Reposting because this didn't deserve to die on the last page
Absolute Milestones:
A BEST by Ayumi Hamasaki and
First Love by Utada Hikaru are the most successful female albums of all time in Japan. Both are a great introduction to each of these women. Koda Kumi's
BEST ~first things~ and
BEST ~second session~ were smash albums that catapulted her career and made her a huge star in the 2000's. A lot of Namie's stuff sounds dated. I would star with
Best Fiction and then experiment from there.