Via Tokyograph: Japanese pop superstar Utada Hikaru announced that she intends to go on an indefinite break. Utada cited personal reasons, like wanting to study and travel.

But before that, she intends to release a second Best of album that will include hits from year 2004 onwards; the first volume was released in 2004 and spanned hits from 2003 and earlier.

One of the most talented and best-selling singers in Japanese pop music history, Utada released her first single when she was just fifteen years old.

Alongside her success, she’s also had a tumultuous personal life. She was married at nineteen to her music video directer who was fifteen years her senior. Her parents’ marriage also ended in divorce, which according to rumour mills was partly due to the strain of managing Utada’s career.

Hikki — as Hikaru is known by her Japanese fans, is best known for her drama, movie, and game themes including “Automatic”, “First Love”, “Final Distance”, “Sakura Drops”, “Dareka no Negai ga Kanau Koro”, “Hikari”, and “Passion”. Hikaru is also an avid gamer and a champion Tetris player.