June 1, 2007
News for Anime Expo 2007:
Anime Expo 2007 welcomes the Queen of Akihabara
Nation's Largest Convention Announces Newest Guest of HonorAnaheim, California (May 31, 2007) -- Famous Akihabara Street Performer, singer and celebrity Halko Momoi is the latest addition to the hottest line up of Anime Expo® 2007 Guests of Honors for the highly anticipated 2007 convention June 29-July 2 at the Long Beach Convention Center. More information can be found on the website www.anime-expo.org.
From a very young age, Ms. Momoi has always had an interest in anime, video games and computers. In high school, Ms. Momoi discovered internet communications and began her on-line journal. Her on-line journal caught the eye of a magazine editor, and was published as a serial column that led to more and more requests for writing contributions and interviews.
She was also the MC (Mistress of Ceremonies) for various idol events and appeared in the regular live talk program; "Haruko no Himitsu (Haruko's Secret)" at Shinjuku's Loft Plus One. In 1997, she produced a name clone of herself called; "Indie Virtual Mobidol Moai Haruko".
Ms. Momoi's live street performances has gathered major attention from media which has launched her career as a TV/radio/anime voice actress, lyricist, songwriter, and as a singer soon thereafter. The single "Mail Me" marked her major singing debut in 2000. It was during this time that Ms. Momoi applied her experiences as a popular street performer in the Akihabara area and was soon dubbed the "Queen of Akihabara."
In 2001, Ms. Momoi made history as the role of Komugi Nakahara in the historic world's first ever anime internet radio show NAKAHARA KOMUGI NO KONGURI.
In February 2002, she joined the unit UNDER17, and was the glasses-wearing lead vocalist until its disbandment in 2004. Ms. Momoi's performance of anime and game songs at her Final Tour at Yokohama Blitz is considered legendary by fans with Ms. Momoi's famous signature final bow of leaving her glasses on stage at the very end of the concert performance. In 2005, in conjunction with her maxi single "Wonder momo-i~New recording~", she held the hugely successful "Wonder momo-I Live Tour" in Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya. Since then, Ms. Momoi has released her chart busting first solo album, a 2-part autobiographical DVD drama "Haruko?UP DATE" Part 1 & 2 and self-authored a book "Akhiaba LOVE-Growing Up Together with Akihabara".
Ms. Momoi will be performing a full one hour live concert at Anime Expo® on Monday; July 2, 2007 at the Anime Expo® Main Events Hall (Long Beach Arena).
Halko Momoi joins Tetsuro Araki, Michael Arias, Minori Chihara, Yuko Goto, Aya Hirano, Eisaku Inoue, Masaru Kitao, Mary Elizabeth McGlynn and ORESKABAND as Anime Expo® 2007 Official Guests of Honor.
Secure pre-registration can be done via online at https://secure.rhq.com/anime/anime2007/attreg/index.cgi.
Attendees interested in booking flights, car rentals and/or other hotels for Anime Expo® 2007 can do so via the AX Travel Store located at www.AXTravelStore.com.
AVEX OFFICIAL Website: http://avexmovie.jp/lineup/momo-i/
U.S. iTMS Website: http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewArtist?id=157172232
About Anime Expo®
Located in Long Beach, California - Anime Expo®, the nation's largest anime/manga convention, serves to foster trade, commerce and the interests of the general public and animation/ comics industry. This event serves as a key meeting place for the general public to express their interest and explore various aspects of anime/manga, as well as for members of the industry to conduct business. AX 2007 will be held June 29 - July 2, 2007 at the Long Beach Convention Center in Southern California. SPONSORS: ADV Films, Bandai Entertainment, Copic Markers, Digital Manga, Gaia Online, Go! Media, Infinity Studios, Imaginasian TV (IaTV) and the Los Angeles Times. More information can be found at its website (www.anime-expo.org).
About Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation The Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation (SPJA) is a non-profit organization with a mission to popularize and educate the American public about anime and manga, as well as provide a forum to facilitate communication between professionals and fans. This organization is more popularly known by its entertainment property - Anime Expo®. More information can be found at its website (www.spja.org).
The statements made in this press release that are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements." These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties. The Company cautions readers of this press release that a number of important factors could cause Anime Expo®/SPJA's actual future results to differ materially from those expressed in any such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, without limitation, product delays, industry competition, rapid changes in technology and industry standards, protection of proprietary rights, maintenance of relationships with key personnel, vendors and third-party developers, international economic and political conditions. The Company may change its intention, belief or expectation, at any time and without notice, based upon any changes in such factors, in the Company's assumptions or otherwise. The Company undertakes no obligation to release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
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