Elon Musk Reportedly Fathered Child With Japanese Pop Star, Ayumi Hamasaki Says It's Not Her
In an interview with
The New York Times
that was published last week, Ashley St. Clair, a conservative influencer who announced that she gave birth to Elon Musk's 14th child in February, claimed that the world's richest man has also fathered a baby with a Japanese pop star. Unsurprisingly, this sparked an online frenzy of speculation, with many suggesting Ayumi Hamasaki as the potential mother.
On Monday, she quashed that rumor. 'I've been keeping an eye on this, and I guess it's time for me to speak up. Elon Musk is not the father of [either of] my children,' she wrote on her Instagram story. The singer added that she could understand why people thought it was her as it was the 'sort of thing' she would do.
Hamasaki continued, 'Even my mom laughed when she heard the rumors, saying, 'This seems kind of Ayu-like,' and if I were someone else,
I'd
probably be
saying 'Ayu is the pop star [St Clair] was talking about, right?' But
it's
just not true. Setting aside my personal image, when my kids are old enough to start Googling things
,
I
don't
want them to run into the rumors and think
they're
true, so
I'm
firmly denying them.'
About Ayumi Hamasaki
J-pop royalty, Hamasaki is the best-selling solo artist in Japan's history, with sales exceeding 50 million units. She has the most number-one singles by a female singer and the most consecutive number-one hits by a solo artist.
A Best
, the first greatest hits album by Hamasaki, was released on the same day as
Distance
by
Hikaru Utada
. They were the two best-selling albums of the 2000s.
At the end of 2019, Hamasaki gave birth to her first child, a son. Her second child, another boy, was born in the spring of 2021. She has never publicly revealed who is the father of either of her children. Hamasaki was married to Austrian actor and model Manuel Schwarz between 2011 and 2012. Her second marriage was to American medical student Tyson Bodkin from 2013 to 2016.
Related Posts
A Complete Guide to 50 Years of Music in Japan (1970-2020)
Elon Musk's Tweet About Japan's Low Birthrate Described as 'Fatuous'
Japan Back Then: The Stories That Gripped the Nation in the 2000s
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
SoraNews24
3 hours ago
- SoraNews24
One Piece sets sail for Dodger Stadium for One Piece Night pro baseball event and giveaways
Luffy and crew return to the City of Angels this summer. Luffy and his One Piece cohorts are always ready to set sail for new adventures in places they've never been before, and this summer that spirit is guiding them to Dodger Stadium for a collaboration with Major League Baseball. When the Los Angeles Dodgers face off against the Chicago White Sox on July 3, not only will it be the eve of Independence Day, it'll also be One Piece Night. The stadium will be decked out in special decorations featuring the cast of the hit anime/manga, and there will also be a number of One Piece 'activations' set up around the venue, some of which will be distributing an exclusive One Piece Card Game card illustrated by series creator Eiichiro Oda himself. Luffy's pitch being a 'strike'-type attack is a clever bit of wordplay, and another cool design detail is the combination of his banded straw hat and the Dodgers' iconic LA-logo cap. Speaking of headwear, while giving away baseball caps at the stadium is a long-standing fan-appreciation night fixture, on One Piece Night the first 40,000 fans in attendance will receive, appropriately, straw hats with both the Dodgers and One Piece logos. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Los Angeles Dodgers (@dodgers) This marks One Piece's third sports stop in the City of Angels, following their team-ups with pro football's Los Angeles Rams in 2023 and pro basketball's Los Angeles Lakers in 2024. One Piece's affinity for the city might have something to do with it being where Toei Animation's American HQ is located (unlike the just-announced Netflix One Piece Lego sets, the sports collaborations are specifically for the anime/manga arms of the franchise). It's also hard to ignore that the presence of Shohei Ohtani on the Dodgers' roster has turned pretty much all of Japan into Dodgers supporters, so the partnership is sure to please home-country One Piece fans too. It's worth noting that the Rams and Lakers both won their One Piece games, and this season the Dodgers have had two anime-related success stories, winning games featuring Pokémon's Pikachu and the Sailor Moon theme song, so hopefully Luffy will lead them to victory too. Source: Major League Baseball via Anime News Network/Ken Iikura-Gross Top image: Instagram/toei_animation ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
Tokyo Reported
5 hours ago
- Tokyo Reported
How Japan Is Gradually Rethinking Cannabis
