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AKB48, Misia to sing at cherry blossom concerts in Washington to thank U.S.

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There was an article in the Washington Post this past Sunday indicating that 6 of the original trees are still alive, even though the normal life-span of the Yoshino Cherry tree is only 50 years. According to the article, they look like shriveled gnomes after all the years of pruning and pampering, but they still bloom every Spring! They also note that one cherry tree didn't make it through the Winter and had died... it had been planted last year. To quote the paper, "Whippersnapper!". :-)

I suppose I will have to attend the AKB48 concert just so I can comment on them in the future from actual experience rather than hearsay. I wanted to visit the festival this year anyways, this just narrows down the timeframe.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

waza waza ... all the way to US just to say "Thank You !"

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

I'm going to wait for all posters who hate AKB48 to post their usual stuff..

Good luck to the girls though and I hope they have a fun time over there.

4 ( +10 / -6 )

Japan's way to thank the US is by subjecting them to the frenzied marketing of AKB48?

5 ( +14 / -9 )

Naysayers are pretty hilarious. God bless AKB48.

-5 ( +7 / -12 )

Surely there are singers/groups or other cultural icons with more substance who could represent Japan for this purpose - a wasted opportunity. Have you seen the new commercial they (AKB48) are in passing a candy from lip to lip? - nice for otaku fantasies but hardly family appropriate.

3 ( +8 / -5 )

D.C. is blessed indeed.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Thousands of otaku on the eastern seaboard of the US are rejoicing this day.

5 ( +8 / -3 )

waza waza ... all the way to US just to say "Thank You !"

Since when was good manners too much trouble? Should have sent a fax?

Will be interested to see how they are received though, I didn't have the AKB crowd as the US' proverbial "cup of tea" - hopefully the message gets through.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

[hate mode on]From all the talented singers that this country has, they chose to send AKB48? Oh, my God....if were American living in the Eastern coast, I would be shivering from the excitement...[hate mode off]

To be honest, i would prefer an Enka singer. I think it would fit better to the concept of the festival, but of course east coast otaku might have different opinion.

p.s Good choice for Misia though.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

The gift that keeps on giving...

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Lucky the concerts are free or nobody will show.f

4 ( +5 / -1 )

SERIOUSLY...? I understand that AKB is a cultural phenom, but it doesn't mean they should represent Japan for a centennial celebration between the two countries. They don't have the proper cultural identity. It would be appropriate if they were performing at ComiCon or the International Music Awards. Just not for an opportunity like this... More reasons for people to ridicule J-pop. They probably don't even know where the capital of the United States is... haha.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Misia? OK. AKB? No. How about Yoshida Miwa or someone else who can really sing and perhaps even sing in English?

2 ( +4 / -2 )

I think they are cute, and I am sure young guys will love watching them. Unlike SMAP and many other bands here, they can sing on key.

I hope the girls each get at least ¥100 per album sold.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

At least SMAP guys look intelligent, not like candy brained idiots.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

I hope they are handing out earplugs at the event. I mean let's face it. The music doesn't mean a thing at all. These girls are just trained moving eye candy for the otakus etc. Sad. I agree with Antonios_m. Why couldn't they get something more traditional? Someone singing 'sukiyaki' I imagine would have gone down a lot better.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Instead of AKBoring48, Hikaru Utada should have been asked to represent Japan. Now, that lady can sing. And, being half American is an additional plus.

A missed opportunity.

RR

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Betcha there'd be protest that say Japan stop sexualizing girls, hahaha.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

I pray that Misia follows AKB and not vice-versa. I realize they are both there to say thanks and promote sales, and the former is definitely a good thing, but it would be better to lessen the shock of seeing AKB48 with someone who's actually talented than following someone who's talented with the vapid nature of AKB48.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

I pray that Misia follows AKB and not vice-versa. I realize they are both there to say thanks and promote sales, and the former is definitely a good thing, but it would be better to lessen the shock of seeing AKB48 with someone who's actually talented than following someone who's talented with the vapid nature of AKB48.

Reading Skills 101 FAIL. Misia performs two whole days before AKB48 does. Has everybody forgotten how to read articles to glean facts?

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Don't like the girls? Don't go to the show. Simple.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

To everyone saying they should have sent someone more "traditional"...the US sent Cyndi Lauper to Japan, right?

Seriously, I can understand that some might feel the venue isn't suited for these girls. However, I have to admit that I had never even heard of AKB48 prior to coming to Japan. The organizers may have wanted to promote this event to a more youthful crowd and I think that most Americans will genuinely get a kick out of the girls and their show. The point is that while many of you may have become disenfranchised or bored with this group, for many in the US it's a brand new experience...wish them well!

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

the US sent Cyndi Lauper to Japan, right?

