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Anime Expo has announced that the female idol group AKB48 will be performing at the July 1-4 convention in Los Angeles. Producer and songwriter Yasushi Akimoto founded AKB48 in 2005 as an idol group permanently stationed in Tokyo's Akihabara otaku shopping district. AKB48 will perform a concert at the Nokia Theater on July 1. The members will also hold attendee panels, meet-and-greet sessions, and autograph sessions during the convention.

FanimeCon has announced that it will host the J-Rock band FLOW at the May 28-31 convention in San Jose, California. FLOW has performed theme songs for Naruto, Naruto Shippūden, Code Geass, Eureka Seven, Persona -trinity soul-, and Heroman. The band will be performing on Friday, May 28, as part of the FanimeCon's 2010 MusicFest.

FanimeCon will also host Rune Soldier Louie illustrator Mamoru Yokota, Gainax studio co-founder and executive director Hiroyuki Yamaga, voice actress and singer Halko Momoi (Ai Yori Aoshi's Chika Minazuki, My Bride is a Mermaid's San Seto, Tales of the Abyss' Anise Tatlin), the J-rock band LM.C, and game creators Daisuke Ishiwatari and Toshimichi Mori.

The popular Neoromance RPG Kin'iro no Corda (La Corda d'oro) from game developer Koei will be turned into a stage musical set for this march. The game, which has also been adapted as a manga and anime revolves around Kahoko Hino; an ordinary school girl who is given a magical violin by a mischeivous musical fairy.

The musical will be performed at the Galaxy Theatre in Tokyo on March 19-24. Starring teen model Azusa Okamoto (17) and Hello! Pro Eggs member Saki Mori (16) who have been double-cast as the protagonist Kahoko Hino. With supporting cast members Shun Mikami, Yuta Takahashi, Manato Kawamura, Koichi Yoshino, and Yuta Koseki, with music composition by Takatsugu Muramatsu.

The video game series has sold more than 300,000 copies, and the 13 volumes of the manga released so far have sold over 2.5 million copies. The anime adaptation; Kin'iro no Corda: Primo Passo was first broadcast by TV Tokyo in October of 2006 until March of 2007. A 2-episode special; Kin'iro no Corda: Secondo Passo was aired in March of 2009 by Kids Station.

Source: Tokyograph

[Update]: Miyavi's official site has announced his US Tour has been cancelled and will be rescheduled. Management has cited problems with entry permits, complications with scheduling/booking venues and also concerns regarding Miyavi's health after an injury during his European Tour.

Miyavi's US tour has yet to start and has already encountered problems. LiveNation updated the listing for Miyavi's October 28 concert in New York, stating that it has been postponed. The show was to take place at The Fillmore, which currently has a listing for Lenny Kravitz on that night (rescheduled from October 15).

Meanwhile, STG Presents has listed Miyavi's October 25 concert in Seattle as canceled, with refunds being available at point of purchase.

Miyavi is scheduled to start the U.S. leg of his world tour later this month, but at least two of the scheduled performances have apparently run into problems.

H.U.G. Incorporated, has yet to make an official comment.

Source: Tokyograph

The agency Hamazaki Unlimited Group, Inc (H.U.G. Incorporated), has announced a fifth and final concert date, plus two "limited mini-acoustic lives" in California, for Miyavi's U.S. leg of his ongoing world tour.

Miyavi's U.S. concerts start with a show in Seattle on October 25. After that, he is scheduled to play in New York (Oct 28), Atlanta (Oct 30), and Dallas (Nov 2). H.U.G. stated on Wednesday that the final full concert will be in Irvine, CA, on November 4.

In addition to those five dates, Miyavi will perform at two limited mini-acoustic lives. The first will be on October 22 at the NEW PEOPLE center in San Francisco, and the second will be at the Pacific Media Expo in Los Angeles over the November 6-8 weekend. Both events will include an autograph session.

Fans who book online flights and hotels for Miyavi's tour are also given a chance to win a backstage pass.

Source: H.U.G. Incorporated, Tokyograph

Maru Music has announced that the visual-kei cellist/vocalist Kanon Wakeshima will be travelling to California for two performcances in July, following her Otakon guest appearance. She will perform and sign autographs at the Amoeba Music store in San Francisco on July 20th before travelling to the Royal T Cafe in Los Angeles suburb of Culver City to perform on the next day.

The Royal T Cafe will also be holding an art exhibit for Wakeshima, who is known for her Gothic Lolita art and fashion sensibilities. Wakeshima's Shinshoku Dolce album debuted in the US on Tuesday.

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