No, really, it's not. She's popular for her lyrics. If you want someone who IS popular for her sex appeal, you just mentioned her. Koda Kumi is an example of an artist who became popular due to her sex appeal. Not that she's not somewhat talented, but the majority of her popularity came from her over sexual image for most of her career. Although that's died down some after the amniotic fluid scandal.
You don't have the slightest clue about the Japanese market or what it takes to be successful long term there. Ayumi is 33. She lost any semblance of "sex appeal" to the Japanese people a LONG time ago. And that's never what she was popular for. You never see her being remotely sexual in any of her videos. She was famous for her personal lyrics, a rarity in the Japanese market especially in 1998 when she debuted. Her lyrics touched people. If you see her live you'll notice that most of the fans in the audience are women. Because, you know, women are totally the ones who'd like a female artist because she's "sexy."
We can disagree, you can believe what you want about Ayumi's voice. And I can believe what I want. But know that it is your opinion and don't go masquerading it around as fact. And I'll do the same. What I have just spent the time laboriously explaining to you is, however, documented fact. You cannot dominate the market for 13 years, especially in a market that people are generally lucky if they're popular for two or three years, because you're "pretty." Ayumi is a talented songwriter, that's where her strength is. She may not be a vocal wonder, but she is a talented individual.
Also, as much as I love me some Koda Kumi ballads, Ai Wo Tomenaide is probably one of her worst. It sounds like Aitakute with ~dramatical instruments~ and Aitakute was one of the worst songs on Deja vu
