OCEAN CITY, NJ – July 14, 2009: Musical prodigy and Otakon musical guest, Kanon Wakeshima, is scheduled to sit down with Tainted Reality host, Roger, for a very special private interview at the convention. Roger will be asking questions about her music, working with J-Rock legend, Mana, and her stunning sense of fashion, among other topics. The interview will be broadcast on July 23rd, at 8pm Eastern, 5pm Pacific.

About Kanon Wakeshima: A promising newcomer who took up the cello at age 3, Kanon began performing at age 15, splitting her time between performing in classical ensembles and providing vocals to a pop/rock group. A few years later, she entered an audition held by Sony Music Japan, in which she was a finalist — and won an artist deal with Sony label DefSTAR Records Inc.

Her incredible talent attracted the attention of Visual-Kei star Mana (Moi dix Mois, Malice Mizer), who became the sound producer for Kanon’s debut single still doll (released in May 2008). Kanon’s rich, haunting sound fits well with the Gothic & Lolita street fashion culture — for which Mana (who is also the designer of his own Moi-meme-moitie apparel brand) is very well known.

Her highly anticipated first album, Shinshoku Dolce, was released in February 2009; a record-breaking in-store performance at France’s biggest CD retailer FNAC, paired with a sensational concert in Paris, put her on the road to international stardom. Kanon has also become the 2009 "Best Newcomer" Shojo Beat Music Award winner.

Kanon is also a talented illustrator; fans flocked to her exhibition held along with the mini-concert November 2008 in Tokyo’s fashion-conscious Harajuku, and she regularly posts her artwork on her website (http://www.kanonweb.jp). Samples of her music can be found on her MySpace page: http://www.myspace.com/kanonwakeshima.

Kanon Wakeshima Links: Official Website – http://www.kanonweb.jp
Official Myspace – http://www.myspace.com/kanonwakeshima

ABOUT OTAKON AND OTAKORP, INC.: Now entering its sixteenth year, Otakon is an annual celebration of Japanese and East Asian popular culture, and also one of the largest gatherings of fans in the United States. Otakon celebrates popular culture as a gateway to deeper understanding of Asian culture, and has grown along with the enthusiasm for anime, manga, video games, and music from the Far East. Since 1999, Otakon has been held in Baltimore, Maryland; currently, Otakon is one of Baltimore’s few large, city-wide events, drawing over 25,000 individual members for three days each year (for a paid attendance of over 70,000 "turnstile" attendees). Otakon is a membership-based convention sponsored by Otakorp, Inc., a Pennsylvania-based, 501(c)3 educational non-profit whose mission is to promote the appreciation of Asian culture, primarily through its media and entertainment. Otakorp, Inc. is directed by an all-volunteer, unpaid staff – we are run by fans, for fans. This year, the convention is boasting member pre-registration of 17,985. Otakon has been known for for providing some of the most memorable J-Music events in America, hosting shows from L`arc~en~ciel, TM Revolution, MUCC, AAA, and many many more.

Otakon Links: Official Website – http://www.otakon.com

About Tainted Reality: Tainted Reality is the premiere source of Japanese rock (J-Rock) entertainment in the United States. Tainted Reality hosts their own internet radio network dedicated to Japanese musical programming and produces radio shows such as Tainted Reality & The Tainted Reality Talkshow. Tainted Reality often conducts interviews with some of the biggest musical artists of Japan like Yoshiki of X Japan, Die of Dir en grey, Miyavi and MUCC. They also manage and organize tours for prominent J-Rock bands such as BLOOD, Versailles -Philharmonic Quintet-, The Candy Spooky Theater as well as producing media such as the Darkest Labyrinth Vol.1 DVD and the Darkest Labyrinth CD.

Tainted Reality Links: Official Website – http://www.taintedreality.net
Myspace – http://www.myspace.com/taintedrealityradio
Twitter – http://www.myspace.com/twitter