i got this from a jpop music forum!:
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TOKYO: Japan's leading pop star Hikaru Utada, known for hit albums such as "First Love," on Friday married her video director Kazuaki Kiriya by registering at a government office, her Japanese record label Toshiba-EMI Ltd announced.
The U.S.-born 19-year-old is one of Japan's top-selling female artists. She met Kiriya, aged 34 and also a photographer, two years ago, and they have collaborated on producing music videos and photographing covers for Utada's CDs.
"Having a new force with me, I'll keep working as diligently as before," Utada said in a statement. "I thought this moment, when I resume my music career after a period of rest, is the best time to begin a new life."
Utada was hospitalized in early April and surgeons removed a benign tumor from one of her ovaries. She posted personal messages on her Web site as she recuperated, and is aiming for a full return to the music scene.
"This is a marriage before I am blessed with a baby," she added in the statement, likely referring to a celebrity trend in which stars such as Namie Amuro, who shot to fame in the mid-1990s, have tied the knot after getting pregnant.
On her web site, Utada said some may wonder at her decision to marry at a young age, but stressed her decision came naturally from her desire to spend her life with the one she loves.
Kiriya, whose real name is Kazuhiro Iwashita, was born in Kumamoto Prefecture in southwestern Japan. He directed recent Utada videos including the singles "Final Distance," "Traveling" and "Deep River." He mainly works in Tokyo and New York.
Kiriya described in the August issue of monthly advertising critique magazine Kokoku Hihyo that Utada's appeal lies in her great blend of intellect and talent.
Born in New York, Utada debuted in December 1998 with the instant hit "Automatic."
"First Love," her first album, was released in 1999 and is the top-selling album in Japan at about 8.7 million copies. Her latest song collection, "Deep River," was released in June. (Kyodo News)
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she's very popular here too, but more popular is Ayumi!
ok sorry to be off topic!!..just fyi haha
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