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Singer Ayumi Hamasaki, 32, was chosen among other world celebrities for the cover of "LOVE & HOPE," a charity photo book created by renowned celebrity photographer Leslie Kee to raise money for the victims of Japan’s earthquake and tsunami.
Hamasaki and Kee, longtime acquaintances, began sharing their thoughts on the March disaster and exchanged ideas on ways to help the victims via Twitter shortly after the March 11 disaster.
According to organizers, the cover photo, taken in April, has Hamasaki posing with a short haircut and a diamond ring on her left hand. The photo is her first sexy shot after her January marriage to Austrian actor and model Manuel Schwarz. “I hope that this photo book will bring love and hope to many people around the world,” Hamasaki said in a statement.
The photo book also features portraits of over 200 celebrities, including Lady Gaga and Jennifer Lopez. All the proceeds will go toward reconstruction of the stricken areas through the Japan Red Cross.
The book, which costs 5,250 yen, goes on sale on June 1. A photo exhibition will open in Omotesando Hills in Tokyo starting on Friday, May 27.
© Compiled from news reports
34 Comments
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octopussy
Where's the "sexy shot"?
sourpuss
Check me out on page 11, folks.
herefornow
IMO this seems like nothing but an exercise in vanity and ego-stroking for her, supposedly in the name of charity. Why didn't she get photographed at a victims' shelter for example trying to show their plight, rather than this silly "I love myself" pose?
NuckinFutz
Shouldn't the headline read "Mrs Ayumi Schwarz"? I like the portrait but wouldn't really call it a sexy pose. Anyway, every little effort and cash will be much appreciated by the people in Tohoku.
mrskit
not sure how holding your face is sexy, but congrats on the marriage
papigiulio
@nuckinfutz: not every woman takes the husbands name in Japan. While this is Japan, not sure how it goes in the U.S. but Britney also kept her name spears instead of britney federline.
bass4funk
Nothing special, nothing great, as long as it can help the people of this tragic disaster and as long as she doesn't sing, then it can be a good thing in the long run.
Monkeyz
Legally in Japan you have to have the same last name unless one of the spouses is a foreigner. Then you can keep whatever name you want.
Especially for celebs, keeping the name is part of keeping the identity you built your career on. But as far as Japanese/foreign marriages, keeping your Japanese surname eliminates the problem of people assuming you're a dirty, dirty foreigner when you're applying for jobs or credit cards or whatever else.
Godan
Sexy - not really. World celebrity - huh? The only person in Japan that readily comes to mind as a world celebrity, i.e. their name and face are readily recognizable wherever you go on the planet is.... Hello Kitty. Would have made more sense for Kitty-chan to be on the cover IMHO.
shogun36
Nothing "sexy" about Ayumi Hamasaki. The title of this article is fictitious.
koiwaicoffee
Monkeyz is right.
And yap, "sexy shot" is more a catchy headline.
ihavegreatlegs
Personally, I do not think this book will sell much if that is the only photo of her.
Pukey2
Will the book have a plastic cover?
Newsman
Why the quotation marks around Mrs.? Is she not legally married? Or is this supposed to be somehow "ironic"?
Zenny11
AFAIK, the surname needs to be same on the Koseki(for both being japanese).
But there are many married women that continue using their maiden-name for work, etc. Heck, I go by 2 legal names here myself, dead easy to register a hanko with a 2nd name.
LoveUSA
wrong, I did not know about Hello Kitty before visiting Japan. It is not popular outside Asia.
EUcitizen
LoveUSA: Hello Kitty is popular in Europe.
spiddygy
I wonder how does this give hope to the disaster stricken areas?
kujiranikusuki
wow. Japanese beauty can still amaze me. that's why I'm ganna marry my J-girl next year!!! but Lady GaGa??? she may make "catchy" music and is business savy, but I just dont find her sexy or all that attractive.
Youdontknow
I don't know where you get your info, but you're waaaaay wrong!! If you marry, you don't have a choice but to change your name. You can call yourself whatever you like, but legally, your name changes.
And erm, no, she isn't sexy at all!
lucabrasi
No, Monkeyz is quite right. If your spouse is a foreigner you don't have to change your name. My wife's name is legally the same as it's always been.
mountainpear
@Youdontknow- I have been married for 10 years to a Japanese national. My marriage was registered here and I have kept my name. So why have I never been informed at the ward office, tax office or immigration that keeping my name was illegal?
Moderator: All readers back on topic please. Posts that do not focus on Ayumi Hamasaki will be removed.
the_sheriff
I fixed that for ya, JT. I'm sure they've taken tons of private sexy shots.
papigiulio
spiddygy: Actually I have to agree. Even though all little bits of money to send to Tohoku helps, I cant feel this but a selfish look im doing something for tohoku campaign.
cleo
When we married we checked the box on the form that said we would use Mr cleo's family name. When our daughter was born and the birth registered, the ward office insisted on putting my maiden name on the koseki as her mother, 'because foreign names don't change when you get married'. It took us several phone calls, trips to the ward office and documents from the British Embassy showing that my official name in Japan was the same as the name on my passport to get it put right.
cactusJack
Those books are always wrapped in airtight plastic now. Can't browse. Nothing like the good old days.
asianTourist
This picture is great for black and white colors, attracting viewers' attention to one of the most famous singers in Japan, Mrs. Ayumi Hamasaki. For her last name, My opinion is open for her, she can choose her last name. Some American woman don't change their last names after their marriage. It is one of equality perspectives between man and woman.
OssanAmerica
I'd haveto say you;re the one that's wrong there. Don't know what part of the USA you're ;located byu Hello Kitty has been around New York for years. There's even a Hello Kitty float every year in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade which of course is broadcast nationwide.
bass4funk
So you mean, Hamasaki is business savvy? Because her music isn't catchy, nor is she anything close to being attractive, not by a long shot.
bdiego
My wife never changed her name. You're thinking of something else. Just want to correct some misinformation here.
602miko
is that sexy?
hurryharry1
So what?? Did she grow a 3rd boob or something??? AH is history compared to counterparts half her age...
azninvasion
The picture is not sexy at all. Beautiful/gorgeous yes, but not sexy. Naked doesnt = sexy