Fallen pop superstar Michael Jackson is finally booked to make his comeback

Story: Splash News and Picture Agency

But he will be merely shaking hands.

Jacko's last concert was five-and-a-half years ago, before the trauma of his child molestation trial, and he appears to be struggling to find form again.

And he is also said to have been snubbed by all the big concert venues in Las Vegas who all refuse to book him because he is so unreliable.

Now Jacko, 48, has been booked for two events in Japan - but merely as a meet-and-greet fans, Amazingly, fans will be expected to pay up to $3,300 just to shake the tarnished pop idol's hand at the "fan appreciation" events in early March.

The events - neither of which will see the star perform - just adds to speculation that Jacko is struggling to sing to his old standards and will never again be the superstar he once was.

Insiders say Jackson has been job hunting for weeks around all the big Casino's in Las Vegas, desperate for a big-publicity headlining season of shows. He has been spotted meeting with business and entertainment types, including billionaire hotel-casino developer Steve Wynn of Wynn Las Vegas Resort and director/choreographer Kenny Ortega. But a Jackson family source said the King of Pop hasn't scored a job offer yet. "Michael struck out in Vegas," the insider said.

"It has not panned out. The big hotels won't give him a contract like Celine Dion or Wayne Newton, because Michael has not been reliable in recent years."

The source said Jackson recently bragged to his family that he'd been offered a $200 million-a-year, three-year deal at Caesar's Palace. But a spokesman for the famed venue said he had "no information" about any offer.

In a statement, Jackson gushed about his love for Japan - "one of my favorite places in the entire world." He added: "My fans in Japan have helped me achieve historic milestones in the entertainment industry, and I thank them from the bottom of my heart."