Sep 21 (NHK) - Popular Japanese singer Namie Amuro has announced that she will retire next September.
Amuro made the announcement on her official website on Wednesday, the day of her 40th birthday.
She said she will retire on September 16th, 2018. She stated that she made the decision because September 16th of this year marked the 25th anniversary of the start of her career.
She went on to say that she will make the most of the upcoming 12-month period. She will release a final album and give concerts.
Amuro was born in Okinawa Prefecture and debuted in 1992 as a member of an idol group.
She went solo afterward and had numerous hit songs while working with music producer Tetsuya Komuro.