Aya Matsuura 松浦亜弥 (placeholder)

View recent entries

Aya Matsuura (松浦亜弥, Matsuura Aya?, born June 25, 1986) is a female Japanese popular music artist and actress who was born in Himeji, Hyogo Prefecture.

Aya auditioned in 2000 for the 4th Morning Musume & Heike Michiyo Protegee Audition, and was selected along with Sheki-Dol to become a part of what was later known as Hello! Project. It is a common misconception that Aya originally auditioned to be a part of Morning Musume, which she didn’t.[1] After being chosen from that audition, Aya Matsuura began her solo career. In time she would become one of H!P’s biggest acts.

Aside from a successful solo career, Aya Matsuura (nicknamed Ayaya), has also done numerous collaborations with other members of Hello! Project, including special, usually short lived groups Gomattou with Maki Goto and Miki Fujimoto; Nochiura Natsumi with Maki Goto and Natsumi Abe; and DEF.DIVA with Maki Goto, Natsumi Abe, and Rika Ishikawa. She’s also done the “Folk Song” series which feature Yuko Nakazawa and other H!P artists, as well as Hello! Project’s shuffle groups (Ayaya was placed in 3-nin Matsuri for 2001, Odoru 11 in 2002, Salt 5 in 2003, and the larger H!P All Stars in 2004).

Also, she has collborated with Miki Fujimoto as a duo named GAM that debuted September of 2006. Their first single, “Thanks!” reached the #2 position on the Oricon.

Matsuura has appeared in many commercials for various companies; notably Pretz snack foods, Epson color printers, and Kirin beverages. Currently she also takes part and co-hosts the television show Utawara with other names in Japanese entertainment such as Johnny Jimusho’s Jun Matsumoto.

Matsuura will be starring in the Japanese film Sukeban Deka opposite Rika Ishikawa, due to be released September 30, 2006.
Aya has recently been the star of the j-dorama Aijou Ippon.

On October 9, 2006 both concerts she was supposed to hold that day were cancelled due to her not feeling well.[2] Soon several unsourced rumours emerged considering the possibility she might be suffering from Temporomandibular joint disorder.[3] Following the cancellation of the two concerts, Matsuura’s management confirmed the rumours, reported the young idol had been taking painkillers to continue working and scheduled a press conference to discuss her condition.4 On the following day Matsuura made a public statement on PBS apologizing to her fans and expressing her desire to get back to her singing career as soon as possible. It’s still undecided whether two concerts later this month in Tokyo will go ahead.[6]

Recent stories by and about Aya Matsuura 松浦亜弥

Why I admire Aya Matsuura 松浦亜弥

by scoey53 — 1 year ago

When I first saw a video of Aya Matsuura, on Jpopsuki TV, the song called “Momoiro Kataomoi” had been out for a while. It was a unique playful video, where this very young lady was running by herself a Peach canning factory. Well, not exactly by herself, for she had these two “Fuzzy” Muppet things with her. I was so struck not only by her sweet voice, but by the playful spark in her eye that said “I am going to have as much fun with this video as I can” and it came though the video.

Of course she has done commercials, in fact I have two bottles of Shiseido Super Mild Shampoo and Conditioner with her smiling face on a little sticker stuck to the plastic bottles. She has been on game shows in Japan, as well as doing live concerts when she was with the group Nochiura Natsumi where she teamed up with two other superstar performers Abe Natsumi and Maki Goto. Each now, have gone their separate ways, and doing quite well with their solo careers.

Aya comes across as the kind of sweet young lady who any guy worth their weight in Rice would love to date. She has the “Cover girl” look and has been in that position many times in Japan. Like a few other pop idols she has become the darling of Japan, drawing huge audiences to her concerts and having a large fan base.

If you were to pick the number two female performer in Japan (Assuming Ayumi Hamasaki is #1) Aya Matsuura would have to be in a close running for that position. She has the talent and charm that many of commercial companies desire in a spokesperson/model/actress/singer.

But there is a reason for that. Despite seeming larger than life you can see she is so very real and comes across as one who talent comes naturally. While others are busting themselves to vie for a place in the spotlight Ayachan has found her place in the sun, and you have to admire her spunkyness.

Unfortunately, of late, she has had some medical problems. A story recently talked about her recent problem:
“Two concerts by popular idol singer Matsuura Aya (20) had to be canceled yesterday for medical reasons. She has been diagnosed with temporomandibular arthrosis, a condition similar to arthritis that affects the joint connecting the jaw to the skull. Ayaya’s management say she has been using painkillers to continue working, though the condition has caused her to cancel concerts before. Doctors examined her yesterday and decided that performing was out of the question. She had been scheduled to perform two concerts in Sagamihara in Kanagawa Prefecture. Management have scheduled a press conference for today but whether she herself will appear depends on her condition. It’s also undecided whether two concerts later this month in Tokyo will go ahead.”

And it breaks the heart to think this twenty year old superstar may have to limit her career. She will find away to deal realistically with her difficulty, and in the end, I predict come out on top. Its in her and if you have seen her preform in the past, you can’t but help come to that conclusion. Gambatte Kudasai
Ayachan!! Your fans are behind you.

Link | Add a comment