'I really like Madonna. What I admire is she's made it on her own terms.' Ayumi Hamasaki

'I was born my mother's son, but I will die my sister's brother. I no longer balk at the truth, because when all is said and done and written, I am truly proud…

'She's incredibly brave and she's got a real mischevious quality about her. I find her very compelling, really daring.' (SPIN, Interview 98/04)

'She has a big heart.'