VIZ MEDIA TO OPEN GOSURORI J-POP CENTER IN SAN FRANCISCO.
American Gothic Lolita buzz tends to gravitate towards San Francisco, possibly because of the city’s large Japanese population. For a while, there were rumors that Baby, the Stars Shine Bright would be opening a store. Nothing’s come to fruition – but perhaps something grander is on the horizon. A year from now, Viz Media (the Japanese entertainment company that released Kamikaze Girls) will be opening a three-story complex in San Fran’s Japantown. And in a nod to Shinjuku’s Marui Young department store, the second floor will be dedicated to selling Gothic Lolita clothing by your favorite designers.
Behind this venture is Seiji Horibuchi, who founded the Japanese entertainment company Viz Media in 1986. Two years ago, he launched Viz Pictures, which releases live-action features to complement the manga, anime, toys, and related merchandise the parent company already handles.
Horibuchi revealed his plans to open a “J-Pop Center” in the heart of San Francisco’s Japantown. The three-story complex will house an expansive café and a 150-seat art house theater specializing in Japanese films. Visitors can buy household goods, food, fashion, toys, magazines, manga, you name it. “We might even have high-tech robots.”
Most exciting for us? The second floor will be dominated by fashion boutiques, just like the ones found in Japan’s Marui department stores (pictured above), with a particular emphasis on Gothic Lolita designs. Horibuchi cites gosurori’s worldwide appeal and calls it “a 21st-century phenomenon.”
No word as to which Lolita brands will be crossing the ocean in 2009-10. But we may as well start saving up for a mega shopping spree in San Fran…
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10 Comments
Hellz freakin' yeah!!! m/>.<m/ Totally looking forward to this. I guess I'll have to start looking for excuses to visit San Francisco next year!! ^^
Hellz freakin’ yeah!!! m/>.<m/ Totally looking forward to this. I guess I'll have to start looking for excuses to visit San Francisco next year!! ^^
OMGOMGOMGOMG!! i'M so happy to live in San Francisco! Me and my friend have been looking forward to the J-Pop Center ever since March. Now we have to wait for it to open, and I have to save up to buy TONNS of stuff there. <(l^o^l)>
OMGOMGOMGOMG!! i’M so happy to live in San Francisco! Me and my friend have been looking forward to the J-Pop Center ever since March. Now we have to wait for it to open, and I have to save up to buy TONNS of stuff there.
AAAIIII! I always thought I would only be able to get lolita via internet! It's most likely going to open at the end of this year (2008) or in the beginning of next year and I can't wait. Lolita fashion tends to be expensive so I'm gonna save up now >^.^<
AAAIIII! I always thought I would only be able to get lolita via internet! It’s most likely going to open at the end of this year (2008) or in the beginning of next year and I can’t wait. Lolita fashion tends to be expensive so I’m gonna save up now >^.^<
Hellz yes!! I so hope and pray that Baby opens shop there! If they do I'll have to start making annual pilgramigs (sp?) there!
Hellz yes!! I so hope and pray that Baby opens shop there! If they do I’ll have to start making annual pilgramigs (sp?) there!
Hellz yes!! I so hope and pray that Baby opens shop there! If they do I’ll have to start making annual pilgramigs (sp?) there!
Hellz yes!! I so hope and pray that Baby opens shop there! If they do I'll have to start making annual pilgramigs (sp?) there!