Editing Ayumi Hamasaki (section)

===1978-1997: Childhood and early endeavors===
Born in [[Fukuoka]], Fukuoka Prefecture, Hamasaki was raised as an only child by her mother and grandmother.<ref name="Rockin">{{cite magazine | first=Atsushi | last=Shikano | title=Interview with Ayumi Hamasaki| magazine=[[Rockin'on Japan]]| date=February 20, 2001|language=ja}}</ref><ref name="Time">{{cite magazine | last=Takeuchi Cullen| first=Lisa| url=http://www.time.com/time/asia/features/ayumi_hamasaki/cover3.html |title=Empress of Pop|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]| access-date=November 28, 2011 | page=3 | date=March 25, 2002 | url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020403135213/http://www.time.com/time/asia/features/ayumi_hamasaki/cover3.html | archive-date=April 3, 2002 }}</ref> At age seven, Hamasaki began modeling for local institutions to supplement the family's income. She continued this career path by moving to Tokyo alone at fourteen, signing as a model under the SOS talent agency.<ref name="Rockin" /> Under the name "Ayumi", Hamasaki released a rap EP, ''[[Nothing from Nothing (EP)|Nothing from Nothing]]'', on the [[Nippon Columbia]] label in 1995.<ref name="allmusic" /> After her mother moved to Tokyo, Hamasaki began attending [[Horikoshi High School|Horikoshi Gakuen]],<ref name="Rockin" /> as well as taking on acting work in movies and television dramas.<ref name="Time" /><ref name="Metropolis">{{cite magazine |last=Wilce |first=Matt |title=Big in Japan: Ayumi Hamasaki |url=http://metropolis.co.jp/biginjapan/379/biginjapaninc.htm |url-status=dead |magazine=[[Metropolis (free magazine)|Metropolis Magazine]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080410103934/http://metropolis.co.jp/BigInJapan/379/biginjapaninc.htm |archive-date=April 10, 2008 |access-date=March 23, 2008 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> From August 1995 to March 1996, Hamasaki co-hosted the [[SoundLink]] show ''Hōkago no Ōsama'' (''After-School King'') for [[Satellaview|Nintendo Satellaview]] with [[Shigeru Izumiya]].<ref>{{cite magazine |date=September 1995 |script-title=ja:スーパーファミコンアワー番組表8/1～8/31 ～スーパーファミコンアワー番組ガイド～ |magazine=[[Satellaview Tsūshin|サテラビュー通信]] |pages=33–66 |language=ja |volume=2}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |date=April 1996 |script-title=ja:スーパーファミコンアワー音声連動番組ガイド3/1→3/30 |magazine=サテラビュー通信 |pages=40–73 |language=ja |volume=10}}</ref>

Hamasaki struggled to adjust to student life, and described living aimlessly after dropping out in tenth grade.<ref name="Time" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-11-13 |title=浜崎あゆみ、高校時代「同じクラスだった」 意外な接点に驚きの声 – モデルプレス |url=https://mdpr.jp/news/detail/1298945 |access-date=2024-10-10 |website=モデルプレス – ライフスタイル・ファッションエンタメニュース |language=ja}}</ref> It was during this time that she was introduced to [[Max Matsuura]] through an acquaintance, who offered her a record deal after hearing her sing at the [[Velfarre]] nightclub. Hamasaki suspected ulterior motives and turned the offer down, saying later "I'd never heard of Avex. When he asked if I wanted to pursue a singing career, I said, 'No way.' He was this older guy, and I thought the whole thing sounded fishy."<ref name="Time" />

Matsuura persisted, and Hamasaki eventually agreed to take voice lessons in 1996, most of which she would end up skipping due to reminding her of school.<ref name=":3" /> When Matsuura found out, he offered to send her abroad for one-to-one training instead. "I thought he was kidding" Ayu said later of this time, "I mean, I was seventeen".<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |date=2007-12-15 |title=TIMEasia.com: Japan – Ayumi Hamasaki |url=http://www.time.com/time/asia/features/ayumi_hamasaki/cover.html |access-date=2024-10-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071215041531/http://www.time.com/time/asia/features/ayumi_hamasaki/cover.html |archive-date=December 15, 2007 }}</ref> Hamasaki stayed in New York for three months, corresponding frequently with Matsuura. Due to difficulties voicing her thoughts, that correspondence was usually through letter; impressed by her writing style, the producer asked her to try her hand at lyrics while they prepared for her debut through 1997.<ref name=":5" /> "No one had ever asked anything of me before, or expected anything," the singer said later. "He's the one who found me and drew me out."