TV: Scrip: One of Japan's most famous singing stars, Ayumi Hamasaki, has revealed that she has gone deaf in her left ear.

Hamasaki, 29, is a pop icon in Japan and influential across other parts
of Asia, with dozens of number one hit singles and albums to her name.

She has a string of concerts set up for the spring, according to her
official Web site which she vowed to go on with despite the ear problem.
Sports Nippon newspaper reported on Thursday (January 10) that Hamasaki had
left Japan for Italy to film a commercial. "Last year I had a hearing test and found out my left ear was not functioning at all and that there was no way of curing it," another
newspaper, Sankei Sports, quoted her as saying in her blog, which is open only
to registered members of her fan club, earlier in the week.

"But I want to keep singing as long as my right ear holds
out," Hamasaki added to the newspaper.

Many young residents of Tokyo were shocked and sorry to hear of their
top star's ailment.
"I sing in a band and so I know how difficult it must be for her
to have lost even partly her hearing. It's a real shame," said Yuri
Fukuro (pronounced Yoo-ree, Foo-koo-roh), a 19-year-old student who said she
was not necessarily a fan of Hamasaki's but enjoyed her music
nevertheless.
"She rules at the top of the J-pop pantheon so the fact that she's
lost her hearing is a big deal," added Tomonori Hayashi (pronounced
Toh-moh-noh-ree Hah-yah-shee), a 21-year-old Tokyo resident who said he worked
in the music industry.
The singer, who is also a hugely successful model, whose fashion sense
has inspired many imitators, is celebrating 10 years since she reluctantly
launched her career after being persuaded by a music producer she met by
chance. Hamasaki just released her latest album "Guilty" in Japan on
January 1st, 2008.