Namie Amuro is a Japanese singer, songwriter, producer, dancer and model. She was active in the entertainment industry from 1992 until 2018 when she announced her intention to retire. She began her career at the age of 13 when she was scouted by Okinawa Actors School. In 1991 she was given a place in girl group Super Monkeys with whom she released her debut single 'Koi No Cute Beat/Mr USA'. With Amuro gaining popularity due to her additional jobs as an actor and model, the group was re-branded Namie Amuro With Super Monkeys. As Amuro began branching out on her own, releasing the single 'Body Feels Exit' in 1995, she realised solo success as she climbed the charts; her second single, 'Chase the Chance', gave her her first number one on the Oricon Singles Chart. Her debut album, 'Sweet 19 Blues', was released in 1996 and also reached the number one spot. She followed with her second album, 'Concentration 20', which provided her fourth number one single in 'A Walk in the Park'. After announcing that she had married TRF band member Masaharu Maruyama and was pregnant with their first child, she embarked on a year-long hiatus to spend with her family. She returned in 1998 with 'I Have Never Seen' and subsequently had chart hits with 'Something 'Bout the Kiss', 'Say the Word' and 'I Will'. With a dip in sales, Amuro went out on tour to promote her seventh album, 'Queen of Hip-Pop'. The promotion worked with the album achieving the top spot for Amuro once more. Albums 'PLAY' (2007), 'Past<Future' (2009), 'Uncontrolled' (2012) and 'FEEL' (2013) followed, with 'Genic', her 12th offering, released in 2015. After a farewell tour, she performed her final concert at Okinawa Convention Center in 2018.
