FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
 
ANIME EXPO® ANNOUNCES MORNING MUSUME AS FIRST OFFICIAL GUESTS OF HONOR FOR
2009 CONVENTION IN LOS ANGELES
 
Nation’s Largest Anime and Manga Convention Welcomes Japan’s Top Female
Group from Hello! Project
 
Anaheim, California and Tokyo, Japan (February 12, 2009) — With excitement
beyond belief, Anime Expo® proudly announces the attendance and performance
of Japan’s most celebrated and top all-girl music group MORNING MUSUME (also
referred to as “Momusu”) to the nation’s largest anime and manga convention
held July 2-5, 2009 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. More information
can be found on the website www.anime-expo.org <http://www.anime-expo.org> .
 
The MORNING MUSUME (モーニング娘.  Morning Daughter) is a one of a kind
all-girl group whose story began in 1997 when Japanese producer TSUNKU♂ held
auditions for a female rock vocalist for his band SHARAN Q held on the
Japanese TV show ASAYAN.  With the five runner-ups from the contest, Tsunku
decided to create an all-girl group that sold 50,000 copies of their indies
CD single “Ai no Tane” and debuted as  MORNING MUSUME. They are the lead
group of Hello! Project <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hello!_Project> .
 
MORNING MUSUME’s first single “Morning Coffee” made a huge splash by hitting
the #6 position in the Japanese pop charts within its first week of release.
In August of 1998, MORNING MUSUME reached the #1 spot in the Japanese pop
charts with their 3rd single “HOLD ON ME”.  In 1999, the group had their
first nationwide tour with 19 performances in 7 cities for 40,000 fans.
 
In September of 1999, MORNING MUSUME released their smash hit “Love Machine”
that sold 2 million copies and held the first place spot in the Japanese pop
charts and stayed 17 weeks on the Oricon Karaoke Chart.
 
MORNING MUSUME is famous not just for being Japan’s top female group, but
also for its unique approach with the shuffling of members.  Producer
TSUNKU♂ creates freshness by graduating band members and adding new members
to create different units and adds fresh new faces for fans old and new.
 
In 2007, MORNING MUSUME made a historic impact within the Japanese music
industry as the band welcomed new members Jun Jun and Lin Lin from China and
began to reach an international audience.   In 2008, MORNING MUSUME
celebrated their 10th anniversary. MORNING MUSUME is definitely the world’s
most famous and successful Japanese all-girl group.
 
MORNING MUSUME consists of band members Ai Takahashi, Risa Niigaki, Eri
Kamei, Sayumi Michishige, Reina Tanaka, Koharu Kusumi, Aika Mitsui, JunJun,
and LinLin. 
Images available upon request and/or via the Anime Expo® 2009 Online Press
Kit.
Attendees, Press and Industry Members are also encouraged to view the video
coverage site of the 2008 convention at www.AXBackstage.org
<http://www.AXBackstage.org>  and to register for the 2009 convention at
www.anime-expo.org <http://www.anime-expo.org> .
 
In coordination with this event, JapanFiles.com will release Morning
Musume's digital catalog on its website, beginning with the release of the
group's new single "Naichau kamo" on February 18, 2009.  JapanFiles.com will
also open a special Morning Musume store for fans with official goods from
Japan.
 
About Anime Expo®
Located in Los Angeles, 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 2009 will be held July 2 – July 5, 2009 at
the Los Angeles Convention Center in Southern California. 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 <http://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.