Aya Matsuura was signed by Hello! Project (named project but it is actually a talent agency) in year 2000 and made her solo debut in 2001 with single (Doki Doki Love Mail). Known as Ayaya by her fans, Aya Matsuura has become one of Hello most successful artists since then. She has released dozens of singles, a few albums and starred in some movies and TV dramas.
Aya Matsuura also collaborated with some other Hello teen idols and released some joint singles, but none of the collaborations last long. Frankly I can not remember many of her songs, there were not any really great hits but her music videos are normally quite interesting. Some of her TV commercials are pretty cute too.
Ayaya popularity overseas is largely due to her photo-books in 2004-2005 which achieved quite phenomenal sales back then. A couple of her photo-books featured her in bikinis, but in a rather healthy and cute manner. Ayaya entertainment career seemed to stall in 2006, as if it is a curse that happened to all Hello! Project idols - popular at teen, but faded in 20s.
Aya is rumored to be quite a smoker, and it really spoilt the healthy image that she has been building for years. Her rumored relationship with pop idol Keita Tachibana also did not work in her favor, her boys-fans do not like it, and Keita girls-fans hate it as well. Aya Matsuura is still quite popular in Japan and some other Asia region, her visit to Taiwan in late 2006 was well received by Taiwanese fans, showing that Ayaya has great potential to succeed in the next level.
