SMAP, AKB48 among 20 acts to appear on NHK program to mark 1st anniversary of March 11 disaster

I'm looking foward to this program!

As much as I am against this stupid concert, you'll notice it is on March 10th. On March 11th NHK will have nothing but solemn news, and perhaps lots of "gambarre Nippon" messages.

Haven't we all pretty much mutually agreed that they are without talent as a group?

Even more so when they sing solo.

I wonder if either of the groups will show the stones to sing a protest song about money intended for the Fukushima recovery going to the yearly whale hunt.

I don't really wonder. It would just be nice for one of them to not be a corporate robot.

And SMAP? Really? Haven't we all pretty much mutually agreed that they are without talent as a group? Couldn't they get the Southern All-Stars out of retirement for a gig like this?

An hour and 15 minutes on "General TV" compared to six hours on pay TV. Something tells me the TV networks aren't doing this gratis.

BS Premium is an NHK channel.

The program, titled “Toward Tomorrow,” will air from 7:30 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. on NHK General TV and for six hours from 4 p.m. until 10 p.m. on BS Premium TV.

Unless the shelters and temporary housing are getting "BS Premium TV", looks like most of the survivors won't be able to watch much of this. An hour and 15 minutes on "General TV" compared to six hours on pay TV. Something tells me the TV networks aren't doing this gratis.

What I'm more concerned with, though, are the millions of dollars in donations that came from all around the world through Red Cross and other established institutions last year. Have these monies even been disbursed and put to use and/or reached their intended recipients yet??

Not sure about the others, but American Red Cross is probably still sitting on some of the money donated, as they usually do. As for this program, I really hope that they do or have done something other than performing. Music is a great medicine for hard times, but what makes it even more meaningful is when the performers have fundraisers, donate, do volunteer work, and encourage others to do the same.

The biggest killer and health issues so far and in the future post the disaster will be as a result of stress. Even stress from fear of radiation which actually isn’t any real risk. Therefore keep up the entertainment if it works as part of the picture of support to that.

Merciful God, spare us. This is idiocy. The government is happily sending children back into areas of radiation that the Soviet Union would have evacuated 4 times over and this is what they offer in return?

Is it appropriate to mark the 1st anniversary of a heart-wrenchingly horrible disaster with underage girls gyrating their backsides for the camera? NHK and Akimoto should be ashamed of themselves. This is not charity. This is using the misery of victims and the generosity of good people to promote a trashy product. For the producers' own benefit.

This kind of media stunt degrades the true spirit of charity and volunteerism in Japan.

Miffy - They've been exiled.

Where is EXILE?????

This concert plan is lame. If NHK or those so-called musicians want to do something they can help support people relocating out of Fukushima. They could also use their image to protest against nuclear power. Oh, I forgot, they don't do that over here. Silly me.

Isn't this a bit foul? Shouldn't this be a time to remember and reflect rather than watch a bunch of made up groups with little talent sell their wares??

So,just throwing money at these people will cleanse them of the emotional carnage they just went thru ??What's wrong with this ? They need spiritual healing just as much as the material and it doesn't matter one fig what your opinion is of these performers they're the most popular in the country for a reason . I hope the 'Towards Tomorrow' concert helps bond and gives them hope for the future

though easier said than done.

I think it is rather easy for them to do. It is just, as you point out, that they labels don't feel there is any priority in doing it. Kind of sad. Sadly, I also doubt that there are many well-known, ie: SMAP etc performers giving money anonymously. These people are generally fairly PR hungry.

I agree with your questions about where money already received has gone though.

I think its more like the non-victims will be made to feel better and feel they are actually helping by watching TV. The victims? Not so much I think.

So the government (NHK) is spending money on hiring rich entertainers to cheer people up? What a shambolic idea that is. How about the rich people and government give some more money to help the affected directly?

Japan become strange...

What ...? They going sing on that day , too.

It is the day for weeping....

While there is absolutely nothing wrong with giving cheer to the people of Tohoku. Make an album and give all the proceeds to the people of Tohoku. Make another and do the same. Keep doing this until things are visibly better for the people you are commemorating. It is your country, they have supported you. Time to really give something back besides photo and video ops.

....and there was me thinking that these acts were usually employed, to divert the minds of the populace, away from awareness of the horrors of disaster and hardship. Will this bring awareness, or just be a crocodile-tearfest, with celebs appearing in corner boxes during the performances ?

yay! love SMAP and AKB48 >o<!! kpop better not be on lol

The Story didn't say if this show was to be a Fund-Raiser,but that's quite the variety!- I will watch for "The King of Enka" Kitajima-san!!

Gonna mark my calendar! "MOVIE NIGHT!"

Seriously, I hope they provide ways in which the people in Tohoku & Fukushima can get the help they need for the long road back to normalcy.

I would also hope they call out the government and scold them for removing unemployment, lack of support, and ass-dragging / passing the blame on so many issues and things that need to be done.

Maybe it will encourage people to donate more money to be held by the local governments as they can't/won't decide how it should be spent.

This will surely bring a cheer to the hearts of the people in the effected areas! They will feel much better.

More needs to be done, not sung about. Stop singing. Do something. People are so easily forgotten and even now still trying to recover. Having friends who are still helping out with volunteer operations because regular Japanese do not help out and then have a concert about it is misplaced. Try volunteering, not advancing your career on the backs of phantom relief efforts.

Ugh... don't make them suffer even more

It'll be a wallow-fest