TV: Scrip: One of Japan's most famous singing stars, Ayumi Hamasaki, has revealed that she has gone deaf in her left ear.br br Hamasaki, 29, is a pop icon in Japan and influential across other partsbr of Asia, with dozens of number one hit singles and albums to her name.br br She has a string of concerts set up for the spring, according to herbr official Web site which she vowed to go on with despite the ear problem.br Sports Nippon newspaper reported on Thursday (January 10) that Hamasaki hadbr left Japan for Italy to film a commercial. "Last year I had a hearing test and found out my left ear was not functioning at all and that there was no way of curing it," anotherbr newspaper, Sankei Sports, quoted her as saying in her blog, which is open onlybr to registered members of her fan club, earlier in the week.br br "But I want to keep singing as long as my right ear holdsbr out," Hamasaki added to the newspaper.br br Many young residents of Tokyo were shocked and sorry to hear of theirbr top star's ailment. br "I sing in a band and so I know how difficult it must be for herbr to have lost even partly her hearing. It's a real shame," said Yuribr Fukuro (pronounced Yoo-ree, Foo-koo-roh), a 19-year-old student who said shebr was not necessarily a fan of Hamasaki's but enjoyed her musicbr nevertheless.br "She rules at the top of the J-pop pantheon so the fact that she'sbr lost her hearing is a big deal," added Tomonori Hayashi (pronouncedbr Toh-moh-noh-ree Hah-yah-shee), a 21-year-old Tokyo resident who said he workedbr in the music industry.br The singer, who is also a hugely successful model, whose fashion sensebr has inspired many imitators, is celebrating 10 years since she reluctantlybr launched her career after being persuaded by a music producer she met bybr chance. Hamasaki just released her latest album "Guilty" in Japan onbr January 1st, 2008.