Avril Postpones Japan

Avril Lavigne’s management announced April 30 that the singer’s tour of Japan in May is postponed.

The shows are put off “out of respect for the many families that are still grieving or searching for their loved ones following the March 2011 natural disaster and the continued uncertainty of the situation at the Fukushima nuclear plant, further earthquakes and ongoing aftershocks,” according to a statement.

Lavigne is providing support for Japanese children and families from the stricken area by making available a single whose proceeds go to the American Red Cross’ relief efforts in Japan. She is also designing a T-shirt for a similar cause.

So far, no dates for rescheduled concerts have been announced. Six shows in four cities were planned. The concert at Osaka Castle Hall was already sold out and a second show had been added.

In contrast, Kylie Minogue told Contactmusic that she was “proud” of her decision to honor her concert commitments in Japan in late April despite initial reservations.

“I thought long and hard about it,” she said and admitted she was tempted to cancel, “but in the end I wanted to come.”

And she was happy she did.

Right after her April 24 concert at the Makuhari Messe convention center just outside of Tokyo, she tweeted, “Tokyo…You were a*m*a*z*i*n*g!!!! So emotional so fun so beautiful!!!”

During her sojourn in Japan, Minogue joined Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard at a fundraising dinner in Tokyo.