Tokyo fans pay big bucks to meet Michael Jackson
Last Updated: Sunday, March 4, 2007 | 6:49 PM ET
CBC Arts
His popularity has waned considerably in the United States, but it seems Michael Jackson still has some currency in Japan.
Jackson arrived in Tokyo on Sunday, his second visit in recent years, to hold court at an exclusive party where admirers will fork over $3,500 US to spend as little as 30 seconds in his company.
Michael Jackson waves to fans on his arrival at Narita International Airport near Tokyo on Sunday. Jackson is hosting an exclusive party where fans get to spend 30 seconds with the pop icon for $3,500 US.
(Itsuo Inouye/Associated Press)
Sporting his usual dark sunglasses along with a black leather jacket, Jackson was greeted by hundreds of fans Sunday afternoon at Narita airport. On Thursday he will attend the party where guests get 30 seconds to one minute each of exclusive face time with the pop music star, 48.
It was unclear whether Jackson, who made his first official visit to Japan following his 2005 acquittal on child molestation charges in the U.S., would perform any songs.
"Tokyo is such a wonderful place, and I look forward to speaking to my friends and fans at both events. My fans have been so loving and supportive of me," Jackson said in an earlier statement postponing the Tokyo event to March from December.
Fan winners get brunch with MJ
While in Tokyo, Jackson will also host a fan art contest on Friday for those who cannot afford VIP tickets, organizer Broderick Morris said in an e-mail.
"Over the years, as Michael Jackson has performed in cities around the world, he has been pleased, honoured, and impressed by the large amount of fan art of him," Morris wrote. "He would like to meet fan artists, and more fully appreciate and enjoy their creative expressions."
Three winning artists chosen by Jackson will have brunch with the star and have their picture taken together.
One of the best selling recording artists of all time, Jackson has lived abroad since his 2005 acquittal, forsaking his Neverland Ranch in California for residences in Bahrain, France and a castle in Ireland.
He appeared on stage at the World Music Awards in London last November, singing a few lines from We Are The World, but skipping an expected rendition of his hit song Thriller.
With files from the Assoicated PressShare Tools
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