Beatlemania grips Japan
June 29, 1966
The Beatles arrive in Japan for their first, and as it would turn out, only concerts in Japan. Although thousands of fans turned out at Nippon Budokan for the five concerts, not everyone was happy that Western rock 'n' roll musicians were playing at a venue originally established for traditional Japanese martial arts.
The Beatles arrive at Tokyo's Haneda Airport on June 29, 1966, for five concerts in Tokyo. The "happi" coats worn by the Fab Four as they deplaned would become collectors' items, and Japan Airlines later used them as a commemorative gimmick.
Paul McCartney, John Lennon, Ringo Starr and George Harrison prepare to meet the press at what was then the Tokyo Hilton Hotel for a news conference upon their arrival in Tokyo.
The Beatles hold their first concert in Japan at Nippon Budokan on June 30. Heavy security measures ensured that no enthusiastic fans got anywhere near the stage.
In a sign that Beatlemania was even infecting the Japanese, fans go crazy over the slightest gesture by the Beatles. A number of Japanese musicians and acts served as warm-up acts, including the singers Yuya Uchida and Isao Bito, as well as the comedy group The Drifters.
Police provide security at Tokyo's Haneda Airport where fans had come to see off the Beatles on July 3. Although the Beatles were the first musicians to perform at Nippon Budokan, it would become an internationally known concert venue in the years to come.
