On November 14, singer Hamasaki Ayumi (34) and her backup dancer Uchiyama Maroka (28) each announced on their individual blogs that they are currently dating.

Their relationship will be covered in the November 15 issue of weekly magazine 'Josei Seven', but on November 14, she announced on her fan club�s website blog: �Because I did not want to keep this secret from everyone, I [now] choose to clarify it. Maro-chan and I are in a serious relationship.�

Maro, who has served as Hamasaki�s backup dancer since the summer of 2007, also stated, �I will continue to take it as seriously as I currently do.�

In January of this year, Hamasaki divorced Austrian actor Manuel Schwarz to whom she was married to for one year.

Source and Image: Sanspo