Japan’s ‘Empress of Pop’ Ayumi Hamasaki to divorce Austrian actor husband, Kyodo says

TOKYO (TR) – Japanese pop idol Ayumi Hamasaki has announced she is divorcing her husband of one year, Austrian actor and model Manuel Schwarz, Kyodo News said, citing her official fan club website.

The 33-year-old pop singer met her 31-year-old husband while making a promotional video for her song “Virgin Road” back in 2010 in Los Angeles. She is the most successful pop star in Japanese history with a huge fan base across Asia, having sold more than 50 million records in Japan alone.

Kyodo cited her management office as saying she originally planned to move to the U.S. to be with her husband; she later changed her mind after last year’s Great East Japan Earthquake, which devastated parts of northeastern Japan.

The Asahi Shimbun says the reason for the split was a dispute over a nude photo spread that Schwarz did for a book entitled “Super Manuel.” Hamazaki was reportedly not consulted about the appearance.

Hamasaki, or Ayu as her Asian fan base calls her, will file for divorce in the U.S., Kyodo said, citing her blog.

Source: Kyodo and Asahi

浜崎あゆみ / Virgin Road

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