Michael Jackson anniversary: Fans around the world pay homage to late King of Pop

To commemorate the first anniversary of the singer's death with a candlelight vigil, gospel concert and silent prayer session.

Though Jackson fans gathered around the world to mark his death one year ago, the Tokyo "Lifetime Collection" event was the only overseas exhibition of Jackson memorabilia that has the sanction of his estate, promoters said.

"I don't know what to say - seeing all his things makes it all come back to me," said Yumiko Sasaki, a 48-year-old Tokyo office worker who has been a Jackson fan since she was 12. "It makes me so sad to think that he is gone. He was wonderful."

Guests paying almost a thousand pounds each were planning to sleep overnight at the Tokyo landmark, where they would have catered food, watch a gospel choir and dance to Michael Jackson's music, before observing a period of silence as the sun rose.

Matt Taylor, the event's organiser, said more than 10,000 fans applied for the 50 sleepover slots. He said proceeds would go to the estate, Jackson's mother and children and charities that he supported.

He said the final 200 were chosen at random, and then the guests were screened by telephone interview to make sure they were emotionally stable.

"We had to be careful because people in Japan are very emotional about Michael Jackson," he said. "There is even a Michael Jackson depression, a kind of shock over his death. We wanted to make sure that the people who came here would not be overwhelmed by the moment."

Mr Taylor said the sleepover was a "once in a lifetime" chance for the fans to be surrounded by such items from the singer's life as the gate at his Neverland residence, costumes from his many tours, shoes, hats and even a 1967 Rolls Royce Phantom that he used to drive around Los Angeles with friend and actress Elizabeth Taylor.

Along with the VIP guests, hundreds of fans not able or willing to shell out the cost of the full night event shuffled through the Tokyo Tower grounds to offer flowers and other gifts to the King of Pop, who died at age 50.

In events to mark the occasion elsewhere, fans stood outside the Forest Lawn cemetery in Glendale, California, Jackson's final resting place.

"Michael has just always been a part of my life," said 40-year-old Julia Thomas, who has a tattoo of Jackson's dancing feet on her left wrist. "I'm just hoping to embrace the fans from everywhere."

Barricades were already set up at the Los Angeles-area cemetery for the huge throng of fans and Jackson family members expected to arrive today. Five large wreaths of flowers and dozens of bouquets, drawings and photos of Jackson had been placed outside his private mausoleum.

Evdokia Sofianou, 46, and her 9-year-old daughter, Rebecca, travelled from Athens, Greece, to pay their respects.

"I came because I love Michael very much," Ms Sofianou said. "I came to grieve."

Forest Lawn was to be just one of the many places around the globe where Jackson's fans would gather to remember their fallen legend, who died at 50 as he was preparing for a series of comeback concerts in London. Dr Conrad Murray is charged with involuntary manslaughter over his death for administering the powerful anaesthetic propofol to help the pop star sleep.

In Gary, Indiana, Jackson's hometown, there was to be a tribute at the family home; city officials said they expected Jackson's mother, Katherine Jackson, and his niece Genevieve Jackson to show up, along with thousands of others.

His brother Randy Jackson was hoping to make the official family commemoration at Forest Lawn today.

"My family and I will be in attendance as we mourn the loss of my brother," he said in a statement yesterday. Katherine Jackson also has thrown her support behind a Forever Michael fan event to be held tomorrow at the Beverly Hilton hotel in Los Angeles.