【英语国际】中日外交争端 日本偶像乐队遭殃

China has been none too pleased with its neighbor ever since the collision of a Chinese fishing boat with two Japanese coast-guard vessels in disputed waters. In the two weeks since the incident, the government has summoned Japan's ambassador in the dark hours of the night, frozen all high-level diplomatic contact and abruptly and canceled a visit by 1,000 Japanese youth to the Shanghai World Expo the day before the departure date. But China's latest move could draw the most ire yet: Ticket sales for the upcoming debut performance of Japanese boy-turned-man band SMAP have been suspended. As the saying goes, hell hath no fury like a female pop fan scorned.

Ticket sales for the group's two concerts in Shanghai early next month have been put on hold, according to the website of Shanghai Zhixin Culture Communication Co. Ltd., the Chinese ticketing site referred to by the group's longtime management company Johnny and Associates Inc. The performances would mark the five-member all-male group's first appearance in Shanghai. It is still unclear whether the concert will be canceled. Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said China has not contacted the ministry about the event.

The halt in ticket sales follows China's abrupt decision on Monday to cancel a visit by 1,000 Japanese youth to the Shanghai World Expo that was set for this week as a part of a bilateral exchange program amid an intensifying row between the two countries following the recent collision of a Chinese fishing boat with two Japanese coast-guard vessels in disputed waters.

If the concerts are called off, it would be the second time China has put the kibosh on the band's attempt to serenade its fans in Shanghai. SMAP, who has brought inexorable delight to thousands, nay millions, of Japanese fans during its almost two-decade career on the music scene, was on deck to perform at the Shanghai World Expo in June but organizers canceled the event citing security concerns. The group's dominance in the Japanese entertainment industry is unmatched - though the reasons for their popularity are ironically not rooted in their harmonizing talents per say as much as their other on-screen charms. The five men, who released their first group album in 1991, are everywhere , and it usually doesn't involve singing. They host their own weekly cooking show and it seems at least one of the members can be found starring in a hit TV drama most days of the year. And if not acting in an actual show, then hosting or making a guest appearance on one of Japan's many colorful variety programs. Takuya Kimura, the group's unofficial heartthrob, until recently was the celebrity cast in the most number of TV commercials.

The idol group tried to make light of the June cancellation situation in a TV commercial for Softbank Mobile, which started airing in July. Masayoshi Son, the leader of Japan's third-largest cellphone carrier, texts Shingo Katori, the group's youngest member known as the jokester of the crew, while on a trip to Shanghai. The chief executive sends heaps of pictures worthy of the city's tourism pamphlet: photos of the Oriental Pearl Tower and plates of culinary heaven as the boys bemoan that they should've been there about that time.

自中国渔船与两艘日本海岸警卫舰在争议水域相撞以来，中国对其邻国大为不悦。事发后两周之内，中国政府凌晨召见日本大使、冻结所有高层外交接触并于日本千名青少年准备出发前往上海参观世博会的前一天突然取消其活动安排。不过要论引起迄今为止最强烈愤怒的事件可能当属中国最近勒令暂停日本男生偶像乐队SMAP中国首演的门票销售。估计此举惹怒了一大帮女粉丝。

YoutubeSMAP音乐视频截图。乐队长期以来的经纪公司Johnny and Associates Inc.让记者查看上海执信文化传播有限公司的票务网站，网站显示，SMAP下月上旬在上海两场音乐会的门票销售已经暂停。这两场演出将是这个五人男子组合在上海的首次亮相。目前还不清楚演唱会是否会被取消。日本外务省说，中国方面没有就此事与该省接触过。

门票暂停销售一事发生之前，中国于周一突然决定取消日本千名青少年原定本周参观上海世博会的安排。这次参观本是两国一个双边交流项目的一部分。此前，由于一艘中国渔船在争议水域同日本海上自卫队两艘船只相撞，中日之间的矛盾越来越深。

如果SMAP演出取消，则将是中国第二次阻止它在上海向粉丝献歌的尝试。SMAP在接近20年的乐坛生涯里，为数以千计甚至数以百万计的日本粉丝带来难以名状的巨大欢乐。今年6月，正当他们准备在上海世博会登台献艺的时候，主办方却以安全由取消了那次活动。SMAP乐队在日本娱乐界的地位无人能及，不过他们如此受欢迎的主要原因，却不是源于其合唱才能本身，而是他们在荧屏上展示的其它魅力。这五位歌手1991年发布第一张乐队专辑之后，就随处可见其踪影，不过通常跟唱歌扯不上关系。他们有一档自己主持的每周料理秀，其中还有至少一位乐队成员出演了一部今年几乎天天热播的电视剧。如果不在剧中当演员，他们就在令人眼花缭乱的诸多日本综艺节目中的一个担当主持或嘉宾。该乐队的非正式歌手木村拓哉(Takuya Kimura)一直是日本绝大多数商业广告中的明星人物，直到最近这种情况才有所改变。

该偶像乐队曾试图在出演一个日本移动运营商软银移动（Softbank Mobile）的商业广告时对中方取消6月上海演唱会一事调侃，该广告7月开始播出。软银移动是日本第三大移动运营商。内容是，在去上海的途中，该公司首席执行长孙正义给乐队最年轻的歌手、也是团队中最爱开玩笑的香取慎吾(Shingo Katori)发短信。孙正义发去了一张张美得可以做上海宣传照的相片，有东方明珠，有美食天堂各种佳肴的照片，而乐队成员在叹息说他们那个时候要能去上海就好了。