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AKB48, Misia to Perform at Washington, D.C. Cherry Blossom Fest

The official blog of the all-female idol group AKB48 announced on Tuesday that the group will perform at the National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, D.C. along with Misia. "Japan Pop Culture Concert 2012 in Washington D.C. ~Celebrating 100th anniversary of Cherry Blossom with AKB48" will be held at the Lincoln Theatre on March 27 at 4:00 p.m. and again at 7:30 p.m. Misia and Sara Bareilles will perform during the opening ceremony of the festival on March 25 at Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

The AKB48 members scheduled to appear include:

Team A: Asuka Kuramochi, Aki Takajō, Minami Takahashi
Team K: Ayaka Umeda, Reina Fujie, Sakiko Matsui, Minami Minegishi, Sae Miyazawa
Team B: Shihori Suzuki
Team 4: Maria Abe, Miori Ichikawa, Anna Iriyama
Research students/trainee members: Rina Kawaei, Natsuki Kojima, Juri Takahashi, Rina Hirata

The free tickets will be available on the Eventbrite website on Tuesday (Wednesday in Japan). The AKB48 members will also visit the Thomson Elementary School in the city, and their entire trip is their way of thanking American for their support after the Great Eastern Japan Earthquake (Higashi Nihon Daishinsai) disaster.

AKB48 had previously performed in New York and Los Angeles (pictured right).

Thanks to Chad Stephenson for the news tip.

Source: The Washington Post's The Style Blog

Update: Emphasized that the AKB48 tickets will be free. Thanks, Otishio.