And matsellah:

Some of those similaries aren't even worth noticing. A lot of stars use Thai-style long nails and cowboy hats. A lot of stars recycle certain popular trends (flames, etc) often, and Ayu has even admitted that Madonna is a large influence on her (come to think of it, Madonna's probably an influence to quite a number of female pop stars).

 

And I apologize if that was offensive to any Kumi fans. I may not agree with her decision to sell sex so much, but I have to admit she's pretty smart to rise to that much success in a short amount of time.

 

Yes, Ayumi did have plastic surgery, but it's the kind that is not controversial in Asia. She most likely had her eyelids split (as many Asians are born single-lidded). This surgery is very common in Asia and thus is not the big deal it appears to be in the West. As for Koda Kumi, I think she's much too tan...

Furthermore, Ayumi is as successful as she is due to the many facets of her music. She can be fun and flirty (STEP you), deep and emotional (Memorial Address, Pride), rockish and grungey (Because of You, alterna), straight up trancey pop (Whatever, Trauma), and new wave unique (M, fun interludes like Are You Wake Up). Koda Kumi really only has one dimension to her music: sex bomb. Whenever Ayumi makes a sexy video, it's to prove a point (the current corruption of the music industry in 1LOVE), and when Koda Kumi makes a sexy video, it's for her male fanbase to get off of (sorry to put it so bluntly, but...yeah). Furthermore, Ayumi is so much more creative in her lyric writing and promotional videos, whereas Kumi pretty much passes off dry humping as dancing in each one.

Ayumi sells her feelings in her music, while Kumi sells her body. And sadly, the latter garners much more appeal in recent years.