS.jp for some sneak preview of the DVD contents as well as its mini photo gallery of the concert.

Alternatively, instead of BARKS.jp you can visit Ayu's official site for a long non-stop Flash video preview of the DVD contents too. Buy from Yesasia US Customers: Japan version Global customers: Japan version ayumi hamasaki PREMIUM COUNTDOWN LIVE 2008-2009 A DVD: AVBD-91716~7 Release Date: 05.13.09 Price: ¥6,090 Tracklisting: [Disc 1] 01. GREEN 02. Will 03. vogue 04. HONEY 05. ANGEL’S SONG 06. End of the World 07. Heartplace 08. Real me 09. And Then 10. Naturally 11. In The Corner 12. POWDER SNOW 13. HOPE or PAIN 14. Over 15. SCAR [Disc 2] 16. SIGNAL 17. Hana 18. too late 19. UNITE! 20. SURREAL~evolution~SURREAL 21. Who... 22. Trauma 23. independent 24. everywhere nowhere 25. Mirrorcle World 26. Days 27. For My Dear... 28. + 29. flower garden 30. Boys & Girls 31. MY ALL Higher resolution cover image and DVD release info by BARKS.jp re-printed above.

-"ayumi hamasaki PREMIUM Countdown Live 2008-2009 A" cover!-
The cover art of this DVD has been finally revealed!

Pre-order from Yesasia US Customers: Japan version Global customers: Japan version ayumi hamasaki PREMIUM COUNTDOWN LIVE 2008-2009 A DVD: AVBD-91716~7 Release Date: 05.13.09 Price: ¥6,090 Tracklisting: [Disc 1] 01. GREEN 02. Will 03. vogue 04. HONEY 05. ANGEL’S SONG 06. End of the World 07. Heartplace 08. Real me 09. And Then 10. Naturally 11. In The Corner 12. POWDER SNOW 13. HOPE or PAIN 14. Over 15. SCAR [Disc 2] 16. SIGNAL 17. Hana 18. too late 19. UNITE! 20. SURREAL~evolution~SURREAL 21. Who... 22. Trauma 23. independent 24. everywhere nowhere 25. Mirrorcle World 26. Days 27. For My Dear... 28. + 29. flower garden 30. Boys & Girls 31. MY ALL

-YESASIA Spring Fling!-
YESASIA is having some incredible deals with up to 80% discount till the end of this month! With many Ayu goodies with their price halved, fans who missed out their previous shopping spree will get the chance to hunt down some ASIA TOUR 2008 and PREMIUM Countdown Live 2008-2009 collectible once again!

 • Main Spring Fling Directory: US customer, Global Customer
 • Ayumi Hamasaki Collectibles: US customer, Global customer

-"ayumi hamasaki ARENA TOUR 2009 A ~NEXT LEVEL~"!-
The Saitama Super Arena stadium was selected to kick start Ayu's national tour year 2009! According to numerous Japanese sites, it is reported that "bondage" and "cheerleader" costumes were among the 10 outfits used for the concert.

 • News article: Nikkansports, Daily, Chunichi, Sponichi, Sanspo, Yomiuri
 • More photo coverage at AHS forum thread.




-Ayumi Hamasaki ARENA TOUR 2009 Goodies!-
It is perhaps the most noteworthy goodies of Ayu's ARENA TOUR this time is the "Marionette Stage Set ayupan Music Box" followed by "Mirrorcle World Stage Set ayupan Ship version". Although less likely, we hope that Yesasia will put both of these ultimate ayupans for sale in addition to the regular ones so that they are easily available to overseas fans.