Jackson to throw Christmas party in Japan

Controversial pop icon Michael Jackson was expected to appear at a Christmas party in Tokyo, where the best tickets would be priced at $3 400 (R24 600) per person, a report said on Sunday.

Organisers hoped to hold the event in Tokyo on December 19, the Nikkan Sports tabloid said.

If Jackson agreed, the "Premium Christmas" show would be officially announced in the coming week, the paper said.

Under the proposal, Jackson would not perform at the event, which would offer 400 000-yen (R24 600) "platinum" tickets and 200 000-yen "gold" tickets, the report said.

The audience was likely to have dinner with Jackson while listening to his recorded music, the report said.

It was not clear how many tickets would be sold.

Those with the platinum tickets would be allowed to sit nearer to Jackson and have a group picture taken with the singer, the tabloid said.

Gold ticket holders would receive his autographed portrait, the report said.

Jackson last came to Japan in May, when he received a "Legends Award" at MTV Japan's Video Music Awards.

It was the most public outing by the superstar since he was acquitted on child molestation charges in June 2005, and fled the United States for the relative privacy of the Arab kingdom of Bahrain