Swine Flu Cancels Japan Events

In Japan, the swine flu outbreak has mostly affected teenagers, leading to the closing of schools especially in the Kansai area around Osaka. The feared epidemic has thus had a negative effect on J-pop concerts throughout Japan.

A number of major acts represented by Avex Group Holdings were scheduled to hold big concerts in the past week or so.

Initially, the company announced it would provide iodine mouthwash and face masks for fans attending shows by Ai Otsuka and Ayumi Hamasaki at the Osaka Castle Hall and for Kumi Koda at the Kobe World Kinen Hall.

They would also make announcements during the shows asking concertgoers to wash their hands as much as possible. However, on May 19, Avex decided to just cancel all the shows outright as more and more cases of swine flu were reported in the area.

Other promoters followed suit.

Heavyweight talent agency Johnny’s and Associates postponed almost all of its performances in the Kansai Region in the past week or so.

Johnnys Jr. was scheduled to play four shows at the Umeda Geijitsu Gekijo in Osaka May 23-24, but they were all put off indefinitely.