Seiko Matsuda was Japan's teeny-bopper queen for 17 years and now she wants to be a star on a bigger stage.
Her first move was to learn song-writing and how to produce her own albums.
Next step was a massive promotion tour in Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan - where she was warmly welcomed - for her debut English album Was it the Future.
'I hope that someday I can bring my concerts to Asian countries. It's hard to believe my popularity outside Japan,' Seiko beamed. 'People say that I am hot in Taiwan, Singapore and Hong Kong but maybe they are being polite.' Maybe, but unlikely. Her promotion tour in Taipei lured more than 200 reporters to a press conference. Even the US pop metal band Bon Jovi did not cause such a commotion when they performed in Taipei.
'I didn't expect so many people know me in Taipei, but I believe in the power of great music. Everything starts from there. If I make great music, they will listen to me.' The petite Seiko, 34, has recently made another attempt to prove her musicianship. Her latest Japanese album, Vanity Fair, features her as the producer as well as the writer of eight of the 10 tracks.
Seiko said that when her career started 16 years ago she was not sure of success.
'When I was little, I never ever thought about being a singer. I wanted to be a flight attendant,' she reminisced.