IKEBUKURO CLOSET CHILD: SECONDHAND, VINTAGE GOTHIC LOLITA CLOTHING IN TOKYO, JAPAN. WHERE TO BUY EGL USED CLOTHES.
I love Tokyo party blogger Mai Sassy Girl! We met through work, and immediately hit it off. Mai photographs Japan’s electro/fashion nightlife, and her motto is: “Life is too short. Just have fun no matter where you are.” Now I can get behind that.
Makeup: I’m wearing the same dollar store fake eyelashes as in my CNN International/CNNGo TV shoot (close up photos here). The paw print stickers are from Daiso Harajuku, and the girly light pink lipstick is Kanebo, from a Japanese drug store.
I took Mai to the Ikebukuro location of Closet Child, my favorite clothing store on Earth. There are several locations in Harajuku and Shinjuku (see my photos here). The Ikebukuro one was recently enlarged and is not as heavily-trafficked, so I highly recommend that you make the trip.
To get here, ride the subway to Ikebukuro and follow the signs towards Sunshine City. Follow the arrows to Sunshine 60 Doori (street); you’ll see the giant shopping/entertainment complex, Sunshine City, ahead. A block before you reach the entrance, turn left and look for the Starbucks. Closet Child is on the third level.
Except for the inexpensive jewelry, everything in Closet Child is secondhand. There’s a fantastic selection of Visual Kei and Jrock used CDs and memorabilia, such as fan zines, T-shirts and tour merchandise.
It may be hard for you to fathom, but in Japan, Mana-sama is not popular any more. There are shelves of magazines and CDs for Plastic Tree, The Gazette and Arc-en-Ciel… but nothing for Mana’s bands. The Malice Mizer “Merveilles movie” was in the discount bin for 400 yen ($4). And look at the price of Gackt’s LP (1780 yen) compared to Malice Mizer’s (500 yen, which I bought). Tragic!
If you ever see me in the streets, don’t hesitate to say hi — I love meeting you.
Vest: Gramm, from Closet Child Shinjuku
Royal cat t-shirt: Banana Fish, from Closet Child Shinjuku. RIP! This brand is no more!
Lavender skirt: Algonquins, from Closet Child Shinjuku
Black knee highs with white hearts: from a cheap Ikebukuro accessories store
Ikebukuro’s Closet Child has a large selection of Gothic Lolita Punk brand clothing, and since everything’s used, the prices are 25-75% off. The styles may be from older collections, but the garments are in great condition. You can often find obscure/limited edition JSK prints and Lolita accessories.
Don’t forget to look at the kawaii and rocking horse shoes, and stock up on candy jewelry… This is the only Closet Child in Tokyo that has a section for dolls such as Blythe and doll accessories.
But sometimes you’ll find ridiculous items in the mix, such as this clothes hanger. Incredible. Who would pay 840 yen (about $8.50) for a normal wooden hanger that happens to have “Mary Magdalene” printed on it??
For more photos of Tokyo Gothic Lolita Punk stores, please take a glance at my shopping guide. More Tokyo and Osaka boutique photos to come.
Is it surprising to hear that Mana’s on the decline in Japan? Visual Kei is a relatively small scene over here…
Japanese Word of the Day: Oshiire = Japanese-style closet
Song of the Day: Madder Mortem – Where Dream & Day Collide (Gorgeous steampunky new video from the Goth/progressive metal band.)
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Wow that is kind of weird… Mana-sama isn’t popular? Come to think of it, he hasn’t come out with anything recently. I think that’s just because he’s doing behind the scenes stuff, especially him producing Kanon Wakeshima. Visual kei may be small, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t lively. There just needs to be something to bring it to life again… but what, I wonder. *thinks of ideas* muahahaha >D
I’ll definitely be one to say hi to you if I see you in the street~
I guess people outside Japan are discovering him for the first time, whereas in Japan, he’s been active since the late 80s…
I think even Kanon Wakeshima is kind of small in Japan – none of the Japanese people I meet ever seem to know her, unless of course they’re into Gothic Lolita.
It doesn’t really surprise me, since it is kind of a niche subculture in some ways. I mean, the western metal scene is huge, but non-metal entusiasts probably just know of Metallica, Nightwish and maybe Within Temptation.
Maybe it’s just easy for the entusiasts abroad to think that Gothic Lolita and Visual Kei is huuuuuge in Japan, because that’s the part of Japan they’re mainly interested in?
