J-NEWS #1: JAPAN NITE VISUAL KEI TOUR AT SXSW, BABY THE STARS SHINE BRIGHT SAN FRANCISCO.
When I started this blog in September 2007, there was nary a mention of Gothic Lolita in the news. Now, I can hardly keep up with the media mentions! It’s about time I started a new feature called J-News. Every so often, I’ll post a round-up of the latest stories about Japanese street fashion, Visual Kei, cute food, kawaii, and the various other J-pop schmatas, tsotchkes and chozzerai that clutter my head-space.
As always, I’m eager to hear what you think in the comments. I encourage you to post links to other news stories, videos, Etsy designers… the Godzilla continues to spawn!
† Baby, the Stars Shine Bright is opening its first retail store in San Francisco this spring. The store is looking for a general manager… click to see if you meet the qualifications! (A dream job – or just another retail position?)
† J Rock Revolution posted an interview with DJ Sisen. He says he used to dress all-black and in women’s clothing, but has now “taken those various influences and made it a cute and mysterious kind of look.” Sisen’s fashion advice? “It’s very important to have a good balance of color and to really express who you are 100%, It’s all about you so it can look a little confused sometimes but it’s about having an inner balance between you and what you’re wanting to express.” (Great interview – Sisen is too adorable for words.)
† LA Weekly writes about Kawaiiety Please, a fascinating noise artist who dresses in Lolita and is inspired by Malice Mizer in addition to Boredoms and Merzbow. “I think that maybe that clash between the Lolita aesthetic and the noise, that in itself is noise. I’ve had outfits before that were almost completely destroyed in a set.” (She wears Sweet Lolita with rainbow beads and police tape… thoughts?)
† Viz is promoting Missin’, a two-part novel from Novala Takemoto (author of Kamikaze Girls) at the NY Comic Con. “How far can you go to get what you want before you lose your mind?” This Gothic-tinged tale follows a young girl who has an overwhelming obsession with a pop star – an obsession that leads her down a dark path. (I haven’t read any of his works other than Kamikaze Girls; are they any good?)
† Japan Nite, a musical tour featuring thirteen Japanese artists, is hitting SXSW and other American cities from March 21-29. HearJapan.com is offering one track from six of these artists for free download until March 29; quaff, Dirty Old Men, Asakusa Jinta, THE EMERALDS, HONEY SAC, and OMODAKA.
† FIT curator Valerie Steele, who spearheaded the Gothic: Dark Glamour exhibit, is planning another show on Japanese fashion/visuals – including Hello Kitty – called Cute and Scary. “It’s the cuteness, but there’s something else that’s dark and edgy about her that’s appealing. There’s something just very mysterious.” (Intrigued? I am; I loved her last exhibition.)
† My upcoming recipe book Cute Yummy Time features adorable sushi such as the Obama one posted on Gawker! “Obama’s skin is made out of ami (little shrimp) boiled in soy sauce, his hair is made out of black sesame seeds, and his teeth are made from fish paste.” (Too cute to eat?)
Song of the Day #51: Dulce Liquido – Disolucion
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LA CARMINA
40 Comments
Oh my, this is an amazing and helpful idea! J-news! ^_^
Thank you very much for posting this info! I was thinking that Viz would never support Novala Takemoto every again after his arrest…I'm still hoping they'll translate the sequel to Kamikaze Girls. >_>
I know, I was biting my nails over Takemoto! I'm glad his work continues to be supported.
Excellent Idea! I had been trying to find something like that, but now I can just get my fix from Carmina as per usual. Hopefully can make it to some of the NYC events
Oh I'm glad this is helpful!
i've known about the bssb news since like november…i think the deadline had passed for that managers position tho…my goal is to get a job there..not as the manager…i dont fullfill the qualifications (do not speak japanese or have managing experience)
i'm excited/scared @v@!
Here in Australia we are about to see The Tokyo Electro Invasion ! Feat: Aural Vampire, GPKISM and DJ Sisen. Should be lots of fun ! More details on GPKISM myspace – http://www.myspace.com/gpkism .
Australia is close to Japan but we don't get enough of their bands and DJ's here, so this is a great chance to see some good stuff.
the obama sushi!! amazing!!!
FWAAAAAAAAA The Baby store…. its finally happening! I may have to get my frilly bum over to SF for the opening. Any word on where in town it will be? Japantown seems likely… but there aren't very many clothing places there…
Thanks for linking to the Kawaiietly Please story.
Please keep us posted on the Baby opening. I hope it's ready to go when I head up to SF in a few months.
Oh my, this is an amazing and helpful idea! J-news! ^_^
Thank you very much for posting this info! I was thinking that Viz would never support Novala Takemoto every again after his arrest…I’m still hoping they’ll translate the sequel to Kamikaze Girls. >_>
I know, I was biting my nails over Takemoto! I’m glad his work continues to be supported.
Excellent Idea! I had been trying to find something like that, but now I can just get my fix from Carmina as per usual. Hopefully can make it to some of the NYC events
Oh I’m glad this is helpful!
i’ve known about the bssb news since like november…i think the deadline had passed for that managers position tho…my goal is to get a job there..not as the manager…i dont fullfill the qualifications (do not speak japanese or have managing experience)
i’m excited/scared @v@!
Wishing you the best of luck!!
I realize it’s old news – I just haven’t been able to mention everything that’s come up in recent news! Hopefully, the J-News feature will solve this.
Here in Australia we are about to see The Tokyo Electro Invasion ! Feat: Aural Vampire, GPKISM and DJ Sisen. Should be lots of fun ! More details on GPKISM myspace – http://www.myspace.com/gpkism .
Australia is close to Japan but we don’t get enough of their bands and DJ’s here, so this is a great chance to see some good stuff.
BSSB in the US? :D that's wonderful! too bad i live on the other side of the US :P
Wishing you the best of luck!!
I realize it's old news – I just haven't been able to mention everything that's come up in recent news! Hopefully, the J-News feature will solve this.
I hope so too – maybe you can do a story on it!
the obama sushi!! amazing!!!
FWAAAAAAAAA The Baby store…. its finally happening! I may have to get my frilly bum over to SF for the opening. Any word on where in town it will be? Japantown seems likely… but there aren’t very many clothing places there…
Thanks for linking to the Kawaiietly Please story.
Please keep us posted on the Baby opening. I hope it’s ready to go when I head up to SF in a few months.
I hope so too – maybe you can do a story on it!
BSSB in the US? :D that’s wonderful! too bad i live on the other side of the US :P
I just wonder if …since HT has the H&A cd….might they pick up outfits as well. and if so what would that do for the brand I wonder
Oh, I'm not sure if you'd be interested, but Friday night 2/20 there's a goth fashion catwalk and music afterwords. I can't speak for how good it is or not, but goth fashion and music, nothing Lolita as far as I can tell (unless some of the models are going Goth Loli, I can't tell by the flyer).
http://www. myspace. com/catwalktragedytour I forgot to link it ^^
Oh interesting! Thanks for sharing!
I just wonder if …since HT has the H&A cd….might they pick up outfits as well. and if so what would that do for the brand I wonder
Oh, I’m not sure if you’d be interested, but Friday night 2/20 there’s a goth fashion catwalk and music afterwords. I can’t speak for how good it is or not, but goth fashion and music, nothing Lolita as far as I can tell (unless some of the models are going Goth Loli, I can’t tell by the flyer).
http://www. myspace. com/catwalktragedytour I forgot to link it ^^
Oh interesting! Thanks for sharing!
I'm really happy for the opening of Baby the Stars that Shine Bright in San Fransisco. That opens new doors to the American Lolita and also other opportunities to possibly other brands follow suit and open their shops here in the U.S. If anything, that might be a good tactic (if they have the money to open more stores xD) because from my own searches of obtaining Lolita clothing, there are A LOT more Lolita in the U.S than you might think~
I’m really happy for the opening of Baby the Stars that Shine Bright in San Fransisco. That opens new doors to the American Lolita and also other opportunities to possibly other brands follow suit and open their shops here in the U.S. If anything, that might be a good tactic (if they have the money to open more stores xD) because from my own searches of obtaining Lolita clothing, there are A LOT more Lolita in the U.S than you might think~
ahh san fran! that's amazing for lolitas in cali
i so want some obama sushi
awesome blog entry!
xo
ahh san fran! that’s amazing for lolitas in cali
i so want some obama sushi
awesome blog entry!
xo
I want to tour in San.Francisco and enjoy such activities like you experienced.
Don't forget to eat the amazing San Fran sushi!!
I want to tour in San.Francisco and enjoy such activities like you experienced.
Don’t forget to eat the amazing San Fran sushi!!