TOKYO — Michael Jackson's legions of Japanese fans began piling up flowers in Tokyo Saturday to mark the first anniversary of his death, with 50 devotees spending the night with his most treasured possessions.
The diehard fans have paid more than 1,000 dollars each for the sleepover inside an exhibition space showcasing some of the singer's belongings, including his music awards, Rolls Royce and crystal-studded gloves.
Jackson died from a drug overdose at a rented Los Angeles mansion on June 25 last year, a seismic celebrity death that triggered a global outpouring of tributes for the eccentric genius known as "The King of Pop".The 50 fans -- one for each year of Jackson's life -- who were taking part in the slumber party in the Neverland Collection were chosen from some 10,000 applicants, said exhibition producer Matt Taylor.
"It's priceless," Sari Kure, a 27-year-old Japanese among them, said of the ticket. "It depends on a person, but... it's going to be my treasure for the rest of my life."
The selected fans, some of whom were sobbing, made a tour of the collection, where gospel singers sang Jackson's numbers, including "We are the World", with violins accompanying.
More than half a million visitors have filed through the exhibition since it opened on May 1 and Jackson lookalikes and Moonwalk-dancers have turned up at what has turned into a pilgrimage spot.
"I can't imagine one year has passed," said Mark Okita, 40, at the sleepover. "Time goes by so quickly. Being here, I want to think of how he went to heaven."
Earlier in the day, hundreds flocked to see the exhibition of some 300 of Jackson's possessions, many placing white roses and yellow sunflowers before a large portrait of the smiling megastar.
"I felt like I could sense his breathing in there. I felt like I could smell him," said Keiko Fujiwara, 51, as she emerged from the dimly-lit space with her son, filled with emotion after her second visit.
"I'll come again," she said, adding that she planned to hold a candlelit vigil at home to commemorate Jackson's death.
"I may not be able to stop myself from crying," said Fujiwara, wearing a Jackson-style hat and green "King of Pop" T-shirt.
"He liked Japan a lot. There would have been a Japan tour if his London tour had come true. How wonderful it would have been."
Another fan, Ying Youming, 44, said she would pay thousands of dollars if she could go to a Jackson concert now, noting that the first CD she bought after she moved to Japan from China 15 years ago was a Jackson album.
"His talent can't be measured in money," she said.
Yukari Kozakura, 46, said she was shattered by the pop icon's death.
"I was so shocked that I was crying for the first three months," she said, adding that her two teenage children only became fans of Jackson after he died.
"I played his DVDs in tears every day, asking 'Why is he dead, dead...?'"
The diehard fans have paid more than 1,000 dollars each for the sleepover inside an exhibition space showcasing some of the singer's belongings, including his music awards, Rolls Royce and crystal-studded gloves.
Jackson died from a drug overdose at a rented Los Angeles mansion on June 25 last year, a seismic celebrity death that triggered a global outpouring of tributes for the eccentric genius known as "The King of Pop".The 50 fans -- one for each year of Jackson's life -- who were taking part in the slumber party in the Neverland Collection were chosen from some 10,000 applicants, said exhibition producer Matt Taylor.
"It's priceless," Sari Kure, a 27-year-old Japanese among them, said of the ticket. "It depends on a person, but... it's going to be my treasure for the rest of my life."
The selected fans, some of whom were sobbing, made a tour of the collection, where gospel singers sang Jackson's numbers, including "We are the World", with violins accompanying.
More than half a million visitors have filed through the exhibition since it opened on May 1 and Jackson lookalikes and Moonwalk-dancers have turned up at what has turned into a pilgrimage spot.
"I can't imagine one year has passed," said Mark Okita, 40, at the sleepover. "Time goes by so quickly. Being here, I want to think of how he went to heaven."
Earlier in the day, hundreds flocked to see the exhibition of some 300 of Jackson's possessions, many placing white roses and yellow sunflowers before a large portrait of the smiling megastar.
"I felt like I could sense his breathing in there. I felt like I could smell him," said Keiko Fujiwara, 51, as she emerged from the dimly-lit space with her son, filled with emotion after her second visit.
"I'll come again," she said, adding that she planned to hold a candlelit vigil at home to commemorate Jackson's death.
"I may not be able to stop myself from crying," said Fujiwara, wearing a Jackson-style hat and green "King of Pop" T-shirt.
"He liked Japan a lot. There would have been a Japan tour if his London tour had come true. How wonderful it would have been."
Another fan, Ying Youming, 44, said she would pay thousands of dollars if she could go to a Jackson concert now, noting that the first CD she bought after she moved to Japan from China 15 years ago was a Jackson album.
"His talent can't be measured in money," she said.
Yukari Kozakura, 46, said she was shattered by the pop icon's death.
"I was so shocked that I was crying for the first three months," she said, adding that her two teenage children only became fans of Jackson after he died.
"I played his DVDs in tears every day, asking 'Why is he dead, dead...?'"
No comments:
Post a Comment