The flamboyant pop star, in Tokyo this week for a benefit concert for tsunami victims, said Thursday that she’s making a point to get out and enjoy the city and its food, and that her fans should do the same thing.
“I can’t say enough to people all over the world that the majority of Japan right now, Japan in general, is very safe,” she said. “It’s fine to come here. It’s beautiful.”
Many performers and athletes have canceled appearances in Japan after the March 11 earthquake and tsunami that caused widespread destruction and set off a crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant about 220 km north of Tokyo.
Tens of thousands of people were forced to leave homes near the plant because of the radiation danger, but even far from the evacuation zone, Japanese tourism has suffered because of the disaster.
Lady Gaga said she couldn’t wait for the chance to show her support. “The most important thing, and the best thing, we could do for Japan right now is to boost tourism, and so everyone come to Japan and come enjoy the beautiful country,” she said.
