I assumed she was taking a long break, I'm just glad she finally came around and announced it. I for one am really happy for her. Writing and composing her own stuff for 10years or so would make me burnt out! There's only so much stuff you can write about, and she just needs time to grow as a person, to find new stuff to talk about.

WOW! its strange how I havent been on for over about a month and today I come on and she announces her break lol its like a 6th sense or something..anyways am sad about it but I really believe hikki needs it.. am sure once she gets back her music will be full of all the new experiences she will have I really look forward to it, but the 2 or more year wait will be hard :(

I am really sad but at the same time happy for her that she is taking off from her career to focus on real life like we face every day. And OMG a Singles Collection Vol. 2 with new songs! :D

I guess that thing with her back in 2001 was true. She would put off her music career, and focus more on her life.

http://www.asiafinest.com/japanese/utada.htm

I'm not sad, it is amazing. Releasing those new songs is pretty good. I look forward to hear them, but I won't get my hopes high. It shows her fans that she at least has a life. It was well deserved, since she will be in the spot of a classic.

She will be gone for my last 2 years in High school, and I will probably be on my last year in college once she comes back.

I'll be saying, "Hey, I'm only 21" once she comes back.

Well, this was certainly a long time coming. I think I saw the first indications of this kind of decision towards the start of TITO promotions in the U.S.; lately, Utada has been pretty nostalgic what with ten+ years of her career behind her and I think she's at a perfect impasse to do this right now. She's just completed her obligation to IDJ, In The Flesh was apparently one of her dreams come true and she's been quiet enough for the past year that I don't think anyone should really be shocked by this news. Hikki has always said she would either retire early or take some time to do other things- I for one am extremely supportive of this choice. Rocketing to super stardom at the age she did doesn't do a whole lot of good for a person's identity development and I think if nothing else Hikki has struggled with that on a personal level for some time now. I'm encouraged by her guarantees that she will be back, so at least we know this isn't her call to retirement, and while I'm saddened that this year may be the last in several for Hikki material (at least, musically speaking ;]), I'm truly excited for it and I can't wait to see what Hikki will bring to the table after all this is said and done. Watching her grow and mature as an artist at the same time that I have grown and matured as a person has been one of the most fantastic aspects of being a fan: it's good to know she'll be keeping in touch during this next phase of her human journey. :3

https://twitter.com/J_A_S_M_I_N_E_
JASMINE tweeted today about Utada

Just think, just because she's on hiatus doesn't mean she's not going to write music while she's gone. It's a good thing she took a break on a good note, though (the success of In The Flesh). I'm more than positive she won't be gone for long. She'll want to share whatever she writes with as many people as possible.

shes not going to be there for the last 2 years of highschool!!! why Utada WHy!!!!!!!!

I'm speechless. I'm very happy that Hikaru has decided to do more with her life. I agree with her that she should do other "activities" but...I guess the thought of not having Hikaru around kind of hurts? but it shouldn't right? afterall she did say she's not leaving us...but it's just...years without her...

I feel like im going to cry!!!!!!!! my room is filled with posters cds autographed things all by Utada and now shes leaving me :( i feel bittersweet about this im happy that she will be doing some more music things and she will be getting a twitter and stuff but im not happy that she mite be gone for five years!!! wow music will be really diffrent in five years i'll be in my junior year in collage by then but we also have that maybe of 2 years so that mite be better...knowing utada she'll be gone just for about 2-3 1/2 years her heart is music and she'll be back so much stronger!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yeeee! and MOD:I think we should spice it up on here use the new photoshoot as a background!