ALAMODE NIGHT WITH DJ CHIHIRO: GOTH LOLITA COSPLAY, TOKYO EBM CLUB EVENT.
I was supposed to attend the Tokyo Game Show last Sunday, but due to a series of episodes involving rosewater and synaesthesia, I didn’t end up making it. I did, however, roll out to Studio Cube 326 for Alamode Night, a regular “Gothic and Lolita Culture Fashion & Club Event” presided by D’s Valentine and DJ Chihiro.
The party started ridiculously early and ended at 10pm; Tokyo Goth nights either run until midnight (when the trains stop running) or dawn (when they start up again). I Goth-ed up my Banana Fish dress with a black lace choker and armbands from Refuse to be Usual. Jim – sensei and manga artist extraordinaire – brought out his spiked leather dog collar and Joker makeup.
My cute ghost and decapitated bunny seem to be enjoying themselves, tearing up the platform with their fellow cyber / Goth / cosplay minions.
Nightcrawling isn’t for everyone, but for some, it’s their oxygen; a font of inspiration, a channel for self-expression… do you know what I mean?
I brought my Cybershot so the photos aren’t pro-quality – but on the upside, the camera produced some ghostly effects. On the right, DJ Chihiro turns translucent.
The Gothic and Sweet Lolitas mostly stood in the back with hands daintily clasped, leaving the cyber and cosplay Goths to battle it out on stage.
DJ Chihiro spun “Japanese occult EBM” and scream-sang several songs. He ended, as always, with his “world on fire” track. Whenever he screeched “fii-AHHHH,” everyone did the same arm movement. It was eerily similar to the “Y” from the Village People’s “YMCA”…
It was Chihiro’s birthday (his MySpace page says he is 100 years old) so his ghoul-friend brought out a cake with his face on it (upper left). A vampiric feeding frenzy ensued; even the Sweet Lolitas took part in pulverizing his flesh and forking it into our mouths!
On my nightlife calendar: Tokyo Dark Castle, Tokyo Decadance, Midnight Mess, Heaven’s Door, Club Cemetery…
SHARE & COMMENT
LA CARMINA
36 Comments
please remember lolita is NOT cosplay
I think she knows it… ^^
please remember lolita is NOT cosplay
I couldn’t agree more! I was referring to some of the outfits at the party, which were definitely cosplay. Cat ears, tails, robotic parts, anime character references…
ah ok, I thought u were reffering to the fashion.. ^_^;;
I think she knows it… ^^
I couldn't agree more! I was referring to some of the outfits at the party, which were definitely cosplay. Cat ears, tails, robotic parts, anime character references…
How funny that I should be reading this, and an Aural Vampire song comes up on my iTunes Party Shuffle! x3 I'm glad you had a good time and got some good pics! ^^
How funny that I should be reading this, and an Aural Vampire song comes up on my iTunes Party Shuffle! x3 I’m glad you had a good time and got some good pics! ^^
ah, TGS. Kotaku had me covered there. :P
I've never nightcrawled myself, but it certainly looks interesting.
I wish there were goth clubs where I live. I went to one in England once, best night of my life!
You know, it sort of freaks me out when boys with short blonde hair in Dolce and Gabbana start buying me drinks at “ordinary” pubs and clubs… it's just wrong.
By the way, Basil Farrow: THE CUTEST on my facebook friend list! Awwww! (don't tell the hamster…)
ah, TGS. Kotaku had me covered there. :P
I’ve never nightcrawled myself, but it certainly looks interesting.
I know, right? Those boys are scarier than the ones in Halloween makeup!
Basil sends a kiss.
I wish there were goth clubs where I live. I went to one in England once, best night of my life!
You know, it sort of freaks me out when boys with short blonde hair in Dolce and Gabbana start buying me drinks at “ordinary” pubs and clubs… it’s just wrong.
By the way, Basil Farrow: THE CUTEST on my facebook friend list! Awwww! (don’t tell the hamster…)
I know, right? Those boys are scarier than the ones in Halloween makeup!
Basil sends a kiss.
i lurrrve your dress! so damn cute! MAN i am PINING to go back to Japan – was talking about it with the hubby yesterday – everything else we want to do there – need to win the lottery (or get myself an awesome book deal hehe)
Yes i also agree that lolita isn't cosplay, its a lifestyle.
lol looks like u had fun btw.
I did, I did :)
i lurrrve your dress! so damn cute! MAN i am PINING to go back to Japan – was talking about it with the hubby yesterday – everything else we want to do there – need to win the lottery (or get myself an awesome book deal hehe)
Yes i also agree that lolita isn’t cosplay, its a lifestyle.
lol looks like u had fun btw.
I did, I did :)
wow, the dress looks awesome ^^
wow, the dress looks awesome ^^
I really love that purse
I really love that purse
ah ok, I thought u were reffering to the fashion.. ^_^;;
this picture are so smart!
where have been?can i know…
this picture are so smart!where have been?can i know…
Looks awesome!! I'm planning to go to the next one – but flipped out when I saw it was only 4.30pm until 10!! I wanted to go to an all-night club, and now am wondering whether to change my dates so I can come when Tokyo Dark Castle or Decedance are on. So confused! Also, isn't Alamode quite out of town (ie not in Shinjuku – lol) and harder to find?
