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?)