Hahah a lot of people in Japan don’t even know about Gothloli and Harajuku fashion tribes! I think the western media plays up the pop culture/subculture aspects of Japan, such as VK, and that gives it the perception that it’s bigger in Japan than it is…
Hahah a lot of people in Japan don’t even know about Gothloli and Harajuku fashion tribes! I think the western media plays up the pop culture/subculture aspects of Japan, such as VK, and that gives it the perception that it’s bigger in Japan than it is…
Wow that is kind of weird… Mana-sama isn't popular? Come to think of it, he hasn't come out with anything recently. I think that's just because he's doing behind the scenes stuff, especially him producing Kanon Wakeshima. Visual kei may be small, but that doesn't mean it isn't lively. There just needs to be something to bring it to life again… but what, I wonder. *thinks of ideas* muahahaha >D
I'll definitely be one to say hi to you if I see you in the street~
I think even Kanon Wakeshima is kind of small in Japan – none of the Japanese people I meet ever seem to know her, unless of course they're into Gothic Lolita.
It doesn't really surprise me, since it is kind of a niche subculture in some ways. I mean, the western metal scene is huge, but non-metal entusiasts probably just know of Metallica, Nightwish and maybe Within Temptation.
Maybe it's just easy for the entusiasts abroad to think that Gothic Lolita and Visual Kei is huuuuuge in Japan, because that's the part of Japan they're mainly interested in?
I wish I had a magical wardrobe that would transport me into Closet Child…..needs more affordable GL clothing desu!! ^-^
Every time I’m in Closet Child, I wish that the store was my wardrobe! With a revolving door of new used clothes that come in!
It was so great to meet you in person! <3 <3 <3 I went to the Nekobukuro by the way, thanks for telling me about it, it was fun
So great meeting you too!
awww i miss you girl!! good times!!!!!!!! i wish you were coming back for yukiro’s debut!!!
Ahhhh I know …. will you be there?
Awesome store! I wish the second hand stores around here had even half as much o this stuff!
I kind of don’t…. I’d be broke all the time!
I wish I had a magical wardrobe that would transport me into Closet Child…..needs more affordable GL clothing desu!! ^-^
It was so great to meet you in person! <3 <3 <3 I went to the Nekobukuro by the way, thanks for telling me about it, it was fun
awww i miss you girl!! good times!!!!!!!! i wish you were coming back for yukiro's debut!!!
Awesome store! I wish the second hand stores around here had even half as much o this stuff!
I kind of don't…. I'd be broke all the time!
I guess people outside Japan are discovering him for the first time, whereas in Japan, he's been active since the late 80s…
Hahah a lot of people in Japan don't even know about Gothloli and Harajuku fashion tribes! I think the western media plays up the pop culture/subculture aspects of Japan, such as VK, and that gives it the perception that it's bigger in Japan than it is…
Hahah a lot of people in Japan don't even know about Gothloli and Harajuku fashion tribes! I think the western media plays up the pop culture/subculture aspects of Japan, such as VK, and that gives it the perception that it's bigger in Japan than it is…
Every time I'm in Closet Child, I wish that the store was my wardrobe! With a revolving door of new used clothes that come in!
So great meeting you too!
Ahhhh I know …. will you be there?
Ah, I have to visit Closet Child in Ikebukuro, too! At the moment, their Harajuku store is my favorite but the CD section at Ikebukuro really got me :D Thanks for the heads-up again!
There’s a Closer Child Music store in Harajuku too! It’s all VK/Jrock used cds and merchandise inside. Hmm it’s hard for me to pick a favorite.. each store has its strengths XD
Is it that visual kei isn’t big in Japan anymore, or is it just the reality that Mana is an aging rock star who reached his peak in popularity more than a decade ago?
Blasphemy! haha. I think it’s for certain that Mana is not as popular as he used to be, and Gackt is way more popular/famous than he is in Japan now. As for VK, it still has a passionate audience — what I meant is that overall, VK is not as big/popular in Japan as some might think…
Just saying that a band that met their peak in popularity in 1998 and broke up 3 years later might not be the best judge to gauge the medium as a whole.
