Latest News
Monday, 12th March 2012
In Japan Entertainment News,
Cyndi Lauper shows her support for Japan
On March 11th 2011, American singer Cyndi Lauper had just arrived in Japan when a horrific earthquake and tsunami shook the country.
While other artists and performers were frantically searching for a route out of Japan, Lauper stayed to show her support, playing the concerts she had arranged despite the problems laying siege to the country, the Associated Press reported.
The Girls Just Wanna Have Fun singer said that she wanted to help comfort the survivors of the tragedy.
Now, a year later, Lauper has returned to Japan to reassert her commitment, calling on people to continue supporting the relief effort.
Speaking in a Tokyo press conference, she said: "It's a big tragedy but everybody is trying to move forward. I just want to say, hey, don't forget about Japan," the news agency quoted.
Lauper arrived in Japan earlier in March and has spent time touring the country, visiting the areas which were stricken by the disasters and has urged people to keep buying from the most-affected areas to help them rebuild their communities.
At one school she donated cherry trees, an iconic symbol in Japan, and played with the children, while she also took time to visit a music shop where the owner has painstakingly repaired a piano damaged by the tsunami.
The 80s pop star also spoke of her concerns that residents of Fukushima remain fearful and isolated and highlighted the damaging impact of the declining visitor numbers in areas affected by the disasters.
Japan's government has been criticised for its failure to communicate properly with citizens and Lauper urged it to "come clean with what the real deal is".
"When you don't know, you are fearful, and you feel powerless. Information is power," she added.
The 58-year-old star rose to fame in 1983 with the release of her first album She's So Unusual.
Four singles from the album charted in the top five, making her the first ever female artist to achieve the feat and helped her pick up the Best New Artist award at the Grammys in 1985.
Written by Kimberley Homer