Namie Amuro is getting an upgrade. “I’m no longer afraid of the things that used to scare me.” She says with conviction. She doesn’t look all that tough, but she exudes an overwhelming sense of presence. Take a look at the long interview she did with us, and the style that only she can show.

“If I can experience a variety of feelings, then there’s no reason to be afraid”

With her exciting new release, “FEEL” completed, Namie Amuro has indeed moved into a new phase. “The future is exciting because I don’t know what will happen next.” She says with a gentle and beautiful smile.

“Even if it hurts, I want to be able to understand”

In the Japanese music scene, the subject of “FEEL” (feelings) is a meaningful one.

“I think so. I don’t know how people will view it, but I don’t want them to think too hard about it. Everyone has their own interpretations of music. I want the album to be one they turn on over and over to improve their mood. So whether someone feels good or bad, I want them to feel free to listen and interpret it however they want as long as it makes them feel very happy.”

What do you mean by “bad”?

“I like being bad. I’m not really a “good girl” deep down, so it’s easier and more enjoyable for me to play the part of the “bad girl”. As a child I was raised in a “stick without a carrot” environment, so I didn’t know what it was like to be rewarded. I was never sure if someone was really serious when they praised me. It was more common to maybe just get a few words of acknowledgement (laughs). That’s why I’m okay with not getting pampered. It helps me to grow.”

Do you use the same mindset with negative and misleading comments?

“Yes. I just have to tell myself to be prepared for anything. But whether the comments are good or bad, I take it all in and use it. I don’t want to let one influence me more than the other. It might hurt my feelings, but what’s the point in just looking at the good? It’s important to take in equal amounts of good and bad criticism.”

What about those comments that cross over your personal line of what’s acceptable?

“I don’t really care about that now. In retrospect, those types of comments may have had an impact on me and in turn were reflected in my work. I used to think that if I took these people seriously ((she means the super-negative and troll-like comments)) then it would make me look cool and it would help me to grow, but actually it made things worse. Now I only worry about enjoying what’s in front of me. Looking back, it’s kind of funny, because growth can happen in the most unexpected places, and things like that have changed my perspective. In 20 years, I’ve learned my own methods of ignoring those types of people and keeping my positive mood.”

So you were going down your own chosen life path and not pandering to anyone.

“Actually, it’s not quite like that (laughs). I just wanted to very simply and quietly continue to do what was expected of me. However, when I got to be around the age of 30, I started to enjoy working again after I began thinking about what could be waiting for me, and it was then that I really felt the presence of the staff working side by side with me. When I recieved awards, though I was very honored, I realized that this was due to everyone that had worked together with me, and I was just the representative of the award. The award was proof of everyone’s hard work together, and I wanted to share that happiness with all of them. Those feelings probably changed the way I do this job.”

Is it because you’re not alone that you feel that way?

“Right. When I can make others happy, it really is a good feeling. Whether it’s during a LIVE, or in the production of CD. So I always try consider what everyone might want to see when I’m creating my next work. Though it wasn’t always like that. When I seperated with my producer Mr. Komuro, for example, it made me very uneasy and lonely. I was exploring various things when I decided to do SUITE CHIC, and it was there that I realized that I liked this style and it was what I wanted to do. and what everyone else might like too. Everything in that moment suddenly became really clear to me.”

In that way your style was really unprecidented, but didn’t you feel a little isolated in your work?

“How should I word this?… … I guess I just did all I could everyday. After each concert there was a lot of self-reflection (laughs), and each time I would find there there were problems that could be improved on and things I had the desire to do better. Progress is always a never-ending thing for me. The point when I stop wanting to grow will be the point in time when I don’t desire to be “Namie Amuro” anymore. But there are still so many things I want to do. It’s because of all the hardships I’ve experienced up to now that I’ll be able to get through and enjoy any rough times I’ll have in the future, too. I started working when I was 14, and work was mostly play for me then. Despite being over 30 now, I’m still enjoying work, but I think it’s important to enjoy life outside of work as well. In some ways, I’m a little too carefree (laughs).”

Do you still want to be involved in music after you decide to retire as a performer someday?

“Ah! I have thought a lot about that actually, and I think I’d like to work behind-the-scenes, though I know it’s not an easy thing to do (laughs). But I want to do it, and I know I’ll enjoy it, so I hope one day that’s possible. It would be great to still be invovled without being in the spotlight and not have all that pressure, too.”

“Even if I can’t see the future, I’m not afraid”

The design for the cover of “FEEL” shows you hiding various parts of your face.

“Yes. This album requires the use of your senses to enjoy, so the design covering various parts of the face ties into that. The ways people obtained information in the past was very limited, but we currently live in an era of information overload. In such an age, it becomes especially important to decide what is right for yourself. So I hope people can be truly free to choose the way they want to enjoy music. As for me, no matter what I decide to do, whenever and for whatever reason, it doesn’t really matter as long as I can keep doing it well”

Why do feel that way?

“I really think my 20th anniversary was the largest turning point for me. I would have never imagined I’d be in this business 20 years and it was difficult for 14-year-olds mw to picture myself 20 years down the road. I think everyone feels like they might be able to make it 5, maybe 10 years, but 20 years was just completely unexpected. I’m very happy I was able to make it this far, and it gives me a new way of thinking. So from now on…I want to do things for myself, for my fans, and for my staff. I have a lot of good feelings about the future, but I don’t want to be rushed into doing things and just take things at my own pace (laughs). I’m not going anywhere anytime soon. It feels good to be excited about where I go from here. I think things will only get better and more exciting.”

So it’s like a new chapter of Namie Amuro has begun.

“You could say that. In the past, I was one of those people who, if I could see my future from a fortune-teller, I wanted to know what they had to say. However, after the end of my 20th anniversary, I began to realize that maybe not knowing what the future might bring was more exciting. Maybe it’s only because of the unknown that I began to finally understand this.”

Up until now, you thought the future was scary…..

“Yeah, it was really scary. If someone could predict for me which way was the best to go, then that’s what I would want to know. But I began to feel that if I can enjoy the here and now, then I certainly should be able to enjoy the future in the same way, no matter what happens and it gives me a sense of freedom. My attitude has gradually been changing and what I was afraid of in the past no longer scares me anymore.”