Utada Hikaru Single Collection Vol.2″ is to be released on 24th November! It includes my singles released over the past 6 months, as well as the acoustic mix version of Beautiful World used in “Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance,” plus my brand-new 5 songs! I put my energy into them after EMI and I decided the release this summer. I wanna take it to all of you as soon as possible.

Now, out of the clear blue sky I heard something called “Utada the best” was to be released from Universal, the company I worked for in English in the name of Utada. And you know what, they set exactly the same release date. It’s a “me-too” sales plan that hitches a ride on the release of Utada Hikaru’s “Single Collection Vol.2.”

The release of “Utada the best” is totally unrelated to my will. No new materials in it, it’s just a “commodity” with no hearts in it. It is me who is to be bashed, backbitten like “she’s already a has-been” and such if it didn’t sell well, but honestly I feel bad about making you my fans use your money for it. I wanna say you don’t have to buy that “best” if you already have other works in the name of Utada.

Record companies are “companies” intended to gain profits even though they deal with “music.” I understand that point very well, and I am a type of person who listens to them should their business in tough situation. I could support the release of these “best” type of material if it could be made as something worthwhile for all fans, the record company and me through mutual discussion.

The release of “Utada the best” by Universal this time is, in my view, a very sad decision.

They could put off the date, or think up the way of release to make my fans happy by making the contents better and such . . . I desperately encouraged them but it brought us nowhere so far.

The release is solely decided by their management level, so I have no hard feelngs toward the staff people of Universal. My comments might be troubling the people in charge of promoting. I am sorry for that.

I thank you my fans for reading this complicated story!

The mark of Utada Hikaru-approved “〜Single collection Vol.2″ is “the picture of universe”!
(｀∇´ゞ*salutes*

the final tracklist for  Utada’s upcoming “Single Collection Vol. 2″ best album. Disc 1 of the collection is in reverse chronological order, while Disc 2 contains all 5 new tracks. First Press editions include a 3-fold paper sleeve and case, along with a Kuma amulet/good luck charm, plus a chance for 1000 fans to win tickets to Utada’s upcoming concert.

Disc 1
1. Prisoner Of Love
フジテレビ系ドラマ「ラスト・フレンズ」主題歌

2. Stay Gold
花王「アジエンス」新CMソング

3. HEART STATION
レコード会社直営♪CMソング

4. Kiss & Cry
日清カップヌードルTVCM FREEDOMシリーズ
新テーマソング

5. Beautiful World
「ヱヴァンゲリヲン新劇場版：序」テーマソング

6. Flavor Of Life -Ballad Version-
TBS系 金曜ドラマ「花より男子2」イメージソング

7. ぼくはくま
NHK みんなのうた 2006年 10月～11月のうた

8. This Is Love
日清カップヌードルFREEDOM
キャンペーンテーマソング

9. Keep Tryin’
LISMO! au LISTEN MOBILE SERVICE
TVCM タイアップソング

10. Passion
ゲームソフト「KINGDOM HEARTS II」テーマソング

11. Be My Last
映画「春の雪」主題歌

12. 誰かの願いが叶うころ
映画「CASSHERN」テーマソング

13. Beautiful World
-PLANiTb Acoustica Mix-
「ヱヴァンゲリヲン新劇場版：破」テーマソング

Disc 2
1. 嵐の女神

2. Show Me Love (Not A Dream)

3. Goodbye Happiness

4. Hymne à l’amour ～愛のアンセム～
ペプシネックスCMソング

5. Can’t Wait ‘Til Christmas

Oricon has released their yearly Favorite Artist Ranking, and Utada remains a perennial favorite despite her complete lack of Japanese releases,

First important announcement in a while

I can’t believe how quickly time goes – it’s already been 12 years since my debut with “Automatic,” which was called “that sensational video of dancing in a low ceiling room.”(lol) I was 15 at that time.

Lately when I first meet someone they say, “Oh so you’re still 27~! I thought you would be around 30, since I have this image that you have a very long career~. And you looked quite grown-up when you debuted.”

27 years old, it’s young in a sense . . . but not that young in another sense.

When I think back I find I’ve always worked on music ever since I was 15. Spent my life overprotected by people around, so that “Utada Hikaru” can stick to music. People say I have plenty of life experience for my age, but as a matter of fact what I’ve experienced is quite lopsided.

I have had chances to do something uncommon thanks to this job. I thank you all my fans, all my staff from the bottom of my heart.

That said, there is this part of me which has stunted since around 15, when I started living my life focused on artist activities. That is the part, important as a human being.

Over the past 12 years I’ve challenged various things as an artist, and I think I’ve grown up a bit through those experiences. And I need to grow up as a person, aside from music, to evolve further.

Based on those thoughts I have made a big decision!

I am going to stop flashy “artist activities” for a while and focus on “human activities, ” starting from next year.

This is not a “retirement announcement”! Nor is this “rest” or “recreation.”

This period is going to be the period form me to face the real me as a person, by studying something new eagerly and humbly, seeing and learning things in this while world I don’t know yet. I think that’s something that should be called “human activities,” different from “artist activities.”

And that should lead to my growth as an artist too, as a result.

Of course I may be making music or singing as I like, during that time.

When the time comes that I realize I have grown up a little as a person, and I feel the need to let you all hear my music, that is about time I should do so.

I didn’t like it just to hide without showing up in front of my fans, and to jump into “human activities” with no regrets, I’m gonna go on full-throttle to do music activities till the end of this year!

First of all, I’m gonna release Single Collection vol 2 in upcoming autumn. I’ve made a lot of singles after the relase of vol 1.

This time I’ll put some new songs in it!

Maybe 4 songs or so, 5 hopefully . . . ! I’m right in the middle of recording, trying to make them something that can tell you my recent feelings, change of my heart. Pleae wait for a while, I’ll let you know as soon as the release date is fixed.

Other than that there are more things already fixed and I’ll tell you about them soon! Like, a CM I appear in and such . . . expect a lot!

I thank all the staff of EMI being receptive to my offer to take off from artist activities from next year.

I’ve always made them nervous or worried, still they’ve always believed in me, supported me. Thank you very much.

I can focus on “human activities” with an easy mind thinking they will wait for my return, believing me.

I guess each one of you has a different impression on my decision, but please believe me and wait for my return. I have no idea how long it gonna be – 2 years or 5 years, but I shall return, more matured. Give me some time.

Well before that I’m gonna release new songs in autumn, then winter and there should be some opportunities to show you recent me, as well as interact each other. So that’s all for today. (Also I’m thinking of starting twitter for a limited time! That way I can reply to you directly)

Last of all, thank you for reading this long message. I hope this can help to tell you my current feeling, as much as possible.

August 9th 2010

Utada Hikaru

at 8:00 PM