Ayumi Hamasaki performs in empty Shanghai venue after concert abruptly axed

Japanese singer Ayumi Hamasaki went ahead with her performance at an empty venue after her concert in Shanghai, China, was abruptly axed.

- Lim Ruey Yan

The 47-year-old Queen of J-pop was scheduled to perform at the Shanghai Oriental Sports Centre as part of her I Am Ayu Tour on Nov 29. But the concert organiser announced on social media on Nov 28 that the concert was cancelled.

Hamasaki, or Ayu as she is known to her fans, confirmed the cancellation in a post on Instagram Stories later on Nov 28.

“As with previous performances, I worked together with a crew of 200 people day and night, taking five days to finish setting up the Shanghai stage today,” she wrote in English and Japanese. “However, key staff members were hastily gathered in the morning and we received a request to cancel the performance.”

No further details were given for the cancellation. The concert was among several performances by Japanese artistes in China which were called off recently.