ID :
183704
Mon, 05/23/2011 - 04:45
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/183704
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Wen Hopes for SMAP Concert in China
Toky (Jiji Press) - Visiting Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao met with the five members of popular Japanese male pop group SMAP on Saturday night and said he will heartily welcome a SMAP concert in China.
SMAP is planning to perform a concert at the Beijing Workers' Stadium in the Chinese capital on Sept. 16.
At a Tokyo hotel, Wen told the members that there are many SMAP fans in China. Noting that the SMAP members have tried to spread friendship through their songs, Wen said he wants them to "sow the seeds of friendship" at the performance in China and let them bloom.
For the visiting Chinese leader, the SMAP members sang one of their hit tunes, "Sekai ni Hitotsu dake no Hana (The Only One Flower in the World)," in Chinese.
SMAP was scheduled to perform at the Shanghai Expo in June 2010, but the event was canceled due to concerns about a stampede of fans.
The group again planned to stage a concert in Shanghai in October the same year. It was called off as tensions grew between the two countries following a ship collision incident near disputed islands in the East China Sea in September.
The planned concert in September, the first performance abroad for SMAP, is partly intended to cheer those who were affected by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami that hit northeastern Japan and to thank China for its cooperation in relief activities.
In talks with reporters after the meeting with Wen, Masahiro Nakai, one of the SMAP members, stressed the group's willingness to hold its first overseas concert in China.
Another member Tsuyoshi Kusanagi said he hopes the Beijing concert will help promote relations between the two countries.
SMAP is planning to perform a concert at the Beijing Workers' Stadium in the Chinese capital on Sept. 16.
At a Tokyo hotel, Wen told the members that there are many SMAP fans in China. Noting that the SMAP members have tried to spread friendship through their songs, Wen said he wants them to "sow the seeds of friendship" at the performance in China and let them bloom.
For the visiting Chinese leader, the SMAP members sang one of their hit tunes, "Sekai ni Hitotsu dake no Hana (The Only One Flower in the World)," in Chinese.
SMAP was scheduled to perform at the Shanghai Expo in June 2010, but the event was canceled due to concerns about a stampede of fans.
The group again planned to stage a concert in Shanghai in October the same year. It was called off as tensions grew between the two countries following a ship collision incident near disputed islands in the East China Sea in September.
The planned concert in September, the first performance abroad for SMAP, is partly intended to cheer those who were affected by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami that hit northeastern Japan and to thank China for its cooperation in relief activities.
In talks with reporters after the meeting with Wen, Masahiro Nakai, one of the SMAP members, stressed the group's willingness to hold its first overseas concert in China.
Another member Tsuyoshi Kusanagi said he hopes the Beijing concert will help promote relations between the two countries.