Looks awesome!! I’m planning to go to the next one – but flipped out when I saw it was only 4.30pm until 10!! I wanted to go to an all-night club, and now am wondering whether to change my dates so I can come when Tokyo Dark Castle or Decedance are on. So confused! Also, isn’t Alamode quite out of town (ie not in Shinjuku – lol) and harder to find?
Alamode was at StudioCube in Tamachi, which is about 30 min from Shinjuku on the JR Yamanote line (the green one that goes in a circle). It’s harder to find, but the StudioCube website has a great map. I wrote down where all the Lawsons are and had no problem.
The parties have different vibes, although the same DJs (Chihiro, Sisen, Takuya Angel) tend to spin the music. Alamode is more cosplay/anime-ish, and doesn’t feature the more prominent Goth bands (such as Blood, Candy Spooky). I like Midnight Mess better than Tokyo Dark Castle; both have fantastic music/performances, but MM is less packed and douche-y. Both are in Shinjuku.
Tokyo Decadance is large and cyber/fetish-y flamboyant… this Saturday’s TD is at the huge Christon Cafe in Shinjuku.
Gothic Bar Heaven is a smaller but very fun all-nighter at Club Hoop in Shinjuku. It’s a D’s Valentine event.
Finally, I love The Fashion Ramone’s parties – they’re doing a Halloween bash and have regular Narzib events. Lots of over-the-top outfits!
In sum: I recommend Midnight Mess, Tokyo Decadance, and Gothic Bar Heaven for you…
Alamode was at StudioCube in Tamachi, which is about 30 min from Shinjuku on the JR Yamanote line (the green one that goes in a circle). It’s harder to find, but the StudioCube website has a great map. I wrote down where all the Lawsons are and had no problem.
The parties have different vibes, although the same DJs (Chihiro, Sisen, Takuya Angel) tend to spin the music. Alamode is more cosplay/anime-ish, and doesn’t feature the more prominent Goth bands (such as Blood, Candy Spooky). I like Midnight Mess better than Tokyo Dark Castle; both have fantastic music/performances, but MM is less packed and douche-y. Both are in Shinjuku.
Tokyo Decadance is large and cyber/fetish-y flamboyant… this Saturday’s TD is at the huge Christon Cafe in Shinjuku.
Gothic Bar Heaven is a smaller but very fun all-nighter at Club Hoop in Shinjuku. It’s a D’s Valentine event.
Finally, I love The Fashion Ramone’s parties – they’re doing a Halloween bash and have regular Narzib events. Lots of over-the-top outfits!
In sum: I recommend Midnight Mess, Tokyo Decadance, and Gothic Bar Heaven for you…
Looks awesome!! I’m planning to go to the next one – but flipped out when I saw it was only 4.30pm until 10!! I wanted to go to an all-night club, and now am wondering whether to change my dates so I can come when Tokyo Dark Castle or Decedance are on. So confused! Also, isn’t Alamode quite out of town (ie not in Shinjuku – lol) and harder to find?
Alamode was at StudioCube in Tamachi, which is about 30 min from Shinjuku on the JR Yamanote line (the green one that goes in a circle). It's harder to find, but the StudioCube website has a great map. I wrote down where all the Lawsons are and had no problem.
The parties have different vibes, although the same DJs (Chihiro, Sisen, Takuya Angel) tend to spin the music. Alamode is more cosplay/anime-ish, and doesn't feature the more prominent Goth bands (such as Blood, Candy Spooky). I like Midnight Mess better than Tokyo Dark Castle; both have fantastic music/performances, but MM is less packed and douche-y. Both are in Shinjuku.
Tokyo Decadance is large and cyber/fetish-y flamboyant… this Saturday's TD is at the huge Christon Cafe in Shinjuku.
Gothic Bar Heaven is a smaller but very fun all-nighter at Club Hoop in Shinjuku. It's a D's Valentine event.
Finally, I love The Fashion Ramone's parties – they're doing a Halloween bash and have regular Narzib events. Lots of over-the-top outfits!
In sum: I recommend Midnight Mess, Tokyo Decadance, and Gothic Bar Heaven for you…
Looks awesome!! I'm planning to go to the next one – but flipped out when I saw it was only 4.30pm until 10!! I wanted to go to an all-night club, and now am wondering whether to change my dates so I can come when Tokyo Dark Castle or Decedance are on. So confused! Also, isn't Alamode quite out of town (ie not in Shinjuku – lol) and harder to find?
Alamode was at StudioCube in Tamachi, which is about 30 min from Shinjuku on the JR Yamanote line (the green one that goes in a circle). It's harder to find, but the StudioCube website has a great map. I wrote down where all the Lawsons are and had no problem.
The parties have different vibes, although the same DJs (Chihiro, Sisen, Takuya Angel) tend to spin the music. Alamode is more cosplay/anime-ish, and doesn't feature the more prominent Goth bands (such as Blood, Candy Spooky). I like Midnight Mess better than Tokyo Dark Castle; both have fantastic music/performances, but MM is less packed and douche-y. Both are in Shinjuku.
Tokyo Decadance is large and cyber/fetish-y flamboyant… this Saturday's TD is at the huge Christon Cafe in Shinjuku.
Gothic Bar Heaven is a smaller but very fun all-nighter at Club Hoop in Shinjuku. It's a D's Valentine event.
Finally, I love The Fashion Ramone's parties – they're doing a Halloween bash and have regular Narzib events. Lots of over-the-top outfits!
In sum: I recommend Midnight Mess, Tokyo Decadance, and Gothic Bar Heaven for you…