Despite some of the strictest cannabis laws in the industrialised world, Japan is quietly undergoing a cultural shift. Beneath the rigid surface of prohibition, attitudes toward cannabis – especially among younger generations and within creative subcultures – are gradually evolving. While legislation remains unchanged, public curiosity, wellness trends, and global influence are beginning to challenge long-held taboos. Unforgiving Law, Relentless Stigma Cannabis remains highly illegal in Japan. The Cannabis Control Act of 1948 prohibits possession, cultivation, and distribution, with violations punished by prison sentences of up to five years for personal use and up to ten years if linked to trafficking or profit. Even the smallest infraction can end a career and provoke intense media scrutiny. In 2020, actor Yūsuke Iseya was arrested for possessing 13 grams of marijuana and received a suspended sentence. Earlier cases involving celebrities like Pierre Taki and Erika Sawajiri led to similar public reckonings – including immediate removal from commercial campaigns, erased film roles, and public apologies delivered through tightly controlled press conferences. In Japan, punishment doesn't end with legal sentencing – it continues through prolonged social exclusion. A Legal Loophole and a Booming Market Yet even in this environment, cannabis-derived products are finding a way in – so long as they're THC-free. CBD, the non-intoxicating compound found in cannabis, is legally permitted in Japan if extracted solely from hemp stalks or seeds. This distinction has enabled a booming CBD industry in Tokyo and beyond. The Japanese CBD market was valued at approximately ¥18.2 billion (around $130 million USD) in 2023, more than doubling since 2019. According to Statista's latest forecast, the market is projected to grow steadily and exceed ¥24.4 billion (roughly $175 million USD) by 2027. This surge reflects a rising demand for cannabis-derived wellness products, despite Japan's ongoing restrictions on THC. Trend-conscious districts like Harajuku and Shibuya now house CBD cafes, skincare boutiques, and even yoga studios that incorporate CBD into wellness rituals – an ironic contrast to the nation's zero-tolerance stance on THC. This duality has sparked debate among legal experts, with some calling for clearer definitions of what should be considered a cannabis 'drug' versus a wellness supplement. For now, CBD's popularity offers a culturally acceptable way for consumers to interact with the cannabis plant – without the social and legal consequences. Cultural Undercurrents and Global Influence Despite low reported use – less than 2% of Japanese people say they've ever consumed cannabis, compared to over 40% in the U.S., according to UNODC data – underground interest is growing. Young adults, especially those exposed to Western culture via music, fashion, and streaming platforms, are quietly shifting perceptions. Japanese hip-hop, streetwear, and nightlife increasingly borrow from cannabis-infused aesthetics. Artists like KOHH have referenced weed in lyrics. Visual design elements – from stylised leaf motifs to green-themed branding – have crept into fashion. Though subtle, these signals mark a generational change that's harder to detect in surveys but easy to spot in street culture. Globally, Japan is also under pressure to modernise. Nearby countries like Thailand have moved to legalise medical cannabis, and South Korea now permits some medicinal use under strict regulation. In 2023, Japan's Ministry of Health took a small but meaningful step by recommending revisions to the Cannabis Control Act that would legalise specific medical cannabis formulations such as Epidiolex, already approved in the EU and U.S. for rare seizure disorders. Such changes are incremental, but they indicate that the conversation – long absent from mainstream discourse – has officially begun. The Risky Business of Seeds and Access Where recreational use remains criminalised, demand often shifts to discreet, private alternatives. Some users cultivate their own cannabis, risking harsh penalties in exchange for personal supply. They often obtain seeds online through international seedbanks that operate in a legal grey zone. Platforms like Herbies Seeds, known for global distribution, are frequently cited in user forums and cannabis communities as a source of high-quality genetics – though importing even ungerminated seeds remains illegal under Japanese law. With growing digital literacy and access to encrypted messaging, such practices continue to spread below the radar. But the risks are real: Japanese customs and cybercrime units are well-resourced, and arrests for seed importation, while rare, can result in serious legal consequences. A Culture in Transition Japan's cannabis culture isn't being driven by protests or mass movements. Instead, it's evolving through quiet interactions – a CBD latte here, a discreet vape pen there, a whispered conversation between university friends or music producers backstage. Whether this gradual change will lead to meaningful legal reform remains unclear. But what's certain is that the rigid narratives around cannabis – once seen as absolute – are beginning to soften. For now, Japan remains a place where the plant is both feared and cautiously explored, vilified in headlines and quietly discussed over drinks. In this contradiction lies the truth: change, in Japan, rarely comes as a wave. It arrives slowly, patiently – and by the time it's visible, it's already well underway.
