Tupelo's Convention and Visitors Bureau issued the invitation to Koizumi, who like many people in Japan, is a big fan of the late rock 'n' roll star. Tourism officials in Tupelo are now awaiting word on whether Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi will visit Elvis Presley's birthplace. Koizumi is scheduled to tour the rock legend's Graceland estate in Memphis.
Tourism officials said the proposed visit to the northeast Mississippi city would follow Koizumi's June 30th trip to Memphis with President Bush. Mississippi officials say an appearance by the Japanese prime minister would be a big boost for international tourism promotion in Tupelo.
The Elvis Presley Fan Club in Japan claims to be the largest in Asia with a five-thousand-strong membership. Another two-thousand people or so belong to the recently formed Elvis Presley Society in Japan.
Presley was born in Tupelo but moved with his parents in 1948 to Memphis, Tennessee, where he later began his recording career. Presley died in Memphis on August 16th, 1977.
Tupelo Tourism Officials Invite Koizumi To Elvis Birthplace
June 24, 2006 | Other Source:VariousMauriceColgan wrote on
June 28, 2006
Excellent news. The amazing amount of International publicity already generated by the event is astounding, and they are not near Memphis yet! Surely millions more Elvis CDs will sell this week...It's Now or Never! If President George W Bush and Elvis fan Prime Minister of Japan Junichiro Koizumi do travel to Tupelo I hope Lisa Marie Presley goes along as well. That would be unbelievable news even here in Irelandtoo