SMAP Attack

Japan’s top boy band SMAP announced it will finally perform overseas after several false starts in that direction.

At the quintet’s Sapporo Dome show on Aug. 1, the group said it will play Shanghai Stadium Oct. 9-10.

SMAP was originally slated to play at the Shanghai World Expo on June 13, but that appearance was canceled over concerns that the Expo organizers hadn’t worked out safety precautions.

Apparently, the group already started rehearsing for the shows and was even practicing its Chinese, so it was natural that the group would want to reschedule the shows as soon as possible.

Nevertheless, according to reports, the Shanghai Stadium shows were apparently in the works even before the Expo cancellation.

Shanghai Stadium can hold up to 80,000 people, and the plan is to entertain up to 40,000 at each of the two concerts. The group is also making plans to perform in Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong.