Elvis Statue In Kobe Japan & Around The World

*Roger Poh, a good friend, visited Japan recently and found an Elvis Presley statue (image) standing in the Kobe Harbourland commercial complex in the city’s Chuo Ward.

This statue is the same one that had been at the Love Me Tender speciality store in Tokyo's Harajuku since 1987 but it was removed because the store had closed in January, 2009.

Former Prime Minister and avid Elvis Presley fan Junichiro Koizumi attended a special ceremony in August 2009 to unveil the Presley statue, after it was placed at this busy port.

The statue was originally paid for by the former prime minister, along with contributions from singer Akiko Wada, other celebrities and several hundred fans. Koizumi said that his love for Presley was sometimes handy to heal diplomatic relations.

Kobe, known as the birthplace of jazz in Japan, was chosen as the new location for the statue after locals campaigned to have it brought to the port city. Harajuku was chosen as the first site in 1987, 10 years after the passing of The King.

Presley statues can be found in the following places:

United States of America:

1. Tupelo -MS (bronze), 2/3. Memphis - TN (bronze), 4. Shreveport -LA (bronze), 5. Dallas - TX (stone), 6. **Las Vegas - NV (bronze), 7. Honolulu - HA (bronze), 8. Bakersfield - CA (bronze), 9. Daytona Beach - FL (bronze), 10. Myrtle Beach - SC (sand), 11. Branson - MR (solid rock), 12. Dodgeville - WI (solid rock).

Other countries:

13. Nauheim - Germany (marble), 14. Friedburg - Germany (marble), 15. Genoa - Italy (wood), 16. Liverpool - England (bronze), 17. Gloucester - England (bronze), 18. Cracow - Poland (solid rock), 19. Madeira - Portugal (sand).

20/21. Tel Aviv - Israel (bronze), 22. Jerusalem - Israel (wood), 23. Casamance - Senegal (wood), 24. Kobe - Japan (bronze), 25. Bangkok - Thailand (bronze), 26. Auckland - New Zealand (marble), 27. Wycliffe Well Park - Australia (wood), 28. Adelaide - Australia (solid rock), 29. Melbourne - Australia (marble).

*Image: Roger Poh Collection.
http://footlooseinasia.blogspot.com/

Information: http://www.topix.com/forum/who/elvis-presley/TDTRANNQDL5GS3H1N

**Elvis Statue/ May 31, 2009:
Sands Singapore Or Elvis Club From Las Vegas?

Side Bar Images: www.flickr.com/photos/yummies4tummies/3582453384/

francesellenspeaks.com/2008/01/20/elvis/
en.citizendium.org/wiki/Elvis_Presley