Editing Ayumi Hamasaki (section)

===2000–2002: ''Duty'', ''A'' ''Best'', ''I Am...'', and ''Rainbow''===
From April to June 2000, Hamasaki released the "despair trilogy": "[[Vogue (Ayumi Hamasaki song)|Vogue]]", "[[Far Away (Ayumi Hamasaki song)|Far Away]]", and "[[Seasons (Ayumi Hamasaki song)|Seasons]]". Her subsequent studio album, ''[[Duty (album)|Duty]]'', reflected on the artist's feelings of loneliness, chaos, confusion, and the burden of responsibility; it resonated with fans, and became Hamasaki's best-selling studio album.<ref name="Rockin" /><ref name="cawaii10th">{{cite magazine |author=Tsuriya, Takako |date=May 2008 |title=Ayu 10th Year Career Anniversary |magazine=Cawaii |pages=15, 18 |language=ja}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Ranking of Ayumi Hamasaki's Albums by Sales |url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/artist/246497/ranking/cd_album/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100813023311/http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/artist/246497/ranking/cd_album/ |archive-date=August 13, 2010 |access-date=July 24, 2010 |publisher=[[Oricon]] |language=ja}}</ref> At the end of 2000, Hamasaki held her first [[Ayumi Hamasaki Countdown Live 2000–2001 A|New Year countdown concert]] at the [[Yoyogi National Gymnasium]].

