西海岸から呼ばれたけど
なんか知らないけど、モーニング娘。が今年7月にロサンゼルス（Los Angeles）で行われる予定の「アニメ・エキスポ（Anime Expo）2009」に出演する話が出てきたのだが・・・。
・モー娘がアニメ・エキスポで米進出 全米最大規模のアニメ＆オタクの祭典にゲスト出演（2009年2月13日 バラエティ・ジャパン）
・Anime ExpoR Announces Morning Musume As First Official Guests Of Honor（2009年2月12日 Anime Expo 2009；公式サイト）
Anime Expo 2009 の公式サイトでは、ご丁寧に（？）モーニング娘。の略歴について触れている。
以下、Anime Expo 2009 のプレスリリースからその部分を長くなるけど引用しておく*1。
Anaheim, California and Tokyo, Japan (February 12, 2009) -- With excitement beyond belief, Anime ExpoR proudly announces the attendance and performance of Japan’s most celebrated and top all-girl music group MORNING MUSUME (also referred to as “Momusu”) to the nation’s largest anime and manga convention held July 2-5, 2009 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.うーむ。
More information can be found on the website www.anime-expo.org.
The MORNING MUSUME (モーニング娘. Morning Daughter) is a one of a kind all-girl group whose story began in 1997 when Japanese producer TSUNKU♂ held auditions for a female rock vocalist for his band SHARAN Q held on the Japanese TV show ASAYAN.
With the five runner-ups from the contest, Tsunku decided to create an all-girl group that sold 50,000 copies of their indies CD single “Ai no Tane” and debuted as MORNING MUSUME. They are the lead group of Hello! Project.
MORNING MUSUME’s first single “Morning Coffee” made a huge splash by hitting the #6 position in the Japanese pop charts within its first week of release.
In August of 1998, MORNING MUSUME reached the #1 spot in the Japanese pop charts with their 3rd single “HOLD ON ME”.
In 1999, the group had their first nationwide tour with 19 performances in 7 cities for 40,000 fans.In September of 1999, MORNING MUSUME released their smash hit “Love Machine” that sold 2 million copies and held the first place spot in the Japanese pop charts and stayed 17 weeks on the Oricon Karaoke Chart.
MORNING MUSUME is famous not just for being the Japan’s top female group, but also for its unique approach with the shuffling of members.
Producer TSUNKU♂ creates freshness by graduating band members and adding new members to create different units and adds fresh new faces for fans old and new.In 2007, MORNING MUSUME made a historic impact within the Japanese music industry as the band welcomed new members Jun Jun and Lin Lin from China and began to reach an international audience.
In 2008, MORNING MUSUME celebrated their 10th anniversary.
MORNING MUSUME is definitely the world’s most famous and successful Japanese all-girl group.MORNING MUSUME consists of band members Ai Takahashi, Risa Niigaki, Eri Kamei, Sayumi Michishige, Reina Tanaka, Koharu Kusumi, Aika Mitsui, JunJun, and LinLin.
（以下略）
ジュンジュンとリンリンの本名について書かなかったり、モーニング娘。を "band"と表現する辺りが独特っちゃ独特だわな。
後は、『モーニングコーヒー（1997年版）』のオリコンウィークリーチャート初登場第6位をアピールする辺りも。
ま、米国の売り上げチャートの基準で考えれば相当なものかもしれないけど・・・。
良く考えると、今のモーニング娘。のメンバーがそれを達成したわけでもないんだよな。
この辺りは、Anime Expo 2009 のプレスリリースを読んだ人なら気付くと思うが。
それにしても、なんで Anime Expo 2009 のゲストにモーニング娘。を呼んだのだろうか？
モーニング娘。の存在自体が良くも悪くも日本のポップカルチャーを表現してる、と主催者が考えたのだろうか？
*1:訳文をでっち上げようと思ったけど、この略歴の間違いについては普段本家ででっち上げてる訳文にくらべれば明らかなのでパス
