Ayumi Hamasaki
bootleg products are always for sale on e-bay, or somewhere else. These are
illegal unlicenced CDs and DVDs and there are three types of them:
| 1. "Self-made" stuff. These can be made by anyone with a CD/DVD-burner. Could be a Video CD, audio CD, DVD or unformatted computer files... This kind of bootlegs is quite easy to spot (very cheap, no covers, etc.). When the access to broadband was not as it is now, in 2013, this was the only way to get the videos of live performances, particularly those not issued as official products. This is likely to be illegal as well but, from my point of view, it is the least offensive of the three (in some cases the price of a disc with 'historical' live videos just covers the price of a blank one and the postage). |
| 2. Compilations of audio files usually presented as "Asia editions". Very easy to spot for anyone with the some background knowledge. These ones would have a cover picture taken from a commercial poster, strange (and sometimes quite silly) song list, and could contain three or even four CDs in the pack. The price for these items is usually less than for the original CDs. |
| 3. The same as above, only hiding behind a copy of the legitimate product. For example, a single suddenly becomes a full album, an album you thought you know becomes a double CD, and so on. These bootlegs are hard to spot if you do not know exactly what the original product looks like (if needed please consult the complete discography here). |
|
An important note
on mp3 files:
Downloading mp3 files and keeping them is not much different from actually stealing a CD from the store. Sure, there is only a slight chance that you will get caught with mp3 files but think about this: 1. Will you actually go and tell your friends and relatives: "It was a good day yesterday, I've managed to get out of the [insert your store name] with two CDs under my shirt." Imagine what a low life you will be in the eyes of everybody. 2. Now, how is downloading mp3 files and burning CDs different...? So, do delete them after listening. It is unnecessary to mention, I think, that you will not find files of this kind (audio and/or video) on this site, ever. Also, for those who do not know, the quality of a CD that is burned from downloaded mp3 files is incomparably worse in comparison with an official product. You will probably not detect this if you are listening to the music using earphones and some kind of portable player - but you will surely notice it on a home system. A 2013 follow up Sadly, what I was very much afraid of has happened - there are almost no CDs anymore now, in 2013. Due to immensely improved Internet speeds the sharing of stolen mp3 files appears to be rampant and much more 'accepted' than it was before - when one was getting something to hold in his/her hands. If before there were forums offering 'CD for download', now people offering 'iTunes editions for download' - and it would take about a couple of minutes to download a CD and about 15-20 minutes to download a DVD. I am very happy to have my Ayumi collection complete - as per the website front page comment: I do have everything until mid-2010, plus the 'Love Songs' album from December 2010. Sure, I did download and listened to each Ayumi release since then - but I have not kept anything, did not hear any songs that have caught my attention... Plus I much more prefer to listen to the music from the actual CD or watch an actual DVD... Bootleg items below is the worst kind of thievery - firstly stealing the stuff and then making copies for profit. |
-->START
HERE (in the order of appearing)
A significant proportion of bootlegs are made by people with very limited knowledge of English. I call this
| Please note that this list should be considered together with the guide to buying legitimate products. | |||||
|
Number
of illegal products identified so far:
447 (last
update 6-Oct-2009)
|
|||||
 |
|||||
| ALBUMS | |||||
 LOVEppears |
 Duty |
 A Best |
 I am... |
 RAINBOW |
 A BALLADS |
 Memorial Address |
 MY STORY |
 (miss)understood |
 Secret |
 A BEST 2 |
 GUILTY |
| REMIX ALBUMS | |||||
 ayu-ro mix |
 ayu-ro mix 2 |
 ayu-mi-x IV' |
