TOYKO, March 5, 2007

Japan Welcomes Michael Jackson

Screaming Fans Wave To King Of Pop, In Tokyo For Party, Fan Art Competition

  • Play CBS Video Video Michael Jackson In Japan

    CBS News RAW: Screaming fans greeted Michael Jackson at an airport near Tokyo as the pop star prepares for a week of VIP events, that won't likely include any singing.

    • Michael Jackson waves to fans on his arrival at Narita international airport, near Tokyo, Sunday, March 4, 2007.

      Michael Jackson waves to fans on his arrival at Narita international airport, near Tokyo, Sunday, March 4, 2007.  (AP Photo/Itsuo Inouye)

    • Fans are pushed back by security officers as they try to snap photos of Michael Jackson at Narita international airport near Tokyo, Sunday, March. 4, 2007.

      Fans are pushed back by security officers as they try to snap photos of Michael Jackson at Narita international airport near Tokyo, Sunday, March. 4, 2007.  (AP Photo/Itsuo Inouye)

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(AP)  Smiling and waving to screaming fans, Michael Jackson arrived in Japan on Sunday for his second visit here in recent years to host an exclusive party and sponsor a fan art competition.

Jackson made his first official foray back into the spotlight after his acquittal on child molestation charges in June 2005 with an appearance in Tokyo to accept an MTV Japan award last year.

A relaxed-looking Jackson in trademark sun glasses and black leather jacket was ushered by guards past hundreds of screaming Japanese fans at Narita Airport on Sunday afternoon, some carrying signs that read "We love Michael" and "Welcome to Japan."

At the VIP party, guests paying $3,500 will get to mingle with Jackson and spend 30 seconds to one minute each of exclusive face time with the Gloved One, according to organizers. It was unclear whether the star will perform any songs.

While in Tokyo, the star will also host a fan art contest for Japanese who cannot afford VIP tickets, organizers Davis, Bain and Associates said in an e-mail.

"Over the years, as Michael Jackson has performed in cities around the world, he has been pleased, honored, and impressed by the large amount of fan art of him," the e-mail said. "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 their picture taken together.

Jackson, one of the best-selling artists of all time, has lived abroad since his acquittal, forsaking his Neverland Ranch in California for residences in Bahrain, France, and a castle in Ireland.

He told The Associated Press in January he was back in the United States, where he was widely reported to be pursuing business deals in Las Vegas. "I love Japan," he said at the time. "It is one of my favorite places in the entire world."

Jackson's VIP meet-and-greet party was scheduled for Thursday, with the fan art contest on Friday. It was not clear when Jackson would leave Japan.

Jackson, 48, is not obligated to perform at either event, and promoters refused to comment on how much he would be paid.


© MMVII The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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by agnim March 6, 2007 2:39 PM EST
"Come on! The "man" is a Pedophile with a capital P.

Posted by RandalDS at 12:17 AM : Mar 06, 2007"
You are no doubt speaking from PERSONAL experience (with a capital P) with those sodomizing priests in the church of child sodomy, right?
And you no doubt pass on the 'lovely' experience to your boy to mess him up into a f@ggot, right? LOL
Reply to this comment
by caddilacboy March 6, 2007 10:50 AM EST
IT IS VERY SICK FOR YOU PEOPLE WHOM HAS POSTED TO EVEN THINK THAT MICHAEL JACKSON WOULD HURT ANY ONE. MICHAEL TRIED TO HELP THESE CHILDREN, UNTIL HE CUT HIMSELF AWAY FROM ONE OF THE CHILDREN AND THEIR MOM. THIS IS WHEN THE FRAUDULENT MOTHER DECIDES THAT SHE WAS GOING TO COERCE HER SON INTO SAYING THAT MICHAEL JACKSON MALESSED HIM. THE MOTHER THAT TRIED TO GET MONEY OUT OF MICHAEL TRIED TO FRAUD THE WELFARE DEPARTMENT, AND THEN WHEN SHE WAS CAUGHT UP DOING THIS LITTLE TRICK, SHE WENT ON DOWN THE STREET AND TRIED TO RIP OFF JC PENNY'S. YOU FOOLS NEED TO GET IT RIGHT; AND STOP GETTING IT TWISTED. MICHAEL JACKSON IS A MAN WITH DIGNITY, AND WOULD NEVER HURT ANY CHILDREN. IT WAS THE MOTHER OF THE LITTLE BOY WHO THOUGHT SHE WAS GOING TO GET RICH BY RIPPING OFF MICHAEL JACKSON WITH A BUNCH OF LIES. YALL CAN GO STRAIGHT TO HELL BECAUSE WE LOVE AND RESPECT MICHAEL JACKSON. HE IS THE "KING OF POP" YOU DOPE HEADS.
Reply to this comment
by randalds March 6, 2007 3:17 AM EST
I agree doll, Michael Jackson really loves children, esp little boys. I mean really loves them! I mean REALLY loves them! I mean really really really loves them!

Come on! The "man" is a Pedophile with a capital P. He is not a "child at heart" or even Peter Pan. He likes getting young boys drunk on Jesus Juice and masturbating them and himself. It's an illness and deviant behavior of the lowest kind. He is sick and needs help, but he also needs to be kept away from children. Would you let your young sons spend the night with him?
Reply to this comment
by doll_2004bab March 6, 2007 1:41 AM EST
Since Michael Jackson has done so much for many children in his country of birth, I seriously doubt that he would be interested in harming children anywhere in the world. It is truly a shame that ignorance, selfishness, greed and hatred can cause such unjust comments as contained here. The only freaks are the ones who hate without cause. Michael Jackson is one of the children's strongest advocates, have you bothered to listen to "The Lost Children on his Invincible CD, or read page 45 of his book entitled "Dancing The Dream", or even read his 2001 Oxford University speech (specifically Children's Universal Bill of Rights)? If so, you will know in your heart that Michael Jackson is a genuine man, who loves and respects all people. Though he is used and victimized by many, he maintains his concern for humanity. He is more kind and gentle than most of us would be if we had been persecuted the way he has been, and continues to be by some. How would we feel if we learned that we were hated by people to whom we had done no harm? That did happen to me, and it was very hurtful.
Please, let's remember that Michael Jackson is a human being, just as we are, but probably significantly more compassionate than most of us.
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by cantshutup March 6, 2007 12:04 AM EST
maybe the japanese will like him till he starts molesting little japanesA boys
Reply to this comment
by thgdriver March 5, 2007 7:56 PM EST
I hear tell that he really likes Jack Daniels.



Not the whiskey------Little Jack and Little Daniel.
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by agnim March 5, 2007 6:52 PM EST
You go, boy, Michael. It's always better to be among those who have been more humanized and avoid the ones who are still evolving human qualities.
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by ajaxrose1 March 5, 2007 6:15 PM EST
They can have him.
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by tm_bailey March 5, 2007 12:17 PM EST
freak
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