BEIJING, Sept. 17 (UPI) -- Japan's pop sensations SMAP during their show in Beijing Friday thanked the Chinese for their help after this spring's earthquake.
The five-man band appeared at the 70,000-seat Beijing Workers Stadium for a show that China's Xinhua news agency said delighted a throng of fans despite the persistent drizzle.
"Thank you, China. Thank you all for offering hands in the Japan earthquake that occurred on March 11," SMAP's Kimura Takuya told the crowd as video clips of the disaster appearing on a giant screen.
Xinhua said Saturday the theme of the SMAP show was Asian unity and friendship and was a gesture of appreciation for China's quake-relief efforts. It was also part of a cultural exchange program marking the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two nations.
"I am so excited to realize the dream of performing in China. I hope this show will strengthen the friendship between China and Japan," Inagaki Goro, another member of SMAP, said at a news conference in Beijing.
