Eminem’s recent conviction on weapons charges not a problem in Japan. The rapper headlines the Green Stage on Sunday. Smash

Sensational US rapper Eminem's recent conviction on weapons charges won't cause him any problems in gun-shy Japan, says Smash's English pointman Johnnie Fingers. With the festival approaching this weekend, Fingers says nary a peep has been heard out of the Japanese government or press. "Fuji Rock? They don't even know what that is," he scoffs. "Pop is of no importance here until something is screaming in your face." And it goes without saying that the controversy over his purportedly misogynistic and homophobic lyrics is a non-issue here as well.

In the meantime, Australia has been hotly debating whether or not to ban the performer from the country or restrict entry to his concert, in advance of his scheduled show there on July 27. The Sydney Morning Herald reported that the New South Wales government is looking into extending the movie classification system to his concert, after an MP called for slapping an R rating on the concert and restricting the audience to over-18s.

At Fuji Rock, Eminem will be performing with his group D12 to support their new album, Devil's Night, just released on Eminem's Shady Records label in association with Interscope. Eminem is just one of six rappers in D12, sharing vocal duty with longtime Detroit buddies Proof, Kon Artis, Bizarre, Kuniva and Swifty.

The album grew out of a vow the members of D12 made to each other years ago, that, Eminem recently told the Los Angeles Times, "If any of us made it, we'd bring the others along and do something together."

"When you dream to be a rap superstar and you finally do become one, it's like you owe that to your buddies," he added.

With six rappers on stage at Fuji Rock, the concert should make a strong impact, but fans of Eminem's 2000 smash album The Marshall Mathers LP may be disappointed…

In other late-breaking Fuji Rock news, J-pop singer UA has been confirmed to play the Red Marquee on Sunday evening. The Osaka native (b. Kaori Shima) may just be Japan's best singer of the moment, with a rich, soulful voice that sounds great either in front of her own band or as part of the recent supergroup, Ajico. Also, British experimental techno pioneers Autechre have canceled their Sunday appearance. Instead, says Smash, popular techno-pop unit Orbital - formed by the irrepressible Hartnoll brothers - have been confirmed to take their place. For the latest updates see Smash's Fuji Rock Festival website.

Roxy Music play Tokyo International Forum on September 7-9. See listings for details. www.smash-jpn.com