Michael Jackson arrived in Japan on March 4 for his second visit in recent years to host an exclusive party where admirers pay US$3,400 to dine and spend 30 seconds face-to-face with the pop icon. Two fan appreciation parties were held last two nights.

Michael Jackson was?greeting fans on Friday?night. 

A smiling, relaxed-looking Jackson wearing sun glasses and a black leather jacket was ushered by guards past hundreds of screaming fans at Narita Airport on Sunday afternoon. Some carried signs that read "We love Michael" and "Welcome to Japan."

Jackson will also host a fan art contest while in Tokyo for those who cannot afford VIP tickets, organizer Broderick Morris said in an e-mail.

"Over the years, as Michael Jackson has performed in cities around the world, he has been pleased, honored, and impressed by the large amount of fan art of him," said Morris. "He would like to meet fan artists, and more fully appreciate and enjoy their creative expressions."

Three winning artists chosen by Jackson will have brunch with the star and their picture taken together.

Jackson's VIP meet-and-greet party was held Thursday, with the fan art contest on Friday. It was not clear when Jackson would leave Japan.

Jackson, 48, is not obligated to perform at either event, and promoters would not say how much he would be paid.

Michael Jackson held a VIP party on Thursday night.

(Agencies via Xinhua News Agency March 10, 2007)