Japan Welcomes David Bowie

I'm under Japanese influence...

For the last couple of months, BowieNetter Eri Wilde has bombarded me with enthusiastic e-mails regarding David's visit to her shores, and the creation of an officially recognised organisation, Welcome BOWIE Project page. And now, on the eve of David's first Japanese shows in eight years I thought you'd like to see what they've been up to. Over to Eri for the low-down on the project and those involved:

I am writing to you on behalf of Hayato, the representative of the Bowie Japan Office, which was inaugurated as the officially recognized project of Sony Music Japan for this special occasion. Currently, we have been strongly supportive for David Bowie toward each media in Japan. By utilizing web technologies, we have stepped up efforts to address information. Now, our website has the streaming film of the Reality promotion which was evolved by Agnes B, and the exclusive interview of the photographer, Masayoshi Sukita. Other celebrities will also be continuously introduced there later on.

Link for Japanese version

Link for English version

In addition, the radio station which will present the Japan Tour this time, Tokyo FM: the most prominent Japanese FM station with key stations throughout the nation, will broadcast the special programs such as 'David Bowie DAY', and will publish books on Bowie from the publishing arm in time with his visit to Japan.

The Bowie Japan Office for 'The Welcome Bowie Project', which is officially recognized by Sony Music Japan and Toshiba EMI, was established here in Japan for David Bowie, to make a big push toward not only his fans, but also various media agencies, and be strongly supportive for him during the period from the release of his new album to his tour in Japan.

A selection of Bowie magazine covers recently published in Japan. They like a bit of Ziggy over there.

The corps d'elite, who have worked on the publication of books and promotional activities on Bowie so far in Japan, will unite in starting promotional activities to take all over Japan by storm. The main members of the project are as follows.

Representative: Hayato Tanizaki
He is so famous that every Japanese Bowie fan knows him. He is very influential to the media connections, and he is trusted by record companies, regarded as a reliable person.

Vice Representative: Tomoya Kumagai
He is the representative director of Slogan, the creative office which plays active roles in wide-ranged genres from web creation to book publication. Recently, he has worked on the production of the official Japanese website of Philip Glass, and held an interview to Mick Rock.

Writer: Takayuki Furukawa
He has been working on translated anthologies. He has been mainly participating actively in writing articles for rock magazines, and interviewing artists.

International PR Staff: Eriko Saeki (aka Eri Wilde)I was appointed as a member of this honorable project for this opportunity. As the International PR staff, I will be in charge of reporting our activities for this project to BowieNet in the future.

Chance Meeting: Eri 'n' Gerry meet in the street in Shinjuku yesterday.

Click on any of the images here to get to the Welcome BOWIE Project page, where you can link to various other sites including the official Sony Japan Bowie page which has links to all sorts of goodies including a four part Bowie interview and sections on tour sponsors Agnes B and Honda (Step WGN Spada). Be sure to scroll down and click around the Welcome BOWIE Project page to make sure you get to see everything.

David has a press conference in Tokyo ahead of his first show at the Nippon Budokan Hall on Monday and I look forward to Eri's reports from both.