If you have even wandered just off Takeshita Dori in the Harajuku area of Tokyo there is a good chance that you have seen a young Elvis Presley cast in bronze.  The statue of the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll, strumming his guitar, stands in front of the aptly named Love Me Tender store that was Japan’s only Presley specialty store when it opened on January 8, 1985, on the 50th anniversary of Presley’s birth.

The bronze statue of Elvis was created in 1987 with donations from famous Presley fans that include Junichiro Koizumi who shares the King’s birthday and served as Prime Minister of Japan from 2001 to 2006.

The same building houses Gimme Shelter that sells official The Rolling Stones ware and Get Back that sells official Beatles stuff.  All three stores are operated by Japan Allround Music, Inc. who also run the Rock ‘n’ Roll Museum Tokyo in Shibuya and other music related stores and events around Japan.

Love me Tender and the Elvis Pressley statue can be found on this map of Harajuku but hurry if you want to see it as the trio of stores that includes Love Me Tender will be closing when their lease expires in January, 2009.  All remaining merchandise, such 1963 autographs by The Rolling Stones, will be available online but there is no place for the statue of Elvis – the King of Rock ‘n Roll will be homeless!

Japan Allround Music, Inc. is looking for a fan that can give Elvis a new home according to the Asahi Shimbun.  Can you help?

Image Credit: Personal Collection

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