When Beatlemania Came to Japan

The cover of Music Life’s August 1965 issue, which contained the author’s interview with the Beatles at Abbey Road studios.

With John Lennon and Paul McCartney during my interview with the Beatles at Abbey Road on June 15, 1965.

The Beatles and their producer George Martin (wearing a necktie, at back ) look through copies of Music Life.

At the Tokyo Hilton, July 2, 1966, introducing John and Ringo to the signature pose made famous by a character in the Osomatsu-kun, a manga and anime popular in Japan at the time. John had asked me about what kids in Japan were into. Ringo apparently struck up the pose himself later on, but sadly the moment was not captured for posterity.

Fifty years after their performances at Budōkan, Japan’s passion for the Beatles shows no signs of fading. Here Hoshika gives another talk about her meetings with the band.