Features
J-Pop In China
An unnamed “event-planning company” 85 percent owned by a government-affiliated investment firm is building a concert venue in central Shanghai that will cater almost exclusively to local fans of Japanese pop, Japan’s Asahi Shimbun newspaper reported.
Tentatively called the Qiansheiwan Cultural Center, the venue will cost 2 billion yen ($26 million) to build and contains two auditoriums, one a hall seating 1,500 and a “live house” that can accommodate 500 standing patrons. There will also be classrooms for music study.
Though the center is not set to open until August, one act has already been booked: Hironobu Kageyama, who is famous for singing themes songs for animated productions including “Dragon Ball Z.”
Kageyama is a member of a quintet called JAM Project, which is scheduled to play at the center twice a month.
Organizers are sounding out Japanese record companies to invite more J-pop artists to play in Shanghai.