Man, this topic has been talked to death at every single Japanese music board I frequent.
So here's the bottom line -
She's releasing an album. It might be popular, it might not. Some of us want her to be popular, some of us don't. Some of us like her, some of us don't. Either way, it doesn't affect her position in Japan, but it was nice buying a cd here and not importing it.
There! I just saved endless amounts of speculation and stupid banter!
Now to go start the obligatory 'AYU VS. HIKKI' thread that hasn't made it here yet.
(Although in place of the AYU is sooooo cool!!!111' threads we get more OP and ED threads than you can shake a stick at.
)