Moi dix Mois plays at medium sized venues in Tokyo and doesn’t sell out, while Gackt sells out stadiums O__O
Not arguing that Gackt isn’t popular, just that it’s no big surprise that a band that hasn’t even existed for almost a decade wouldn’t be doing so hot. I don’t think Moi dix Mois was ever comparable to Gackt as far as far as sales are concerned
Seems like a lot of Japan/US crossover is 10 years in translation.
[tlr]
LA is especially booming… ahh in my dreams, a Closet Child would open up there!
Ah, I have to visit Closet Child in Ikebukuro, too! At the moment, their Harajuku store is my favorite but the CD section at Ikebukuro really got me :D Thanks for the heads-up again!
Is it that visual kei isn't big in Japan anymore, or is it just the reality that Mana is an aging rock star who reached his peak in popularity more than a decade ago?
Blasphemy! haha. I think it's for certain that Mana is not as popular as he used to be, and Gackt is way more popular/famous than he is in Japan now. As for VK, it still has a passionate audience — what I meant is that overall, VK is not as big/popular in Japan as some might think…
There's a Closer Child Music store in Harajuku too! It's all VK/Jrock used cds and merchandise inside. Hmm it's hard for me to pick a favorite.. each store has its strengths XD
Just saying that a band that met their peak in popularity in 1998 and broke up 3 years later might not be the best judge to gauge the medium as a whole.
Moi dix Mois plays at medium sized venues in Tokyo and doesn't sell out, while Gackt sells out stadiums O__O
Not arguing that Gackt isn't popular, just that it's no big surprise that a band that hasn't even existed for almost a decade wouldn't be doing so hot. I don't think Moi dix Mois was ever comparable to Gackt as far as far as sales are concerned
Seems like a lot of Japan/US crossover is 10 years in translation.
[tlr]
If you ever happen to come to Greece, I’ll definitely say hi. And there’s also an amazing gothic store downtown (basically, all amazing gothic stores are there) but its only problem is… PRICES ! Dum dum dummm…
I went to Greece in 2006 – Santorini, gorgeous Mykonos and others… I loved it!
If you ever happen to come to Greece, I'll definitely say hi. And there's also an amazing gothic store downtown (basically, all amazing gothic stores are there) but its only problem is… PRICES ! Dum dum dummm…
that is awesome i like it look domo yea ^^
I dont believe Mana sama is in decline he is an equisite taste like fine wine! Nobody does it better!
Well said.
I love shoes…
that is awesome i like it look domo yea ^^
I dont believe Mana sama is in decline he is an equisite taste like fine wine! Nobody does it better!
I love shoes…
Yep, Mana-sama’s not at the top any more….
(I guess I better go over there and take those unwanted Malice Mizer goods off of their hands..)
hehe I did that already ;)
LA is especially booming… ahh in my dreams, a Closet Child would open up there!
I went to Greece in 2006 – Santorini, gorgeous Mykonos and others… I loved it!
Well said.
Yep, Mana-sama's not at the top any more….
(I guess I better go over there and take those unwanted Malice Mizer goods off of their hands..)
hehe I did that already ;)
I definitely agree about the Ikebukuro Closet Child – less trafficked as less well known – at least by westerners, who mainly go to Harajuku. I have a few pieces I bought last year there that I wear all the time! I love the adjoining mall with the floor of all restaurants too…I had to walk around for aages deciding where to eat.
Have you been to Ice Cream Land? O__O In Sunshine City. We went there and shot a ridiculous video!
We also found some cheap Chinese food near C Child — not sure if we went to the adjoining mall with the restaurants. Next time!
I definitely agree about the Ikebukuro Closet Child – less trafficked as less well known – at least by westerners, who mainly go to Harajuku. I have a few pieces I bought last year there that I wear all the time! I love the adjoining mall with the floor of all restaurants too…I had to walk around for aages deciding where to eat.
Have you been to Ice Cream Land? O__O In Sunshine City. We went there and shot a ridiculous video!
We also found some cheap Chinese food near C Child — not sure if we went to the adjoining mall with the restaurants. Next time!
Hi,
I have a new site up selling personally collected items as well as some consignment. Just spreading the word to other enthusiasts.
http://twiceasnice.bigcartel.com
xo
Sandy
I found a second hand lolita store called Glass Forest on MBok auctions a few months that appeared to have a physical location somewhere in Tokyo. Any idea where it might be?
Haven’t heard of it, sadly..
Hey I’m in Japan for vacation and this blog helped me find this store! I got a baby the stars shine bright skirt for a awesome price! Thank you so much!!