All Photography at Graceland and Heartbreak Hotel for personal use only. Photography by Richard O'Kelley dba AsianEntertainment.org / Free for personal use. In heartfelt memory and dedication to the King of Rock and Roll.
ELVIS WEEK
The 34th anniversary for Elvis Fans from Japan. Elvis week 2011. Kospay and Song turned Elvis into a Japanese subculture early in his career. He has become a world wide phenomena, but never did a tour or show outside of the US.
A magnificent bronze statue of the King was erected in central Tokyo by the many thousands of members of the Elvis Fan Club of Japan. In the past years celebrations stores would do a roaring trade in Elvis memorabilia. The past Prime Minister of Japan, Mr. Junichiro Koizumi is an avid Elvis Presley fan.
But now the annual birthday memorial concert that at one time used to draw thousands, are expected to have just a few hundred. The memorabilia stores have closed. The monthly fan magazine has ceased publication, and the statue fell from its Tokyo perch and moved to Kobe.
The downfall appears to have started in 2007 when Tadayuki Akazawa, the chairman of the Elvis Fan Club of Japan, died and the flame of Japanese Elvis enthusiasm began to die with him.
After 30 years the Elvis Presley Fan Club of Japan is now dormant, and does not exist as a nationwide organization,” said Kazuaki Suzuki, one of the group’s senior members.
“The reason we cannot get younger fans is partly because Presley is not thought of as a rock’n’roll singer by young Japanese but as a singer in a jump suit.
The damage that has been done to Elvis' image is due to the thousands of
horrible impersonators, online bootleg copy cd’s, and power struggles to start new fan club organizations. Someday another fan-club will be born; Japanese fans know that Koizumi's shadow can be felt everywhere.
Today, 'Elvis World Japan' is currently the only believable official fan-club in Japan and
there is a need for an anthology DVD so new Japanese fans can watch and learn about Elvis.
It is important moving forward that Elvis' star shines brightly over Japan. All the true determined fans need to re-group around the Memphis and Tokyo events, and re-launch in the spirit of Koizumi . Let the music and concert DVDs speak for themselves. Anyone that views any of this material will be touched by Elvis.
Richard O'Kelley
AsianEntertainment.org
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ELVIS WEEK
An estimated 20,000 plus fans from around the world, gathered at the Presley's home overnight, waiting at the estate's gated entrance for the flame and then processing through Graceland as a Candlelight Vigil.
The fans left flowers and other mementos at the singer's gravesite. The different fan clubs and organizations lined the walkways with flowers, signs, photographs and gifts.
It was The Elvis Club Japan's 34th Anniversary at the Candlelight Vigil held at The Graceland Estate, Memphis Tennessee, USA.
The Candlelight Vigil is the cornerstone of "Elvis Week," an annual celebration held at the Memphis estate where Elvis died on Aug. 16, 1977, forever at the age of 42.
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