TOKYO - Tribute acts are a part of rock 'n' roll, and as of this weekend, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has its own variation with the opening of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame - Japan in Tokyo.

"Rock and roll is a universal language and this is an incredible opportunity for us to collaborate with the Japan Project Production Committee to deliver an exciting experience internationally," said Greg Harris, president and CEO of the Rock Hall in a June release announcing the expansion of the museum into the Far East. "Japan is the second-largest music market in the world, making it the perfect place for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame's first international expansion."

Harris and two colleagues from the Cleveland-based museum, curatorial affairs chief Karen Herman and curator Craig Inciardi, were in Tokyo for the ceremonies.

The new facility will be run by a Japanese group, with approval and oversight from Cleveland. Some of the exhibits from here are now on view there, installed by Herman and her team, said Todd Mesek, the museum's vice president of marketing and communications.

Tokyo is 13 hours ahead of Cleveland, and the time difference made it difficult for one-on-one interview via phone. However, Mesek and Harris were able to answer several questions posed in an emailed request.

Q: How did the opening of an arm of the RRHOF in come about?

Mesek: The broadcast of the Inductions was the entry point. Japan media carried it and it was immensely popular. A group in Japan approached us about extending the Rock Hall experience in Japan. This fits in our strategy to use traveling exhibits to engage people on the road, create a new revenue source and draw attention and support for Rock Hall in Cleveland.

Q: What made Japan a likely choice for the first expansion of the Rock Hall?

Mesek: Immense popularity of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Japan; Immense popularity of Rock and Roll in Japan. Japan is the second largest market for music in the world.

Q: Will it be the only expansion?

Mesek: For now. Never say never.

Q: Who will be running it, and will it be a separate entity, or a "satellite'' of the Cleveland facility, under the official leadership of Greg and the local board?

Mesek: The operations are managed by the Japanese Group. Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has approval and oversight of all exhibits and marketing. We're working closely together. Some artifacts from our collection are exhibited there and Karen and her team supervised the installation.

Q: Who are the partners for the Tokyo facility?

Mesek: A group of Japanese business and entertainment leaders.

Q: How big is the facility?

Harris: This initial space is approximately 10,000 square feet and is intended to be temporary. The goal is to open a larger facility prior to the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. The permanent building is projected to have approximately 24,000 square feet of exhibition space, plus a performance hall and other related activities.

Q: What kind of exhibits are there, and what kind will be - specifically, will some of the "traveling exhibits'' that are born in the Cleveland museum spend time there?

Harris: Definitely. Traveling exhibits will go there and we'll loan select artifacts. There are some different nuances in terms of cultural appeal. They have a focus on iconic artists and the exclusivity of induction. The narrative of the roots of rock and eras like the British Invasion don't carry the same relevance as in the United States. We will exhibit artists that are popular in Japan -- Deep Purple, Rolling Stones, The Who, MJ, Madonna, etc. The Japan team identified these artists and are creating exhibits and programs that will best resonate.

Q: What role with the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation, headed by Joel Peresman, have there?

Harris and Mesek: Greg and Joel worked on this closely together over the past year. The museum staff oversees all of the museum aspects of the venture--exhibits, collections, marketing, etc. and we work in collaboration with the Foundation to make sure the use of the trademarks and overall quality match our standards.

Q: Conversely, will there be exhibits born there that make their way to Cleveland?

Harris: That isn't contemplated at the moment, while Japanese fans are well aware of our inductees, there is little awareness of Japanese artists by the U.S. market. However, I could see pieces fitting into an exhibit that focuses on the global impact of rock and roll.

Q: What kind of attendance numbers are you hoping for?

Harris: The current installation's primary purpose is to build awareness for the opening of the permanent museum in 2020. Goals for that museum are being developed.

Q: Japan's other love - besides rock 'n' roll - is baseball. Mr. Harris, did you ever visit the country when you were with the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, and if so, were there any "lessons'' you took away from it?

Harris: We collaborated on some projects with the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame but I didn't travel to Tokyo. I did have the great fortune to work with the Japanese ambassador to the United States and the U.S. Embassy in Japan. And saw first-hand the cultural bridges and friendships that were built by a shared love of baseball, and I'm feeling a similar shared connection with rock fans I've met in Japan. Another key learning was seeing the pride and passion of Japanese fans during Ichiro Suzuki's first year in the USA. It was truly "Ichiro-mania."

Q: Is there some sort of reciprocal agreement, where Rock Hall members here get in free there, and vice versa?

Harris: Our RRHOF members currently enjoy amazing reciprocal benefits at multiple museums. Down the road it will make sense to include some benefit in Japan as well.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.