In 2001, Hamasaki released her first compilation album, ''[[A Best]]''. In support of ''Duty'' and ''A Best'', Hamasaki held a [[Ayumi Hamasaki Dome Tour 2001 A|tour of Japan's domes]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2007/04/19/2007041961012.html|title=Rain to Perform at Prestigious Tokyo Dome|date=April 19, 2007|access-date=July 23, 2010|publisher=Chosun Ilbo Co|work=[[Chosun Ilbo]]|archive-date=June 21, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110621235049/http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2007/04/19/2007041961012.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2002, the singer released her fourth studio album, ''[[I Am... (Ayumi Hamasaki album)|I Am...]]'', which featured her own compositions under the pseudonym "Crea".<ref name="TimeInterview2">{{cite magazine|first=Lisa |last=Takeuchi Cullen |url=http://www.time.com/time/asia/features/ayumi_hamasaki/int_ayumi2.html |title=I have very clear ideas of what I want |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |access-date=January 2, 2008 |page=2 |date=March 25, 2002 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071212005108/http://www.time.com/time/asia/features/ayumi_hamasaki/int_ayumi2.html |archive-date=December 12, 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In light of the [[September 11 attacks]], Hamasaki revised her vision of the album, focusing on issues such as faith and world peace. "[[A Song Is Born (song)|A Song Is Born]]", a duet with [[Keiko Yamada]], was released as part of Avex's [[Song Nation]] project.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.avexnet.or.jp/songnation/index.htm |title=Song+Nation |publisher=[[Avex Trax]] |access-date=January 24, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080120210120/http://www.avexnet.or.jp/songnation/index.htm |archive-date=January 20, 2008 |url-status=dead |language=ja |df=mdy }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chosunonline.com/article/20050121000046 |title=BoA and Hamasaki Ayumi Join Song+Nation's South Korean Release |publisher=Chosun Ilbo Co. |work=[[Chosun Ilbo|Chosunonline.com]] |access-date=December 1, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081207020747/http://www.chosunonline.com/article/20050121000046 |archive-date=December 7, 2008 |language=ja |url-status=dead |df=mdy }} (Paid access required to view article)</ref><ref group=fn>Original text: "このシングルは2001年9月11に米国で発生した同時多発テロを追悼するために企画され、リリースと同時に日本で話題を集めたチャリティーシングル『song+nation』の3枚だ。"<br />"まず、浜崎あゆみとKEIKOがデュエットした『a song is born』が2001年12月12日にリリースされた。"</ref> She also changed her idea for the album cover, opting instead to be portrayed as a "peace muse": {{blockquote|I had a completely different idea for the cover at first. We'd already reserved the space, decided the hair and makeup and everything. But after the incident, as is typical of me, I suddenly changed my mind. I knew it wasn't the time for gaudiness, for elaborate sets and costumes. It sounds odd coming from me, but I realize what I say and how I look has a great impact.<ref name="TimeInterview"/>}} In support of ''I Am...'', Hamasaki held two tours: ''Ayumi Hamasaki Arena Tour 2002 A,'' and ''Ayumi Hamasaki Stadium Tour 2002 A''.<ref>{{cite magazine| url=http://www.famitsu.com/entertainment/news/2002/02/25/n08.html| title=Ayumi Hamasaki Stadium Tour 2002 A| magazine=[[Famitsu]]| publisher=[[Enterbrain]]| date=February 25, 2002| access-date=October 7, 2008| language=ja| archive-date=May 30, 2002| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020530031242/http://www.famitsu.com/entertainment/news/2002/02/25/n08.html| url-status=live}}</ref> Live albums of both tours were released in 2003.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ayumi Hamasaki – Arena Tour 2002 A |url=https://www.discogs.com/master/335658-Ayumi-Hamasaki-Arena-Tour-2002-A |website=Discogs |access-date=4 December 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Ayumi Hamasaki – Stadium Tour 2002 A |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/13292402-Ayumi-Hamasaki-Stadium-Tour-2002-A |website=Discogs |access-date=4 December 2024}}</ref> Later that year, Hamasaki performed at the [[MTV Asia]] music awards ceremony in Singapore, and received the award for "Most Influential Japanese Singer in Asia".<ref name="TimeInterview">{{cite news |last=Takeuchi Cullen |first=Lisa |date=March 25, 2002 |title=I have very clear ideas of what I want |url=http://www.time.com/time/asia/features/ayumi_hamasaki/int_ayumi.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080214075019/http://www.time.com/time/asia/features/ayumi_hamasaki/int_ayumi.html |archive-date=February 14, 2008 |access-date=February 16, 2008 |work=[[Time Magazine|Time]] |page=1}}</ref><ref name="FacesofAyu7">{{cite magazine |last=Takeuchi Cullen |first=Lisa |date=March 25, 2002 |title=The Many Faces of Ayu |url=http://www.time.com/time/asia/features/ayumi_hamasaki/photoessay/7.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080415210411/http://www.time.com/time/asia/features/ayumi_hamasaki/photoessay/7.html |archive-date=April 15, 2008 |access-date=April 17, 2008 |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |page=7}}</ref>   In November she released her first European single, "[[Connected (Ayumi Hamasaki song)|Connected]]", under the name "Ayu". It was released in Germany on the Drizzly label.<ref>{{cite web |title=Japanische Pop-Diva meets Trance |url=http://www.dancecube.de/content.php?category=2&level=1&Path=-1&Category_ID=2&action=showArticle&Article_ID=75381&area=news |archive-url=https://archive.today/20070618115542/http://www.dancecube.de/content.php?category=2&level=1&Path=-1&Category_ID=2&action=showArticle&Article_ID=75381&area=news |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 18, 2007 | publisher=Raveline |language=de |access-date=July 25, 2010}}</ref> Hamasaki continued to release singles in Germany until 2005.<ref>{{cite web |title=Neue Single mit Remixen von Armin van Buuren & Kyau vs Albert |url=http://www.dancecube.de/content.php?category=1&level=1&Path=-1&Category_ID=1&action=showArticle&Article_ID=123420&area=news&subCategory=&ContextCategory_ID=4&ContextKeyword=Ayu&contextnavid=technology |publisher=Raveline |language=de |access-date=July 25, 2010}} {{Dead link|date=April 2012|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>

The singles  "[[Free & Easy (Ayumi Hamasaki song)|Free & Easy]]". "[[H (Ayumi Hamasaki EP)|H]]", and "[[Voyage (Ayumi Hamasaki song)|Voyage]]"<ref name="2002million">{{cite web |title=Million-Selling Singles of 2002 |url=http://www.riaj.or.jp/data/others/million_list/2002.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080117095925/http://www.riaj.or.jp/data/others/million_list/2002.html |archive-date=January 17, 2008 |access-date=January 28, 2008 |publisher=RIAJ |language=ja}}</ref> were released ahead of Hamasaki's next studio album, ''[[Rainbow (Ayumi Hamasaki album)|Rainbow]]'' (December 2002)''.'' <ref name="2002million" /><ref name="rainbow">{{cite web | url=http://avexnet.or.jp/ayu/en/special/rainbow/index2.html | title=Ayumi Hamasaki's director's notes on Rainbow | publisher= [[Avex Trax|Avex Marketing Inc.]]| access-date=April 9, 2008| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080327060445/http://avexnet.or.jp/ayu/en/special/rainbow/index2.html| archive-date= March 27, 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref>