Dearest (Ayumi Hamasaki song)

"Dearest" is a song by Japanese recording artist Ayumi Hamasaki, taken from her fourth studio album I Am.... It was released as her 24th single on September 27, 2001. The single was also released at the same time as the remix albums Super Eurobeat Presents Ayu-ro Mix 2 and Cyber Trance Presents Ayu Trance. The song was written and co-composed by Hamasaki (under the alias Crea), alongside composer Dai Nagao, and produced by businessman Max Matsuura. "Dearest" is an impassioned torch song with lyrics that carry themes of love, loss, and the longing for eternal happiness.

Critics viewed "Dearest" as a standout track from I Am... and complimented Hamasaki's lyrics and vocal delivery. It also achieved success in Japan, peaking at number one on the Oricon Singles Chart and on the TBS Count Down TV chart. It has amassed cumulative sales of 750,000 and is listed as one of her best-selling singles. The song's critical and commercial success won it the grand prix at the 43rd Japan Record Awards and the 34th Japan Cable Awards.

The accompanying music video for "Dearest" was directed by Wataru Takeishi, and is a symbolic representation of how Hamasaki thought Avex viewed her as a product at the time. The song was used in TV commercials of Japanese mobile company Tu-Ka, and also as the third ending theme of the YTV anime InuYasha. Both the music video and the song has appeared on several compilations by Hamasaki, including A Ballads, A Best 2 (2007) and A Complete: All Singles (2008). For additional promotion, the title track was performed at several concert tours by Hamasaki.