Fans await arrival of Japanese boy band SMAP

• Source: Global Times
• [08:14 August 03 2010]
• Comments

By Zhou Ping

SMAP fans in the city are keeping their fingers crossed, hoping that the rescheduled performance by the popular Japanese boy band at the Shanghai Stadium this fall will not be cancelled.

Running under the banner "We are SMAP," Chinese and Japanese organizers said Sun-day that two shows are slated to take place on October 9 and 10.

The group was originally supposed to perform at the Expo Park on June 13, but the show was called off by organizers out of concerns for public safety after a stampede occurred in the park on May 30, when hundreds of Super Junior fans rushed to the concert location to get tickets for the performance by the South Korean boy band. Several fans were injured, and it was reported by southern Chinese media that at least one person was killed in the incident though organizers denied the latter.

"Though it was understandable for organizers to cancel the show for public safety reasons, I was really disappointed when I found out that the SMAP show was cancelled," Juju Zhang, 22, an avid SMAP fan, told the Global Times Monday. "I'm so excited to hear that they're coming to Shanghai after all.

"I have already bought my ticket," she added.

Others said that they would not hold their breath just yet.

"I really want a front row seat," a woman surnamed Gao, 26, another SMAP fan, told the Global Times Monday. "But I'm not going to get too pumped up about the concert right now in case they decide to cancel the show at the last minute again."