A Best

A Best
The cardboard sleeve cover used to hold the standard jewel case.
Greatest hits album by Ayumi Hamasaki
Released	March 28, 2001 (2001-03-28)
Recorded	1998–2000
Genre	Pop
Length	76:01
Label	Avex Trax
Producer	Max Matsuura
Ayumi Hamasaki chronology
Duty (2000) A Best (2001) I Am... (2002)
Singles from A Best
"M" Released: December 13, 2000

A Best (stylized as BEST) is the first greatest hits album by Japanese singer-songwriter Ayumi Hamasaki. It was released on March 28, 2001, by Avex Trax and Avex Music Creative Inc. Hamasaki had originally planned to release the greatest hits album after her 2002 studio album I Am..., but the idea was denied by Avex head staff. Instead, Avex released the album in 2001, which caused conflict between the label and Hamasaki. The compilation was released in two different formats including a physical and a digital release. Seven different artworks were released in several editions of the album. The album includes one new track, three re-recorded tracks, and the rest of previously released singles.

A Best was lauded by contemporary critics who noted the quality and memorability of the tracks. Many also labeled the album as one of the best representations of Japanese pop music. Released purposely against fellow Japanese musician Hikaru Utada's studio album Distance for direct competition, the compilation entered at number two on Japan's Oricon Albums Chart. It reached number one the following week, and sold over five million units in Japan. The album's lead single "M" was released on December 13, 2000, and reached the top spot on the Oricon Singles Chart.

In support of Hamasaki's third studio album Duty and A Best, Hamasaki held two concerts at Japan's Tokyo Dome. The tour was a massive crowd-puller, and one live recording was released. Since its release, the album brought Hamasaki a myriad of accolades and award nominations with a conga line of successful recognition throughout Eastern and Western publications. A Best is listed as the sixth best-selling album in Japan overall.^[1] In 2016, Hamasaki re-released the album on that same date as a 15th-anniversary celebration; this included new material and formats. Hamasaki promoted the reissue with a Japanese concert tour, entitled Made in Japan.