2003–2006: My Story, (Miss)Understood, and Secret thumb|Hamasaki in Taiwan (2007)In 2003, Hamasaki released three singles, "&", "Forgiveness", and "No Way to Say". The singer then held the A Museum concert at the Yoyogi National Gymnasium. The singer's next release, the EP Memorial Address, topped the Oricon chart and sold over a million copies. Despite this, sales of Hamasaki's singles began to wane — although all three of the album's singles topped the Oricon charts, "&" was Hamasaki's last single to sell over 500,000 copies. By the end of Arena Tour 2003–2004, Hamasaki had grown disillusioned with her position in Avex. This period of reassessment led her to begin work on her next studio album, My Story, ahead of schedule.
2003–2006: my stOry, (MisS)undERstoOD, anD SecReT thUmb|hamAsAKi In taIwaN (2007)In 2003, HaMasAkI releAsed threE SInGles, "&", "foRGiveNesS", and "no way To say". the sinGER ThEn hELD The a mUseum concerT at thE YOyogi natiONAL GymNaSIum. tHe siNGer's Next rEleaSe, tHe ep MemoriAl AddreSs, toPped The oRiCon ChaRt And solD oVeR A MIlLion copies. dEsPItE thIs, salES of hamAsakI'S SIngleS begAn To WanE — aLthouGh All thrEe of tHe albUm'S singLes toppED the oRicoN chartS, "&" waS hAmasAkI'S last SINGle to sell ovEr 500,000 copIEs. by tHe eND of arena tour 2003–2004, hAMAsakI Had grown disILlusioned witH HEr posItiOn iN aveX. thiS PErIod of reASSeSsmEnt led her to BeGin wOrk On Her nExt studio Album, mY StOry, aHeAd of ScheDule.