Tokyo Weekender
5 hours ago
- Tokyo Weekender
Enchanting Hydrangea Festivals To Visit in Japan This Summer
As rainy season sweeps across Japan, vibrant bursts of color begin to bloom in gardens, temples and parks — signaling the arrival of hydrangea season. Celebrated for their lush petals and shifting hues, hydrangeas, or ajisai in Japanese, hold a special place in the country's early summer landscape. Each year, cities and countryside alike come alive with festivals dedicated to these iconic flowers, offering visitors a chance to stroll through breathtaking displays, enjoy local traditions and embrace the serene beauty of the season. Take a trip to some of Japan's most enchanting hydrangea festivals happening this summer. List of Contents: Hydrangea Festivals Summer 2025 Related Posts Hydrangea Festivals Summer 2025 Bunkyo Hydrangea Festival 2025 See over 3,000 blossoming hydrangea shrubs at Hakusan Shrine. Experience the beauty of Japan's summer season with a wide array of ajisai, or hydrangeas, of various species all filling the area with bursts of blue, pink and purple. Enjoy the hydrangeas, alongside other festival attractions including food stalls, art exhibitions and interactive activities. Date & Time Jun 07-15・・10:00–17:00 (Saturdays), 10:00–16:00 (Sundays) Price Free Location Hakusan Shrine More Details Wonderful Nature Village Hydrangea Festival 2025 Wonderful Nature Village in Akiruno is home to over 15,000 blossoming flowers of an impressive 60 varieties. The hydrangea area covers 30,000 square meters that spreads along a hiking trail, so visitors can walk through the stunning scenery. Date & Time Jun 07-Jul 06・09:00-17:00 Price ¥850 Location Wonderful Nature Village More Info Free for elementary school children, admission to the dog park is also included with your ticket More Details Wisteria and Hydrangea Early Summer Goldfish 2025 Dive into the beauty of early summer at Art Aquarium Museum GINZA's Wisteria and Hydrangea Early Summer Goldfish 2025. Date & Time Apr 25-Jun 22・10:00-19:00・Last Entry at 18:00 Price ¥2,500 - ¥2,700 Location Art Aquarium Museum GINZA More Info Free Admission for elementary school children More Details Kaiseimachi Hydrangea Festival 2025 Every year, in the quaint town of Kaisei, Kanagawa, 5,000 vibrant hydrangeas blossom with the backdrop of countryside rice fields. The festival makes for a beautiful escape from city life. Date & Time Jun 07-15・08:30-17:15 Price ¥1,000 Location Kaisei Hydrangea Village More Details Related Posts The 10 Best Places To See Hydrangeas in Tokyo Rainy Season Style: How To Stay Both Dry and Fashionable During Tsuyu Less-Crowded Shrines To See Red Torii Gates (That Aren't Fushimi Inari)
