Japan Show Biz Divided over How to Resond to New Flu

Osaka, May 21 (Jiji Press)--Some musicians, performers and
comedians believe shows must go on but the others do not amid the spreading influenza scare, particularly in the Kansai western Japan region.

The country's top pop singers Ayumi Hamasaki, Ai Otsuka and Kumi
Koda have canceled a total of six concerts that were to be held in Osaka and
Kobe between Wednesday and Sunday, their Tokyo-based management firm, Avex
Group Holdings Inc. <7860>, said.
Another Tokyo-based show organizer, Hakuhinkan Theater, canceled
the performance of a Japanese version of noted musical "Steppin' Out" slated
for June 5-6 in Kobe, where the first domestic human-to-human infection of
the new swine flu virus was confirmed.
Meanwhile, entertainment firms Yoshimoto Kogyo Co. <9665> and
Takarazuka Revue Co., both based in the Kansai region, have decided to keep
their shows going.
Yoshimoto will let its Tenman Tenjin Hanjotei theater for
traditional rakugo storytelling in Osaka stay open. Both Yoshimoto and
Takarazuka will order their theater staff to wear masks to prevent the flu
virus' spread.
Kamigata Rakugo Kyokai, the association of professional rakugo
storytellers in Kansai, said it will sell discount tickets for performances
at the Hanjotei theater from June 1.
Due to the recession and the flu scare, crowds in the streets have
become very small and people seem to be losing their vigor, the
association's Chairman Sanshi Katsura said, asking healthy people to "wear
masks and come enjoy live rakugo performances at the theater."