 ayu trance 3 |
 Rmx works 3 CD set |
 MY STORY Classical |
| SINGLES | |||||
 Nothing from Nothing |
 SEASONS |
 M |
 'previously unreleased' set |
 NEVER EVER |
 Endless sorrow |
 UNITE! |
 Dearest |
 excerpts from ayu-mi-x-III |
 Free & Easy |
 H |
 Voyage |
 & |
 forgiveness |
 Moments |
 INSPIRE |
 CAROLS |
 STEP you / is this LOVE? |
 HEAVEN |
 Bold & Delicious |
 Startin' |
 BLUE BIRD |
 glitter |
|
| OTHER | |||||
 Remixes compilation |
 Remixes compilation |
 Songs compilation |
 Songs compilation |
 Songs compilation |
 Songs compilation |
 Self-made songs compilation |
 Self-made songs compilation |
 Songs compilation |
 Songs compilation |
 Songs compilation |
 18 CD/VCD set |
 Songs compilation |
 Songs compilation |
 Songs compilation |
 Songs compilation |
 Songs compilation |
 Songs compilation |
 Songs compilation |
 Songs compilation |
 Songs compilation |
 Songs compilation |
 Songs compilation |
 Songs compilation |
 |
|||||
| COPIES OF OFFICIAL PRODUCTS | |||||
 A Film for XX |
 Concert Tour 2000 vol.1 |
 Concert Tour 2000 vol.2 |
 Countdown Live 2000-2001 |
 Dome Tour 2001 |
 A Clips vol.2 |
 Countdown Live 2001-2002 |
 Arena Tour 2002 |
 Stadium Tour 2002 |
 Countdown Live 2002-2003 |
 'Complete Live' set |
 A Museum |
 Complete Clip box |
 Arena Tour 2003-2004 |
 Countdown Live 2004-2005 |
 Arena Tour 2005 - MY STORY |
 Countdown Live 2005-2006 |
 Arena Tour 2006 - (miss)understood |
 Countdown Live 2006-2007 |
 Countdown Live 2007-2008 |
 Countdown Live 2008-2009 |
|||
| OTHER | |||||
 Self-made video compilation |
 Self-made video compilation |
 Self-made video compilation |
 Self-made video compilation |
 Self-made video compilation |
 Video compilation |
 Video compilation |
 Video compilation |
 Video compilation |
 Video compilation |
 Video compilation |
 Video compilation |
 Video compilation |
 Video compilation |
 Video compilation |
 'AYUREADY?' TV programs |
 Video compilation |
 Self-made video compilation |
 Self-made video compilation |
 Self-made video compilation |
 Self-made video compilation |
 Self-made video compilation |
 Self-made video compilation |
 Self-made video compilation |
 Self-made video compilation |
 Self-made video compilation |
 Self-made video compilation |
 Video compilation |
 Video compilation |
 Video compilation |
 Video compilation |
 Self-made video compilation |
 Self-made video compilation |
 Self-made video compilation |
 Video compilation |
 Self-made video compilation |
 Video compilation |
 Self-made video compilation |
 Video compilation |
 'Depend on You' video CD |
 TeamAyu Live concert 2003 |
 Video compilation |
 'Moments' video CD |
 Self-made video compilation |
 Self-made video compilation |
 Video compilation |
 Video compilation |
 Video compilation |
 'Fairyland' video CD |
 Video compilation |
||||
| If you come across any of the above, please let me know - I will add them here (thanks to Fabrizio, Lucas, Johanna, Laura Carreras, Rody and Tyran the Dark who sent interesting info and to orange89, who sent a number of pictures and tips on buying legitimate products in China [now, as I've been in Beijing myself - additional details are available in the shopping guide]). There is, of course, a possibility that some products may actually be licensed - in this case I unreservedly apologise and will take these items out of the list below immediately, ...as soon as someone tells me. | |||||
| If you want to be
100% sure that the product you buy is a legitimate one, I'd suggest using
an online store that does not sell this kind of stuff. YesAsia.com
is the typical choice. The range of products is the biggest, prices are
comparatively low, and delivery is (in my experience) quick
and reliable. As I was reminded several times, it would be much more convenient to provide more information on the ORIGINAL products. After all, the intention is to discourage people to buy illegal stuff, and one of the best ways of doing it - is to encourage the same people to purchase the original items. Therefore, links to relevant YesAsia pages are now provided here and in other parts of eneabba.net. |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |