TOKYO - Michael Jackson's legions of Japanese fans expressed shock and grief Friday at news of the sudden death of the "King of Pop", while even the country's politicians paid tribute.

"I am just shocked. One of the world's great men has died," said Masato Tanaka, a 30-year-old bass player who was shopping in downtown Tokyo. "He was a star no matter what he did. I think his fans of the world believed in him."

"It becomes so lonely without him,' said Mayumi Takeda, 35. "He is definitely a superstar. He was a man of dreams."

Even government ministers expressed their sorrow over the passing of the 50-year-old.

"I feel sad as I had watched him since he was a member of Jackson Five," Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Tsutomu Sato, 57, told reporters.

"With a lot of popular songs, he built a generation," said Defence Minister Yasukazu Hamada, 53.

Jackson drew screaming crowds when he visited Japan in recent years.

In 2007, he threw a private party here for hundreds of well-heeled fans who paid thousands of dollars each for an exclusive dinner and photo with the music legend.

Jackson also amazed fans by making a lavish shopping trip to Tokyo electronics stores, for which he reserved an entire building, and private visits to Tokyo Disneyland during which other people were kept out.

He also visited Tokyo in May 2006 to receive a "Legends Award" at MTV Japan's Video Music Awards, making his first public appearance in nearly a year following his trial on child molestation charges.

A spokesman for the Los Angeles County Coroner confirmed that Jackson was pronounced dead at 2126 GMT Thursday in a Los Angeles hospital after reportedly suffering a cardiac arrest.