No, that was not an act of government. It was her own idea.

for many in the US it's a brand new experience

Lord help them

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Well, it is the thought that counts when giving a gift to say thanks. Several kinds of music from Japan will be heard, including traditional. Don't forget, the US has teen age type groups too, so we won't be shocked. I hope some will be on TV, as I live a long way from DC.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

1, Why thanks US? So many other countries has sent so much help to Japan. 2, Thanks with AKB? This is more likely an insult. 3, I would like to say "thank you US", because of your attitude I am paying higher bill on my gas. BTW, Gifts we don t give back, so keep AKB for you.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

And Misia, she has the talent that nor AKB, nor any j/kpop group has, her voice.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Peggy's right. DC goes "Japan-Crazy" during the annual Cherry Blossom Festival and it has nothing to do with otakus. This year is going to be even worse as it's the 100'th anniversary of the first trees arriving in the capital. Case in point: Tickets for the opening ceremony on March 25th were all given out by February 2nd.

Misia and Hideki Togi will perform at the above-mentioned opening ceremony, so if you don't already have a ticket all you can hope for is that some are turned back in before the event. Interestingly, there's nothing on the festival website about the AKB48 performance. http://www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org

For those bemoaning the use of AKB48 as "goodwill ambassadors", there is at least one other person who agrees with you: Check out the February 26th "Dahl's Japan" cartoon from cartoonist Roger Dahl at http://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/cartoons.html

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

1, Why thanks US? So many other countries has sent so much help to Japan.

Because if you'd been paying attention you'd know they're being sent all over the world to say "Thanks". They're currently in Britain saying "Thanks". Their visit to DC at the end of the month coincides with the National Cherry Blossom Festival, then they will go to other countries. Wakarimashita? Comprende? Understand? They're not singling-out the U.S. in their "Thanks". And why do you question them wanting to thank the U.S.? Are you suggesting that the help provided by the U.S. wasn't worth thanking them for?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The concerts are free but you had to get a reservation. They are not going to be paid and thus it is a thank you. Fadamor, thought Dahl was making a comment about Japans bad foreign service and not taking a swipe at the girls. Really if you do not like them, ignore them.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

The concerts are free but you had to get a reservation. They are not going to be paid and thus it is a thank you. Fadamor, thought Dahl was making a comment about Japans bad foreign service and not taking a swipe at the girls. Really if you do not like them, ignore them.

You are correct that Dahl was for the most part taking a swipe at Japan's Foreign Service, but by holding up AKB48 as the example of how far the Foreign Service has fallen, he's also making a commentary on AKB48's suitability to be "Goodwill Ambassadors".

As I've said before, I currently have no opinion of AKB48's act one way or the other. I've never heard them nor seen their performance so to comment based solely on hearsay would turn me into one of those "talking heads" I really loathe. I respectfully reserve judgement on their merits until after I am able to view them in person. (Videos and audio files do not represent a group's act like an actual concert does.) If the concerts are already sold out, then it looks like it will be a while longer before I am able to offer my opinion of their act.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Japan sent 3,020 cherry trees in 1912 as a symbol of friendship with the United States and—even though the two countries went to war three decades later—the annual festival remains one of Washington’s major tourist draws.

One thing I didn't know until reading the timeline of the trees in D.C. is that there was an original shipment of 2,000 trees in 1910 that had to be burned because they were infested with "pests". Undaunted, diplomats arranged another shipment in 1912, this time of 3,020 trees. The first two trees were planted on March 27, 1912 by First Lady Helen Taft, Japanese Ambassador to the U.S. Chinda Sutemi, his wife Chinda Iwa, and Eliza Ruhamah Scidmore - an early Japanophile who wrote articles and took photos for National Geographic Magazine. It is she who started the momentum to get the trees to D.C. after witnessing their beauty while in Japan.

Another thing that didn't get much press is that shortly after the attack on Pearl harbor, six of the trees were found chopped down.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

AKB48 is Japan's Jonas Brothers, a bizzare mish-mash of sex and chastity, trying to please both the sex is good and sex is bad crowds at the same time.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Misia is an icon. I hope she does not have to share the stage with those dancing bobbleheads? If I were her agent, it would be a kind no thank you. Knowing the entertainment business, I can understand. Misia stands alone "itsu made mo"

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Misia is an icon. I hope she does not have to share the stage with those dancing bobbleheads?

Once again.... Misia is participating in the festival opening ceremonies on March 25th and that ceremony's tickets were all given out long before this AKB48 announcement. AKB48 isn't supposed to perform until March 27th (though there's still nothing on the Washington-end that says ANYTHING about AKB48 being there at all). The official festival website lists NO festival-related activities on the 27th.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@Yuri I agree with you for once. If you don't like AKB48 then simply ignore them. Personally, I sure the hell will.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@Albert Why thank the US? Probably because the US donated the most. Privately Americans have a soft heart for people in disasters and are more than willing to dole out at such times. Government as well. The US military was here and assisting to the extent that it was allowed to.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Sorry, I didn't mean to say "everyone else is wrong". I meant to say "we are wrong".

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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